SMART, IBM collaborate to future-proof manufacturing operations
04 May 2021
Smart Modular Technologies Sdn Bhd (Smart) has collaborated with IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd to transform its manufacturing facility operations into the Industry 4.0 agenda.
Smart will deploy IBM Maximo Visual Inspection integrated with AI-powered collaborative robots (Cobots) to develop manufacturing solutions while empowering its workforce with the latest technology skills.
Smart general manager Vejay Kumar said a highly digitised manufacturing operation is instrumental in enabling the company to be highly productive, boost efficiency and product quality as well as collaborate with an upskilled workforce.
“We expect the automated inspection process will help increase our production yield by 10 per cent, while increasing overall production throughput by 20 per cent,” he said in a statement today.
Smart’s memory components are embedded in systems from military and aviation to outer space applications.
IBM Maximo Visual Inspection helps to identify and isolate defective semi-conductor components before the next stage of processing, bringing quality control automation to Smart’s manufacturing process.
Smart’s manufacturing operations in Penang is the key supply chain operations centre for Asia’s electronics market as well as the centre of excellence for product manufacturing for their global business.
IBM Malaysia managing director Catherine Lian said the company is proud to work with Smart on their digital transformation journey to accelerate the pace of innovation across high value-added manufacturing.
“With IBM Maximo Visual Inspection capabilities, we are bringing a new set of intelligent eyes and automation to the manufacturing floor to enable Samrt to maximize production output while minimizing cost and defects,” she said.
Catherine said manufacturing is becoming increasingly more efficient, modular, and automated.
To reach its full potential, it is imperative for the industry to continue to embark on futureproofing measures by incorporating Industry 4.0 technologies in their digital transformation, she said.
“The collaboration between Smart and IBM clearly supports the country’s agenda to be the digital manufacturing hub as manufacturing is a core driver of economic growth for Malaysia, contributing about 23.6 per cent to Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020,” Catherine said.
Source: NST
