Adopt Industry 4.0 to enhance existing legacy business
KUCHING: Adopting technology for Industry 4.0 is a necessary move for businesses as it transforms how products are created, supply chains are managed and value chains and business models are being defined today.
SingEx Exhibition executive director of Industrial & Urban Solutions (Events Business) James Boey told The Borneo Post that many people think that Industry 4.0 evolves around advancement in technologies but in reality, it goes beyond that to focus on how best to bring together different technologies and customise them such that companies can leverage on them to drive productivity and growth.
“Right now in South East Asia, there is still a lack of information for smaller enterprises to discover more about Industry 4.0 and some may also be somewhat resistant,” he explained.
“Companies are concerned that adopting I4.0 solutions are costly and workers may be frightened that they will be displaced as technology replaces them in performing their work functions.
“Thus, we need to cultivate a mind-set shift in the companies and the workers.”
Boey noted that companies need to know that they do not need to spend millions to embrace I4.0 and are able to do so in a ‘bite sized’ manner and upgrade only what is needed to make that first step.
“Companies need not completely upgrade from scratch but rather, explore possibilities and test-bed available I4.0 solutions to augment or retrofit equipment with the relevant components,” he added.
Meanwhile, Messe Worldwide sales director Fong Lai-Lyn observed that the manufacturing process in today’s day and age remains pretty labour intensive despite the movement.
“In the case of I4.0, it is there is enhance the manufacturing process through technology adoption and various other processes that might seem overwhelming at first but slowly become the norm as is with all things that were deemed unpalatable or virtually impossible - much like when cars replaced horse carriages.
“Particularly addressing Sabah and Sarawak, I believe talent and skilled workers are much in demand especially when it plays into the heart of manufacturing. While it does not sing through entirely for now, we believe that with I4.0 adoptions, traditional industries like agriculture can no longer remain traditional.
“In order to achieve what I believe is a stark improvement in assisting the growth rates that Sabah and Sarawak needs, it is not to be too reliant on the traditional facets of business but to embrace future technologies to be a better growth nation.”
When asked how can companies adapt to these technological advancement, Fong’s advice is to “analyse your business processes and start from there”.
“You would know in particular whether your business is lacking in a certain area within the shopfloor. Using legacy machines doesn’t necessarily mean you discard and buy new ones.
“Systems nowadays are able to upgrade and push the machinery’s lifespan further in order to achieve better results.
“However, if spare parts are no longer available regardless of what you do, then it is definitely time to sell and look for an alternative. Too many times I hear and see of underused machinery with no proper gauging methods in order to fully monetise its uses.
“This ends up being a liability, I4.0 allows you that ability to look into and implemented simplified manners of technology and not just use what is the latest in an unsuitable environment.
“Be subjective and objective at the same time and you’ll find yourself better suited to address future problems rather than react when the problem arises.”
Thus, the ITAP series play a pivotal role in bringing together the players in the manufacturing and manufacturing-related ecosystems, from partners, suppliers, to customers and the workforce.
“This year, we will be featuring 330 companies from 30 countries covering five main display areas: Additive Manufacturing, Digital Factory, Industrial Automation, Intra-logistics and Integrated Energy - as well as national pavilions from Germany, China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Russia and Singapore,” Boey said.
“As we want to help companies speed up Industry 4.0 adoption, we took on a very focused and specialized approach to develop practical learning platforms where companies can explore scalable solutions.
Companies will be showcasing their solutions and technologies primarily at three avenues at ITAP – The Collaboration Lab, Learning Lab and Robotics Experimental Zone.
“Through these targeted approaches, we hope to alleviate companies and workers’ fears and help them embrace I4.0.”