Mr. Tang Chong Chin, The President of Malaysia Knitting Manufacturers Association (MKMA) said it is a challenge of understanding how to get the automation process started and apply for incentives or grants thru Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) and SIRIM. Thus the association co-organized seminars with Mida for MKMA members.

Says Tang, in the textile industry, the upstream players (such as yarn-spinning factories) can automate more than the downstream players (such as garment factories).

He added “The adoption of automation can result in savings in terms of hiring manpower and energy consumption. It can also decrease defect rates.”

He started the automation journey by identifying processes that could be automated. He had implemented Elastic Splice Machine, Pattern and digitizing software, Productivity and quality inspection software.” He had claimed an estimated RM3.5 million in the past three years.

He urged that “Companies should talk to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority before buying any equipment and ask questions if they are not sure.” The ultimate aim is to improve the automation level in your factory so you can be more competitive.

The full articles can be view here:The Journey Towards Automation

The speech is presented on event ‘Dialogue on Potential Economic Impact of Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TTPA) on the Textile & Apparel Industry in Malaysia’ organize by MIDA at Kuala Lumpur, 20/01/2016.

The association deem TPPA as timely and crucial to the rejuvenation of Textile and Apparel Industry in Malaysia.

“We are confident that the textile and apparel industry would grow at least 30% upon the implementation of TPPA and TPPA is expected to double the business in a five-year period,” Tang Chong Chin said.

“As a player in the market, with that kind of elimination of duty, given the Yarn Forward Rule (YFR) and Short Supply List (SSL), we are quite positive to achieve this given the sufficient labour force to support our industry,” Tang told reporters, after attending the dialogue on potential economic impact of TPPA on the textile and apparel industry in Malaysia.

Detail slide information can be view here: MKMA-Mida-20Jan16

Appreciation Letter from MIDA can be view here: Appreciation Letter From MIDA

Detail articles can be view here:

1. MIDA – Dialoge TPPA
2. TheMalaysianReserve – Textile and apparel industry to benefit from TPPA
3. NST – Textile sector can grow by 30pc
4. Nanyang – Industry Grow 30pc