KUALA LUMPUR – Sirim Bhd and Hitachi Asia (M) Sdn Bhd are collaborating to introduce and deploy Industry 4.0 cloud-based digital solutions to Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing industry.
Sirim president and group chief executive Datuk Ahmad Fadzil Mohamad Hani said the solutions will be tailored to the needs of modern enterprises, and will be available affordably at the Smart Manufacturing Experience Centre in Bukit Jalil.
He said the centre will enable SMEs to assess, learn and understand relevant platforms or technology and use case studies to propel SMEs into the Industry 4.0 era.
“As technology adoption is still low in manufacturing and services industries in Malaysia, Sirim will take one step at a time in assisting these industries.
“SMEs can achieve Industry 4.0 through cyber-physical systems, which include digitalisation, connectivity and analytics,” he said at a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing between Sirim and Hitachi, which was held virtually here today.
Also present were Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Hiroshi Oka, Sirim chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Tajuddin Ali and Hitachi managing director Chew Huat Seng.
Under the MoU, Sirim will introduce a computerised maintenance management system as well as an inventory analysis solution to SME manufacturers.
A quality-control solution for digital supply chains will also be introduced, based on Hitachi’s global supply chain-related know-how and technologies.
Fadzil said that based on research involving 208 manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia, over 75% are at Industry 2.0 level and 15% at Industry 3.0 level, while only about 2% are at Industry 4.0 level.
“A lot more has to be done to support our local manufacturers to use Industry 4.0 technologies.
“Using electronic and information technology systems that can further automate production, SMEs can move from Industry 2.0 to Industry 3.0,” Fadzil said.
Later at a press conference, Fadzil expressed optimism that the take-up rate for this centre will be higher, given the rising awareness of digitalisation following the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the numerous government initiatives under the National Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana) for SMEs to move towards digitalisation will attract SMEs to utilise the Smart Manufacturing Experience Centre. – Bernama, December 14, 2020
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