LAM Manufacturing Malaysia, a leading wafer fabrication equipment maker, is dedicated to building a robust local talent ecosystem in Penang and across Malaysia.
The company’s general manager and managing director Lee Eng Keat emphasised the company’s efforts in upskilling its workforce and fostering future leaders in technology.
“To nurture our local talent pool, we have implemented various upskilling programmes.
“For instance, we continue to send our employees overseas to acquire new technology and bring back valuable knowledge.
“In addition, we also offer an Employer Assistance Program to sponsor employees pursuing higher academic qualifications, from Diplomas to PhDs,” Lee told Buletin Mutiara during a special event at the factory yesterday (Oct 14).
Lee revealed that over the past few years, Lam has sponsored around 40 employees under this Employer Assistance Program and interest continues to grow as opportunities for academic advancement are made available.
“In addition to supporting its workforce, Lam is also collaborating with educational institutions such as the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) and Peninsula College to co-develop curricula that align with industry needs.
“This partnership ensures that graduates are equipped with the skills required in a rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape shaped by automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI).
“Industry involvement is crucial to ensure that the curriculum remains relevant, so students are better prepared for real-world challenges and become more employable,” Lee added.
Lee mentioned that despite being in Malaysia for only three and a half years, Lam has made significant strides in investing time and resources to nurture local talent.
“We are not only focusing on our current workforce but also envision developing future technology leaders,” Lee remarked.
He added that as part of the company’s vision, many of Lam’s employees volunteer as mentors, coaching and guiding school students.
The company has also sponsored numerous programmes that benefit young learners, further promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.
Lee also spoke about a special event held at the factory, where Lam hosted 120 primary and secondary school students from Penang, engaging them in various STEM-related activities.
“Our goal is to inspire these students to pursue careers in STEM fields. As a technology-driven company, we provide ample opportunities and mentorship for students interested in these areas,” said Lee.
Additionally, Team Malaysia, which participated in the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge, attended the event to showcase their robotics skills.
The FIRST Global Challenge is an annual robotics competition that promotes STEM education and careers among youth.
This year’s competition, held in Athens, Greece from Sept 26 to 29, saw Team Malaysia achieve a commendable 71st place out of 180 competing teams.
Lee said Lam was proud to have sponsored the team, consisting of five talented school students, whose performance reflected great potential.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud