Malaysian plastics firms to embrace Industry 4.0

What has been a buzzword in Europe for a while now is beginning to take off in Asia now: Industry 4.0.

A recent signing ceremony between The Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) and iPlast4.0 sealed the agreement between the two parties to commit to the implementation of Industry 4.0 in the country through a programme called “Audit for Industry 4.0 Readiness and Roadmap Development toward Industry 4.0 Ready”.

Industry 4.0 refers to the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. It includes cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and cognitive computing. Industry 4.0 creates what has been called a "smart factory" or “smart manufacturing”.

Industry 4.0 is also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution and has filled many physical systems, such as transportation, water, manufacturing, computing, and so on.

iPlast 4.0 has professionals with expertise in Scientific Moulding, Smart Maintenance, LEAN Automation and Smart Manufacturing, and is on a quest to help Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to take their 1st step towards Smart Manufacturing. iPlast 4.0 is currently working with the German Innovation Centre for Industry 4.0 to conduct the Injection Moulding 4.0 Readiness Audit for the plastics industry.

The company has successfully helped SMEs in Taiwan to embark on their journey towards Smart Manufacturing. The Principal of iPlast 4.0, Anston Tan is hopeful that Malaysia can follow suit.

Meanwhile, MPC Deputy Director General AB. Rahim Yusoff said that the programme is in line with the goals of the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (11MP: 2016-2020).

As of 2016, the country’s productivity level stands at RM78,218, while the productivity growth is 3.5 %.

The Industry 4.0 programmeis expected to increase the national productivity level to RM92,300 and the productivity growth to 3.7 %.

The 11^th Malaysia Plan also aims to promote automation and to reduce the dependence of unskilled foreign workers – something which Tan believes the programme can contribute to.

Currently, Malaysia is lacking workers skilled in Industry 4.0.

To address this gap, iPlast 4.0 plans to bring engineering practitioners from abroad (such as Germany) to Malaysia to train Malaysian workers who will then be able to take the lead in the industry.

Tan had spoken earlier on 25thSeptember at a seminar titled “Smart Manufacturing Programme” at the German-Malaysian Institute. He had outlined several challenges, including lack of awareness, lack of investment, lack of digital culture, and a lack of digital skills.

However, he believes these challenges can be overcome and spoke of the benefits of Industry 4.0.“Industry 4.0 is not just about the industry only but also about delivering mass customised products with the least cost possible,” he said further, adding that this encourages competition which is good.

Four plastics companies have been chosen by the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) to participate in the Industry 4.0 programme.

They are: LH Plus Sdn Bhd, Plasform Sdn Bhd, Mah Sing Plastics Industries Sdn Bhd and Triplus Industry Sdn Bhd.

Malaysia’s Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF or Pembangunan Sumber Malaysia Berhad), an agency under the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia, has allocated a fund for these companies to participate in the programme. iPlast 4.0 was appointed by MPMA to lead its government-backed pilot programme, “First Step to Injection Moulding 4.0” #FSIM40.

(IMA)