Visit to Mazoon Dairy Company

On 17 February 2022, a team from the Information Technology Department visited Mazoon Dairy in Al Sunainah. The team was accompanied by the HoD – Information Technology, Dr Amal Al Abri, and the following members:

Dr Pugalarasu Rajan (HoS- Math Section)

Ms Fatma Al Shamali (HoS- IT Section)

Dr Qais Al Janabi (IT – Lecturer)

Mr Abdullah Al Shukeily (IT – Lecturer, coordinator of the Public Relations and Marketing Committee)

When the team reached the company, they were received by Mr Rashid Al Muqbali, the administration manager, and his team. At the start of the visit the team had a meeting where Mr Rashid welcomed the team and then spoke about the company structure and the different parts of the project. He discussed future expansion plans for introducing new products and the transportation of the products to different countries. Then he explained the technologies used in the production lines as well as in the logistic processes. After that, the discussion was on how cooperation can be established between both sides on the following:

• OJT opportunities for IT student.
• Ideas for course projects.
• Research and consultancy.
• Type of systems used in the factory to automate the production process.

From the discussion we realised the following:

1. Advanced technology is used to control and monitor production lines using the SCADA system.
2. An ERP system is used to manage administration operations.
3. There is a data centre secured with backup systems to enable services to be available 24/7.
4. A DR is located at the head office in Muscat.
5. A research and development team is in operation.
6. Weather detectors stations maintain a safe climate for the cows.

Opportunities of cooperation between both sides:

1. Research can be done by IT Department staff to help the company to detect the expiration of the products on the shelfs (Smart Shelfs).
2. Research to reduce the miss-use of expired distributed products. 
3. Case study of the ERP system used by the company as a student project to give ideas for development.
4. Develop HRMS as a project to be done by students.
5. Develop a virtual tour for the production lines as project to be done by students.
6. The company can offer OJT opportunities to IT students.
7. Student visits can be arranged with the company to get some ideas for project and research areas.

After the meeting the team had a tour, accompanied by the administration manager and operations manager, to the different factory sections to see the production lines dairy products.