DIGITAL ENGINEERING ADOPTION IN MANUFACTURING AND R&D CRITICAL

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Adoption of digital engineering in the
manufacturing and research and development processes has become more critical
and today it is a must-have for better management and higher profitability, said
Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Mukhriz Mahathir.

In being creative and innovative, he said, digital approach helps to reduce
time taken from concept to prototype and also building of actual prototypes,
which means new models get to testing quicker, thus reducing product delivery
time.

In addition, there will be reduction in the number of changes due to
assembly issues and the number of prototypes' confirmation required for
manufacturing, he said in his keynote address at the memorandum of understanding
signing between Malaysia Automotive Institute and DreamEDGE Sdn Bhd
Wednesday.

"I was told that in Malaysia there has been little progress in this area.
This could be due to the fact that digital engineering is a new development and
not widely promoted," he said.

Under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), Mukhriz said the
government has identified engineering services as one of the potential areas to
boost Malaysia's gross national income (GNI) towards becoming a high-income
nation.

Mukhriz said the application cuts across sectors such as automotive,
aerospace, maritime and other manufacturing-related industries.

Nonetheless, he said, digital approach has taken a long time to permeate the
manufacturing hall, including here in Malaysia, which historically has been a
poor relation to the designing activity, almost an after event, but that has
changed now.

He said design was under increasing pressure to streamline with its
manufacturing processes, thus it has turned to digital simulation to increase
efficiency.

As a standard model in styling and design, he said, simulation was currently
being used only as a validation tool.

However, it should now move one step higher to influence the design process
from the beginning, he said.

He said simulation has become an integral part of design process and has
enabled manufacturers to have a faster and more flexible approach in resolving
complex issues within the designing environment.

Mukhriz urged the industry players to take cognisance of the importance of
digital engineering for them to survive the increasing borderless, closely
networked and competitive global supply chain.

"It is our priority to promote a more conducive environment for the industry
to thrive in nurturing innovation, commercialisation, new product development
and business," he said.

Continuous vigilance of market and technology needs, acquisition and
diffusion of strategic and state-of-the-art technology as well as creating value
through strategic alliances and collaborations was imperative for the local
industry to remain competitive and be part of the global supply chain.
-- BERNAMA


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