SMEs reminded of global change towards Industry 4.0

KUCHING: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia must be more innovative and creative in order to move up the global value chain with the help of new edge technology.

In stressing this yesterday, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong said SMEs must also be mindful of the global change towards Industry 4.0.

“Globally, change is already happening and businesses have to embrace change in order to survive. Many industry players in developed countries have moved into the Industry 4.0 sphere, utilising the cyber-physical system holistically, ahead of us.

“Industries in countries like Germany, the United States and to a large extent Japan are the ones driving this initiative with minimal government intervention,” he said when opening an outreach programme on Industry 4.0 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here.

Chua stressed that the benefits of companies adopting Industry 4.0 technology would be significant.

He said success stories of some companies had shown tangible results where adoption of high technology had helped them increase productivity and products variation as well as to market products faster.

According to him, Adidas’ move in shifting its outsourced global manufacturing facility back to Germany is a prime example of Industry 4.0 at work.

“Notably, deploying additive manufacturing or 3D printing to produce their renowned sport products,” he added.