“We Should Be a Country that Produces Technology, Not Only Uses It”. The ability to further develop industrial branches in accordance with today’s requirements depends on the developments in the automation sector. We met with Dr. Huseyin Halici, President of the Industrial Automation Industrialists Association, which is the only association of the automation sector that has undertaken an important mission towards the industrialization of Türkiye, and listened to his assessments about the industry. Halici answered the questions about the activities of the Association and talked about its new goals.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
I graduated Electronics and Communication department of Yildiz Technical University Faculty of Engineering. In the same year, I joined the Master’s Program of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Istanbul Technical University, Institute of Science, Department of Electronics and Communication. Currently, I work as General Manager at HALICI Elektronik Ltd. Sti. I have also been serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ENOSAD – Industrial Automation Industrialists Association, which I’ve been a member for many years and served as a Board Member during the 3rd, 4th and 5th terms.
Can you please tell us the reason for the foundation of the association, as well as its story?
Several meetings were held by the leading companies of the sector before ENOSAD was established in 2004. The objective was to create a frame that would reveal and ensure the awareness of this sector, which is actually the cornerstone of the industry. The association was found by 16 valuable companies in the sector under the presidency of Dr. Emin Olcay. After that, major leading companies in the sector were invited to join this platform that represents the sector. 106 companies operating in several sectors such as factory automation, process automation, assembly line automation, robotic automation, etc. are currently under the roof of our association, which we have defined as a technology platform in this journey that started with the participation of 16 local and foreign founding companies. Since the day it was founded, the Association has been continuing its initiatives to raise awareness that the industrial automation sector is a “stand-alone” sector, introduce the sector to the government bodies, and try to find solutions for the issues of the sector. Our Association continues its efforts to move our sector, which has an important role in the development of our country, to the position of a main “industry”.
Can you tell us about your activities at ENOSAD?
Since the moment we took office, our main objective has been to bring our Association, which is composed of valuable members, to the best point it deserves, as been done by all administrations since its establishment. Taking this structure into account, in addition to ensuring the continuation of the efforts that have been started before, the most important point in technology today in terms of the development and change that is taking place globally is digitalization, which is the “Industry 4.0” revolution as first defined by the German government in 2011. As a result of the studies initiated by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, the “Digitalization Platform in Industry” was established under the presidency of Dr. Faruk Ozlu in 2017. Our Association ENOSAD took part directly with in this “Digital Transformation Platform in Industry” upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, and has been continuing to work in the ‘Digital Technologies in Industry’ and ‘Advanced Production Techniques’ groups since 2017, which are two of the 6 working groups of the platform.
“By encouraging production and supporting R&D activities
we can become a country that creates high added value.”
What is the current situation of the industrial automation sector in Türkiye?
When we look at the TUIK (Turkish Statistics Institute) data, the share of high-tech products in manufacturing industry exports is 2.7 percent, while it is 15.8 percent in manufacturing industry imports. At this point, we can see how important it is for us to be a country that not only “uses” technology, but also “produces” it. As the market is being shaped by the use of advanced technology in the Industrial Automation sector and the increasing sales of technological products, the studies on both technological production and technological service production are increasing as well. As is the case in many sectors in our country, the industrial automation sector is also dependent on foreign trade. Although some of the basic inputs of the Industrial Automation sector are imported, it would not be correct to look at this case solely from this point of view. The level of automation in a country’s industry is the most important factor that determines the quality of products in that country and, therefore, the level of competition. It increases the competitiveness, efficiency of the sectors and increases the quality. The best example of this on the basis of human – machine cooperation is the Industrial Automation sector, which increases the export opportunities for the “Machine Manufacturing Sector”, which is the shining star of Türkiye.
What are the most important problems of the sector?
The biggest issues in the development of the automation sector are that the investments made are insufficient and the public and private sectors have not yet achieved the desired level of awareness about the benefits of automation. At this point, big tasks fall to us. The main difference between the industries of the developed countries and the industry of our country is basically R&D and automation. For this reason, the government needs to provide adequate infrastructure and investment support. By encouraging production and investment, as well as supporting R&D activities, we can become a country that creates high added value. As in other sectors, one of the biggest problems in the automation sector is the lack of technical staff capable of using systems, rather than engineers. The biggest task in this regard also falls to technical and vocational schools. In this regard, it will be possible to train both qualified technical personnel and qualified manpower with an education system that will be provided by both technical and vocational schools and universities at European standards.
How does Industry 4.0 affect the sector?
Today, the manufacturing sector is affected and shaped by the developing technologies, as well as the people’s lifestyles and expectations. Now, with the development of technology, a production process in which the human factor is minimal is aimed to be achieved. Particularly, in line with the super rapid development of computer technologies, the era of smart factories will begin. This period is defined as Industry 4.0, by accepting today as the starting point. The period of self-deciding and self-supervising manufacturing plants, where each component in the machinery communicates with each other, will begin. Manufacturing systems with artificial intelligence, which are defined as Cyber Physics Systems or “IoE” (Internet of Everything), are predicted.
In short, as the era of smart machines becomes widespread and common, the companies shall be able to achieve maximum profits as a result of creating the highest efficiency and quality with the least workforce and energy. The manufacturers that managed to achieve this in the fastest way will be left alone in the competition. The manufacturing processes based on conventional methods, on the other hand, will most probably lose their competitive advantages in terms of their inputs and face the risk of losing significant sales opportunities. For our country, Industry 4.0 is a key component in structural transformation to reduce the middle income trap. It is very clear that it will trigger creativity and innovation in our country. We should aim to be a country that not only uses technology, but also produces and develops it. Industry 4.0 is a very good opportunity for this purpose
“For our country, Industry 4.0 is a key component in structural transformation to reduce the middle income trap.”
Important developments are taking place in the world regarding Industry 4.0. What is the situation of Türkiye in this regard?
Studies are being carried out in our country on Industry 4.0, in other words, “Digitalization”. As a result of these studies, the “Digital Transformation Platform in Industry” was established by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology in the early 2017, where the chairmen of the highest-level businesses and organizations (TOBB / TIM / TUSIAD / MUSIAD / YASED and TTGV) are the members of Executive Board.
Within the framework of this platform, working groups have been formed with the aim of assessing the general situation of our country in this field, determining its current needs, making the necessary strategy plans and preparing technology roadmaps.
Although these working groups are independent in their fields, they are individual components of a whole. In this regard, our Association ENOSAD, which consists of local and foreign companies that operate in several industries such as Factory Automation, Process Automation, Assembly Line Automation, Robotic Automation, etc. continues its operations through ‘Digital Technologies in Industry’ and ‘Advanced Production Techniques’ groups, which are two of the 6 working groups created within the framework of this platform. All national and international members of ENOSAD have a certain amount of know-how in to develop and implement ’Industry 4.0‘.
What are your objectives for the coming period?
We are a structure that, in addition to our experienced members who have contributed a lot in the past, includes all the members of the Association with our new team consisting of our colleagues who joined us during this period. We aim to work more actively by taking into account the opinions and suggestions of all members and implement them as much as possible. While we are continuing the studies we have started so far, we also aim to implement our new projects on behalf of our Association, our members and our sector in general.
This also brings a new momentum to industrial automation sector, as the continuing efforts to achieve a stable economy in our country have a positive impact on all sectors. If permanent and long-term solutions are not ensured in the investment environment in line with this acceleration, this development process would not reach the desired levels. In addition, another important issue is that the full functionality of the University-Industry cooperation has not been achieved yet. Universities should really be a part of the industry. In practical applications, it should provide an impact on the careers of faculty members at least as much as the scientific articles. On-hands training should be given at the universities. For example, in Germany, the universities that develop products together with companies send a certain number of their students to companies throughout the year, as it is the case in vocational high schools in Türkiye. There should be some sub-departments that can be applied to real life in the universities that combine this structure. We are sure that other definitions will emerge among computer engineering and electronic engineering to apply computer infrastructure to industry.
