Written by Felicia Soon
Info compiled and edited by Gunaprasath Bupalan (YouTube – Emjay Communications , The Malaysia Global Business Forum , News Hub Asia , Property360Digest)
Technology is rapidly transforming the economic landscape around the world and in ASEAN. The advancement of technology will change the way we live and how we interact with one another. These new technologies should be adopted and utilise effectively for our economic development. However, people tend to worry about the disruptive nature of innovations. They fear machines and humanoid robots will eventually replace the need for manual labour in various economic activities.
In addition, slow economic growth and industrial adjustments can be costly in developed countries. But it is a different situation in ASEAN. The economies of ASEAN are steadily growing. Most of the young generation are growing up in a technological age. With the rapid growth of smart innovations and ease of convenience, there are more opportunities for youths to switch to better jobs and develop their skills in other areas. This transition is so compelling that it is being called Industry 4.0 to represent the fourth revolution (I4.0).
What is Industry 4.0?
I4.0 is fourth in the line of industrial revolutions and disrupts the manufacturing landscape with digital technologies that drive productivity gains. In ASEAN, according to McKinsey’s report on 14.0. this impact translates into US$216 billion to US$637 billion a year by 2025.
ASEAN’s economic resilience looks favourable for Malaysia’s projected broad-based growth this year, given the launch of the National Policy on Industry 4.0 (Industry 4WRD) to provide a comprehensive transformation agenda for the manufacturing sector and its related services. The government’s commitment to private-sector–led growth has also helped improve business conditions, with foreign direct investment and manufacturing being the hot drivers of economic growth.
Malaysia is currently between the second and third industrial revolution, with the exception of its electrical and electronics, aerospace and automotive sectors that have implemented the adoption of I4.0. There has also been a paradigm shift whereby some manufacturers have begun to comply with I4.0, which will bring in advanced technology, innovation and high value-added industries as well as a highly skilled talent pool, which will eventually lead to the economic prosperity of the country.
Challenges of Industry 4.0 Malaysia
While the state of readiness to adopt new technologies is escalating, low labour productivity still poses a problem, with workforce talent lagging behind industry demands, coupled by a lack of direction and focus in industry sectors.
“It is therefore crucial that we work with government and industrial stakeholders to support companies in developing talents and skill sets for the future,” says Raja Teagarajan, the co-organiser of the Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 forum and President of the Industry 4.0 Malaysia Association.
To be held on October 22 to 24 at Singapore EXPO & MAX Atria, Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC (ITAP) 2019 will address urgent industry concerns and steer attendees in the right direction by presenting practical, cost-efficient and easy to implement solutions.
The learning journey at ITAP 2019 begins with a customised journey through the Gateway to Industry 4.0 to showcase the transformation of old-technology exhibits into the new solutions. It also comprises:
- An exhibition that demonstrates the applications of Industry 4.0 technologies and solutions in key sectors such as industrial Automation, Digital Factory, Additive Manufacturing, Smart Logistics and Integrated Energy.
- Knowledge Exchange Platforms that close the knowledge gap with conference summits on the Future of Manufacturing, Global Additive Manufacturing, Manufacturing Standards; workshops and a master class.
- Free to attend Sandbox sessions that are targeted at different levels of adoption: trailblazers, early adopters and beginners. Aimed at driving conversations and to address industry issues.
- Learning Labs to showcase the applications of innovative ready-to-market products and solutions in industrial automation, digital factory and intralogistics.
- A new Collaboration Lab to demonstrate the test-bedding and retrofitting of solutions for a stepped approach towards Industry 4.0 adoption.
- A Start-up Zone and Innovation Zone to bring together technology providers and seekers to explore technology and business collaboration.
- Industry focused Guided Tours and Technical Tours for close-up engagement.
- 0nline-to-0ffline Smart Matchmaking and a hosted buyer programme to maximise business meetings and outcomes, including networking platforms.
- Digital community engagement via the Interchange Studio to address industry issues.
The recent Industry 4.0 forum roadshows that took place across Malaysia as a preliminary to the upcoming Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC (ITAP) 2019 that will be held next month in Singapore, was co-organised by Industry 4.0 Malaysia Association, Messe Worldwide Sdn Bhd and SingEx Exhibitions and is intended to help spur cross-border conversations with regional Industry 4.0 stakeholders comprising local industry members, supporting associations and public sector agencies.
Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 forums roadshows were held at:
Penang – 19 August 2019 (Penang Skills Development Centre, Bayan Lepas)
Kuala Lumpur – 22 August 2019 (The HLX, Kuala Lumpur)
Sabah – 27 August 2019 (Lembah Impian, Kota Kinabalu)
Sarawak – 28 August 2019 | Swinburne University of Technology, Kuching
(Please visit www.industrial-transformation.com for more highlights and updates about Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC 2019).
The nationwide forum was graced by the presence of many industry heads as well as renowned names such as Ms Vimala Murugan, Senior Director for Policies, Ministry for International Trade & Industry, Malaysia; Jeyasigan Nair, Director, Advanced Technology and R & D Division, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA); Dr Farouk Abdullah, Chief Data Scientist & Country Head, Natural Intelligence Solutions – Berjaya Group, Malaysia; Adam Yee, Senior Vice President, Siemens Malaysia; Dr Ho Chaw Sing, Managing Director, National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster, Singapore; Ruban Thevasenabathy, CEO KnowledgeCom, Malaysia; Leong Hon Mun, Sales Director SEA, Schneider Electric and Gururaj Adrakatti, Chief Digital Innovation Officer, Hong Leong Manufacturing Group, Malaysia who participated in lengthy discussions about the topic at hand.
Other forum panellists who shared insightful key messages during the roadshows were Mr. J. Ragupathy, the Chief Operations Officer of Galactic Advanced Engineering, Malaysia; Mr. Peter Kua of Media Prima Digital; Mr. Wallace Wong, the Chief Executive Officer of Swinburne Innovation Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.; Mr. Sharizal Shaarani, a Trustee of the Bukit Bintang Foundation; Capt. Sudhir Kumaren of Saffron Info Systems / UAS & Robotics Academy, Mr. Shankar Ramanathan, the COO of Cedar Technologies; Mr. Johnson Tan, the Vice President of Process Automation at Siemens Malaysia; Mr. Laurent Maillefer, the VP of Robotics & Discrete Automation at ABB Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Mr. Joseph Lau Ka Hoo, the President of Sarawak Manufacturers’ Association amongst many others.
This brilliant event when held in Kuala Lumpur on 22 August with the theme “Driving skill development for a future-ready workforce in Malaysia”, saw the Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Dr. Ong Kian Mingm sing praises about this initiative as he addressed the need for such educational events to coach the general public on the benefits of this migration.
Such outreach activities serve to highlight local Industry 4.0 initiatives, needs and contextual considerations, with the aim of cultivating a greater mutual awareness of opportunities for collaboration and learning, as well as interest in participating at Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC 2019.
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