Sirim, Hitachi Asia collaborate to provide digital solutions
SHAH ALAM: Sirim Bhd (Sirim) and Hitachi Asia (M) Sdn Bhd (Hitachi Asia) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will enable a collaboration to introduce and deploy Industry 4.0 cloud-based digital solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing industry.
The collaboration will also see Sirim, a leading industrial technology, testing, inspection and certification services provider under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and Hitachi Asia (M) Sdn Bhd to adopt its Industry 4.0 cloud-based digital solutions at Sirim’s Smart Manufacturing Experience Centre.
The MoU was signed in through a virtual signing ceremony. Sirim was represented by its president and group chief executive Datuk Ir Dr Ahmad Fadzil Mohamad Hani and Hitachi Asia by its managing director Chew Huat Seng. The ceremony was witnessed by Japan Ambassador in Malaysia, Oka Hiroshi and Sirim chairman, Academician Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali.
Dr Ahmad Tajuddin in his remarks at the signing ceremony said, under the Look East Policy 2.0, the Malaysia–Japan Collaboration on Smart Manufacturing was launched on May 2, 2019 by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Ministry of Economic Trade and Industry, Japan.
Sirim as the implementing agency for the programmes had organised several seminars related to smart manufacturing adoption in industry, he said.
“With such elaborate programmes outlined, it is hoped that there will be Technology transfer, improvement and Industry 4.0 technology/technical solution from Japanese companies,” he added.
As initial initiatives, Sirim and Hitachi will collaborate on the following Industry 4.0 digital solutions at the experience centre, which include: Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) - a computerised maintenance management system will be introduce to the SME manufacturers, Digital Supply Chain/Quality Control (DSC/QC) - a digital supply chain quality control solution to the SME manufacturers will be introduced based on Hitachi’s global supply chain-related know-how and technologies, and PSI Visualiser (PSIV) - an inventory analysis solution to the SME manufacturers
Dr Ahmad Fadzil said Sirim is committed in building capabilities and capacities in the industry towards achieving higher productivity by offering strategic solutions that are up to date with emerging trends, affordable and tailored to the needs of modern enterprises.
He added the Sirim Smart Manufacturing Experience Centre, an initiative under the Centre of Excellence for Smart Manufacturing, will enable SMEs to assess, learn and understand relevant platform or technology and use cases to propel the SMEs into the Industry 4.0 era.
The experience centre located in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur will enable local talents to develop solutions to address pain points in their production line or shop floor.
With close links to industry and understanding on Industry 4.0 technology, Sirim is able to introduce new ideas and concepts, to be more efficient and productive through adoption of relevant platforms and technology such as Additive manufacturing/3D printing, Augmented Reality, Automated Optical Inspection and Collaborative Robot (COBOT) to the local players, especially SMEs, Dr Ahmad Fadzil added.
In the MITI Industry 4WRD Readiness Assessment that was undertaken by Sirim last year on 208 manufacturing SMEs, more than 75 per cent were found to be at the level of Industry 2.0 followed by Industry 3.0 (15 per cent). Only about two per cent are at Industry 4.0 level namely from rubber and plastics, F&B, printing and reproduction of recorded media, and fabricated metal sectors.
Hitachi Asia managing director, Chew Huat Seng said in Malaysia, manufacturing is changing faster than ever before and the drivers for this include localization, individualisation, time to market and sustainability. Embracing digital solutions provides a platform for companies in building business resilience and undoubted benefits in automation and optimisation.