Smartening Iran's Copper Industry: From Strategy to Action

According to me-metals cited by Mes Press, a specialized panel on "Smartization and Digital Transformation" was held on the sidelines of the national event on innovative and technological ideas in the copper value chain at the Khayyam Hall of Vali-Asr University in Rafsanjan. The session was moderated by Dr. Mohammad Reza Khalesi, associate professor at Tarbiat Modares University, and was attended by a group of distinguished professors and experts in the fields of digital, artificial intelligence, and industrial transformation.

Digital Transformation: The Main Key is People and Skills

Dr. Seyed Ali Akbar Safavi, a faculty member of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Shiraz University, referred to the challenges facing the copper industry and emphasized the need for standardization, knowledge development, and innovation, adding: "Digital transformation is not limited to technology, but the main key is transformation in humans and skills."

He added: "Today, skills have changed, and analytical thinking, innovation, and the ability to solve problems collaboratively have become the main requirements for working in digital environments. The education model has also changed, and lifelong learning has become an essential need."

Making mines smart; beyond slogans and advertising

Ali Sofstaei, Director of Research and Development of the Artificial Intelligence Center at Vale and an international expert in mining intelligence, referred to global experiences and said: "In previous years, the volume of unrealistic advertising in the field of intelligence was very high, but today, reports such as the McKinsey study have achieved more precise definitions of this concept."

He clarified: "The main problem in the failure of many mining projects is that some still think that smartization can solve everything alone. While the speed of cultural adaptation of organizations to these developments is very slow, and data collection and management requires continuous training and comprehensive thinking."

Digital investment has a higher return

Sirous Javadpour, a faculty member of the Faculty of Materials Engineering at Shiraz University and an expert in the field of artificial intelligence, emphasized the importance of the innovation ecosystem and stated: According to a 2024 Oxford University report, in the past decade, every dollar invested in the digital field has had a much higher return than physical investments.

He emphasized: Iran must also complete the missing links of its innovation. Smartization is not just about purchasing a system, but also requires a change in attitude, practical training, and intelligent use of data in strategic decision-making. Tagging and organizing data in the mining sector is one of the key infrastructures of this transformation.

Digital transformation in the National Copper Company; from slogan to implementation

The Director of Smartization at the National Iranian Copper Industries Company and the Chairman of the Company's High Information Security Committee announced that smartization and digital transformation at the National Iranian Copper Industries Company have gone beyond the slogan stage and entered the implementation phase.

Nematollah Zarmehi stated: By focusing on the development of digital infrastructure, data-centricity, and direct entry into production line processes, this transformation is gradually institutionalized in the company's operational and management layers. The continuous presence and support of the company's senior management, especially the esteemed CEO, has been one of the key factors in the success of this path.

Referring to the company's human resources capacities, he added: "Our production lines are full of elite and expert personnel who are a valuable resource for implementing digital transformation. Of course, these resources require targeted support, training, and culture building so that we can optimally utilize this human capital for smartization."

Smartization is part of the long-term strategy of the National Copper Company

The Director of Smartization of the National Copper Company also noted that smartization and digital transformation have been placed on the company's agenda as a strategic requirement, saying: "On the direct orders of the company's CEO, various specialized meetings and panels are held in this area, and the company's senior managers actively participate in these meetings. Smartization has been included in the company's strategic plan, and a detailed operational plan has been developed along with a list of executive projects."

He added: "Making mines smart is one of the important and ongoing measures at the National Copper Company, and accelerating its implementation will require continuous technical, financial, and cultural support. The company's production complexes have also put this transformation on their agenda and have taken effective steps in this direction."

It is worth noting that this specialized panel was held in an interactive and productive atmosphere with the presence of scientific and industrial elites, and is considered an effective step towards improving awareness and knowledge synergy on the path to digital transformation of the Iranian copper value chain.