Crafting Value Based Digital Transformation Journey For Oil And Gas 4.0
Dr. Mohamed Assal
Dr. Mohamed Assal is an organizational transformation and digital strategy leader with a strong focus on modernization, business growth, and value creation, bringing more than 20 years of experience across the fertilizer industry. He currently serves as Director of the Engineering Office Sector at Abu Qir Fertilizers, where he provides strategic leadership in enterprise transformation and large-scale modernization initiatives that support the company’s long-term competitiveness and sustainability objectives.
In parallel, Dr. Assal leads Abu Qir Fertilizers’ Industry 4.0 Digital Transformation Program, driving the adoption of advanced digital technologies including SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Digital Manufacturing platforms, Industrial IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and advanced analytics. Under his leadership, the company has progressed toward a fully integrated, data-driven manufacturing ecosystem that enhances operational excellence, asset reliability, safety, and intelligent decision-making across the organization.
Dr. Assal also plays a pivotal strategic role as Project Manager for Abu Qir Fertilizers’ Growth Strategy, developed in collaboration with McKinsey & Company. This multi-horizon roadmap positions Abu Qir as a global leader in the fertilizer industry over the short, medium, and long term, with a strong emphasis on productivity improvement, sustainability, and long-term value creation.
Beyond his executive responsibilities, Dr. Assal contributes actively to shaping the future of the fertilizer and process industries at both regional and global levels. He serves as Head of the Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Committee at the Arab Fertilizer Association (AFA), leading initiatives focused on accelerating digital maturity and sustainability across the industry. He is also a member of the SAP Chemical Executive Advisory Council (CEAC), collaborating with global industry leaders to help define the future direction of digital solutions for the chemical and fertilizer sectors.
Dr. Assal holds a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) with a research focus on Industry 4.0 technologies adoption and the impact of digital leadership and organizational learning on value-based digital transformation, based on applied studies in the oil and gas sector. He also holds an MBA in Project Management from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport.
His professional credentials include internationally recognized certifications such as PMP®, PMI-RMP®, PMI-PBA®, and Certified Asset Management Assessor (CAMA). Dr. Assal is widely recognized for his ability to bridge engineering excellence, digital innovation, and strategic leadership, enabling sustainable transformation and long-term value creation in complex industrial environments.
Abstract
Objectives/Scope: Oil and gas industry still faces significant challenges in digital transformation journey. The main problem is: “Being digital-at-the-core by itself is not enough for success”, The main aim from this study is exploring how to use Acatech Industry 4.0 Maturity Index as a multi-dimensional planning and assessment tool to craft value based digital transformation journey to Oil and Gas 4.0 that harness the industry 4.0 technologies to achieve significant strategic business objectives and sustainability goals.
Methods, Procedures, Process: The study use Acatech Industry 4.0 Maturity Index, a multi-dimensional planning and assessment tool developed by Acatech (National Academy of Science and Engineering in Germany), as a supporting tool providing a guidance for digital transformation journey. This study will explore how can we analyze the capabilities in the organization structural areas of resources, information systems, culture and organizational structure, in order to rank the organization maturity in a digitalized industrial environment. The study is supported by: Interview with Industry leaders, Reviewing Industry 4.0 literature and papers, and Insights from real-life examples and digital transformation case studies.
Results, Observations, Conclusions: This study presents how the implementation of this digital transformation approach will help Oil and Gas industry achieving its sustainability and business objectives through reducing costs, minimizing waste, maximizing efficiency, achieving resilient process, enhancing quality, and ensuring process safety. The Study highlights the insights from real-life examples and digital transformation cases that adopted this planning and assessing approach all over the world and focus on an Egyptian plant that implement this approach in its digital transformation journey. Adopting this approach will support Oil and Gas organization crafting an end-to-end digital ecosystem that achieves max value and not only improve operational performance but also contribute to a more sustainable and resilient global organization model.
Novel/Additive Information: Since digital transformation is a highly complex undertaking, it requires smart and agile management approach focus on sustainability, resilient infrastructure, and a culture of continuous innovation. This study shows the value added by using Acatech Maturity Index for oil and gas industry and how Digital Transformation journey could be designed and crafted in such a way to ensure the positive impacts on business occurred at various stages throughout the journey to ensure the journey success.
