THE Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) Industry 4.0 Week witnessed the exchanges of 4 MoUs taking place between PSDC and four tech companies which pledged to offer its expertise and services to the former for enhancing its delivery performance and the skills of its staff.
These companies were Cleantech Solar (CS), IME Group of Companies (IME), The Center of Applied Data Science (CADS) and VidyaBharathi Group of Institutions (VB Group).
CS, which was represented by its chief operating officer Jerome Baco, gave a powerpoint presentation on the history and profile of the Singapore-based company with its offer for clean and sustainable source of energy for PSDC. The company had undertaken to fully finance the end-to-end solar solution from design, installation and maintenance of the 415 kWp PV system on the rooftop of the PSDC building. Furthermore, it will also support a scholarship programme for selected current PSDC students to assist in the completion of their diploma programme.
IME will be sponsoring 4 units of 3D printers and one-time supply of printing consumables and training for PSDC staff. It will also support PSDC workshops and training sessions on additive manufacturing technology for school students.
CADS had pledged to work closely with PSDC on data science enablement especially in the area of artificial intelligence (AI) skill framework via focus group sessions with the industry and academia while VB Group would be provided with a space within PSDC for the promotion of talent development in the area of Industry 4.0 particularly in India and the Gulf countries.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who attended the event as the Guest of Honour, was quick to remind all who were present that Industry 4.0 was no longer a mere buzz word but encapsulated the present and future of the global industrial and manufacturing landscape.
“When Industry 4.0 started to gain attention several years ago, many perceived it as just another fad or buzz word. In the past 2 years, however, we have seen how the industrial revolution has gained momentum worldwide and how it has made a huge impact on the global industrial and manufacturing landscape. Today, we operate in a world that’s inhibited by geographical boundaries. The ability to provide high customization at the lowest possible cost determines the success of a company as well as its survival,” Chow said in his opening remarks on Nov 13.
“We are aware that in adopting these changes (due to Industry 4.0), there are challenges and the risks involved and investments are also required. In the recent tabling of the 2019 National Budget, the federal government has committed RM210 million to support the transition and migration to Industry 4.0 in the next 3 years. The finance minister also announced that RM2 billion has been allocated under the Business Loan Guarantee Scheme (SJPP) to provide guarantees of up to 70% as incentive to SMEs to invest in automation and modernisation.
“The federal government will also create a RM3 billion Industry Digitalisation Transformation Fund with subsidised interest rate of 2% under Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad. I strongly believe that the industry in Penang will greatly benefit from this timely and much needed stimulus,” the chief minister noted.
Also present were PSDC chief executive officer Muhamed Ali Hajah Mydin, PSDC Management Council chairman Andre Holzhausen, his deputy Datuk Teh Yong Khoon, Electrical & Electronics Productivity Nexus chairman Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai, VB Group chairman Mohammed Kutty, IME founder & chairman Teoh Tuan Ka and CADS founder Sharala Axryd.
Story by Victor Seow
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad