Çimsa has taken a pioneering step in the field of occupational health and safety (OHS) by establishing the Smart Academy at its Mersin Plant. As the only facility in the world capable of producing grey cement, white cement, and calcium aluminate cement under one roof, Çimsa also places great emphasis on employee development.
As a company of the Sabancı Group, Çimsa continues its commitment to sustainable production and a people-centric approach. On April 28, World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Çimsa inaugurated the Smart Academy, designed with cutting-edge technologies and experiential zones to provide training in occupational health and safety, quality, and processes. The academy includes a simulation room equipped with LED screens, a VR experience area that offers virtual plant tours, educational models that simplify production processes, and dedicated training rooms. It also features a one-of-a-kind mechanical plant diorama that presents the cement production process in an interactive 3D model.
Smart Academy aims not only to train employees but also to allow visitors to experience the production environment firsthand, fostering a strong OHS culture. Complex processes are made easily understandable through virtual reality simulations, helping reinforce a lasting learning experience.
Çimsa CEO Umut Zenar stated, “With the major investments we’ve launched in Turkey and around the world, we take pride in being a global player in the building materials sector. However, we don’t define leadership solely by production. The value we place on our employees and the cultural transformation we aim for are integral to this journey. This investment is a reflection of that vision. For us, occupational health and safety is not just a matter of regulations or rules—it’s a cultural issue. Our approach in this area is guided by a zero-tolerance policy. With Smart Academy, we aim not only to inform but to teach through experience. Our motto is: ‘Tell me and I forget; teach me and I may remember; involve me and I learn.’ This academy brings that philosophy to life. It is also the product of a competency-based development approach. Visiting the field in the mind before stepping onto it physically and understanding processes with their risks paves the way for behavioral transformation. Smart Academy is not merely a training facility; it is a concrete symbol of the people-oriented cultural transformation at Çimsa.”
This innovative investment supports the development of employees not just through theoretical knowledge but also through behavioral methods, contributing to a stronger culture of safe production.
