Recognized in the global building materials industry as the only facility worldwide capable of producing grey cement, white cement, and calcium aluminate cement under one roof, Çimsa’s Mersin Plant is now setting new standards in occupational safety and health through its pioneering Smart Academy.
A Sabancı Group company, Çimsa has taken another significant step in line with its sustainable, people-focused production approach by investing in workforce development. On April 28th, World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the company officially opened Smart Academy at its Mersin Plant. Designed to deliver training in occupational safety and health, as well as quality and process education, Smart Academy stands out with its advanced technology infrastructure, immersive learning zones, and functional design.
The academy features a simulation room equipped entirely with LED screens, a virtual reality (VR) experience zone offering a simulated factory tour, specialized models that help visualize production processes, and training and conference halls. One of the most unique features is a mechanical 3D factory diorama—unmatched in Türkiye—which presents the entire cement production process in a dynamic and comprehensible way. This hands-on experience enables learners to grasp even the most complex procedures with ease.
The virtual tour enables a hands-on understanding of occupational safety and health procedures, helping users prepare for real-world conditions without exposure to actual risk. Complex topics are made clear through VR simulations, making learning more effective and long-lasting. Smart Academy is open not only to employees but also to visitors, offering an opportunity to mentally engage with the production environment before entering the field. By leveraging digitalization and integrating simulation with the real-world setting, the academy helps build a culture of occupational safety and health from the mind outward. Learning is not limited to theory but is reinforced through behavioral methods.
“Occupational Safety and Health Is Not Just a Set of Rules—It’s a Cultural Mindset”
Commenting on the opening, Çimsa CEO Umut Zenar emphasized the company’s ongoing transformation: “With our large-scale investments in Türkiye and around the world, we are proud to be evolving into a global leader in the building materials sector. But for us, leadership is not just about production. The value we place on our people and our commitment to cultural transformation are essential parts of that leadership. This investment reflects that vision. For us, occupational safety and health is not merely a regulatory requirement or a checklist—it is a cultural mindset. Our approach is defined by a principle of zero tolerance. With Smart Academy, we’re not just providing information—we’re creating an experience-based learning journey. We’re putting our motto into practice: ‘If you tell me, I forget. If you teach me, I remember. If you involve me, I learn.’ This center is built on a competency-based development model. Experiencing the worksite in the mind before stepping into production, understanding the risks and the processes—these are what drive behavioral transformation. Smart Academy is not just a training facility—it’s a tangible expression of the people-first cultural evolution we are building at Çimsa.”
