The event, proposed by Manufacturing Network Executive Member Lim Yew Kee and approved by the committee, was entitled Product Advancement with Research and Development Technology. Over the course of the day, a variety of speakers took to the stage to discuss topics as varied as additive manufacturing in 3D printing technology, simulation and modelling of circuit breakers for electrical applications and green and sustainable energy for building.

 

With the sector moving forward so quickly, this event was a chance for people to come together to find out more about the advanced manufacturing techniques being developed. 

 

Dr Tan Teng Hwang, Head of Programmes at the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department at UCSI University Kuala Lumpur, discussed the importance of MEMS pressure sensors to the sector.

 

“The implementation of MEMS pressure sensors has brought a lot of convenience, especially in the modern era of the Internet of Things,” he says. “Multiple electronic devices interact with each other in real time, therefore MEMS pressure sensors can play an important role by providing continuous information to end users or electronic systems,” he explains.

 

Dr Tan was joined by engineers and academics including professional engineer Eur Ing Ir. Jimmy Fam Deng Fong, Head of SCADA and Telecommunication at Tenaga Nasional Berhad – Malaysia’s national utility company. His talk focused on SCADA automation.

 

“SCADA automation is one of the most widely used technologies in the manufacturing sector today, used to increase productivity and output, lower labour costs and reduce unscheduled downtime,” Jimmy notes. 

 

As well as discussing the technologies themselves, the speakers also looked at the challenges faced by the industry in general and Malaysia specifically.

 

Jimmy highlighted that for the power utility environment those challenges revolve around smart grids and cyber security. 

 

“Specific challenges in my country will be the study and implementation of smart meters and smart grids, which are still being trialed. Only when the results are satisfactory and accepted by management will they be implemented across the whole nation,” he says. 

 

Getting the right education

Mixed in with the technical lectures were talks on education and careers, discussing the importance of soft skills and how successful career planning for manufacturing engineers has to start as early as university. Dr Tan also discussed his own experiences as a student and engineer working overseas.

 

“The biggest challenge in Malaysia’s manufacturing sector is to recruit engineers with the right mentality and competent engineering skills. Every year there are a lot of engineering graduates, but many of them do not possess the skills required by industry,” says Assistant Professor Dr Liau Vui Kien, Head of UCSI University’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department.

 

“The Malaysian government has actually come out with many initiatives in order to enhance the engineering skills of the workforce. For example, there are many government-sponsored fast track and industry training programmes available. Teaching and learning strategies have changed over the past 20 years. Traditional ways of teaching, with lectures and tutorials, may not be as effective. There are challenges to develop innovative teaching strategies,” he notes.

 

A lively exchange

After the talks were completed attendees were invited to take part in a Q&A session – there were so many questions that sadly the speakers ran out of time to answer them all. 

 

“We had a lively exchange and some great knowledge sharing took place,” enthuses speaker and Manufacturing Network Executive Member Lim Yew Kee. “Feedback has been very satisfying and there were requests for more similar IET events in the future,” he adds. 

 

“There was an overwhelming response from the audience. I could see that there were academics, graduates and students that wanted to keep up to date with the technologies and issues faced by the industry. It’s great to be part of fulfilling the IET’s mission to inspire, inform and influence,” Jimmy says proudly. 

 

Please let us have your comments below and if you want to find out more about the Manufacturing Network community, please take a look at our home page

 

You can read a related blog post for further information and to see photographs and speakers' slides.