SIRIM-Fraunhofer initiative for SMEs
THE SIRIM-Fraunhofer Programme is a government initiative to improve the productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through technology and innovation. The Programme started in year 2015 that were conducted with direct consultation and involvement with Fraunhofer Institute of Germany.
SIRIM-Fraunhofer general manager Rosmina Mustafa said the programme consists of four main activities, namely implementing innovation management, increasing technology uptake, nurturing SMEs growth and cross-cutting activities.
It is referred as SIRIM-Fraunhofer Programme due to the strategic collaboration between SIRIM and Fraunhofer Institute of Germany, she said in an interview in Shah Alam recently.
She said SIRIM introduced the SIRIM Industrial Innovation Model to adopt and adapt the model and methodologies of Fraunhofer Institute in developing industries, including SMEs through technology and innovation.
The Programme began with technology audit which is an assessment methodology to determine issues faced by SMEs that hinder productivity, followed by customised technology interventions for productivity improvement.
Some 659 SMEs have gone through technology audit, and out of these, 616 companies have underwent various technology interventions designed for productivity enhancement such as mechanisation and automation, technology enhancement, packaging and labelling, competency development, process improvement, product development, technology market radar and technology profiling.
The five major SMEs participated in the programme were food and beverages manufacturing, machining and engineering, electrical and electronics, engineering and industry support, plastics and rubber, medical and health technology, oil and gas and user products.
”In a nutshell, the programme identifies issues faced by company/industries that hinder the productivity growth of a company and provides technology interventions/solutions in order to address these issues,“said Rosmina.
She said the programme‘s objective was to increase productivity of SMEs through technology and innovation, measured through four productivity matrix — raise, create, eliminate and reduce.
The expected outcome from the key matrix is to eliminate inefficiency, raise yield, sales and profit and automation, create new products, new market and innovation culture and reduce wastage and dependency on foreign labours.
Companies who participated in the programme have seen an increase in their production yield of up to 150 percent through introduction of automation in their production process. Some companies have successfully developed new products, filed for patent and already in the commercialisation process, she added.
In order to be eligible for the programme, the companies have to be in the SME category, Malaysian-owned, involved in manufacturing, have been in operations for at least two years, and must apply voluntarily and willing to be audited and committed to follow-up programmes.