The establishment of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) model smart factories which are open for educational tours will assist SMEs in similar industries to learn first-hand about automation, digitalisation and high-technology in smart manufacturing.
According to SME Association of Malaysia (SME Malaysia) National President Ding Hong Sing, the experiential learning would facilitate SMEs in establishing their own smart factories.
“Sharing on challenges faced and learning points on implementation of factory infrastructure by the factory owner can prove invaluable to other SMEs embarking upon Industrial Revolution 4.0,” he elaborated.
Ding had proposed the model smart factory concept at the association’s Platinum Business Awards 2023 (PBA2023) Presentation and Gala Dinner at MITEC, Kuala Lumpur, attended by Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development YB Senator Puan Saraswathy Kandasami as guest-of-honour.
On a separate note, Ding thanked the Government for allocating RM900 million in loans under Budget 2024 to finance SME automation and digitalisation projects while calling for simple and transparent funding guidelines, supported by special interest rates below 2 percent to make loan repayments affordable for SMEs.
Datuk Tan Seng Kit received the Platinum Entrepreneur Award while the Outstanding Achiever Award went to Fajarbaru Builder Group Berhad and MK Curtain Berhad.
The SME Best Overall Award went to Cooltec Industries Sdn Bhd, Just Supply Chain Sdn Bhd and SOCC Holdings Sdn Bhd while recipients for the Asia Pacific Outstanding Enterprise Award category were Chou Yen Attorneys-at-Law, Luvaii Aesthetic Medical Group and Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation.
PBA2023 Organising Chairlady Datuk Ada Poon stated, “Business is the lifeblood of Malaysian SMEs and we at SME Malaysia believe that our efforts to discover companies and individuals who have improved their business performance will count towards furthering the growth and development of Malaysian businesses.”
On the organising of PBA2023, she disclosed there was a total of 107 award recipients this year, comprising 95 recipients for awards by nomination and 12 by invitation.
“After Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Sabah has the third highest number of winners; it is truly wonderful to witness such achievements by our East Malaysian friends. Winning the PBA will help award recipients tap onto greater market access and brand recognition potential,” she added.
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