CYBERJAYA: The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) and Proton today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further optimise shared resources to be used in developing Proton’s parts and components suppliers to ensure they are able to meet global standards.
The collaboration will pool resources between the two parties to maximise the utilisation of existing automotive development infrastructures; particularly in the areas of advanced design applications, digital process simulation and improved validation technology.
MAI’s supplier excellence programmes include:
ASEP – Automotive Supplier Excellence Programme (ASEP) is an automotive supplier improvement programme aimed at promoting a competitive and sustainable domestic automotive industry and to develop world-class automotive suppliers. ASEP is implemented for a period of 10 months, with detailed supervision, coaching, assessments and reporting exercises undertaken by experts relevant to the areas of improvements needed by participating companies.
DEP – MAI’s Design Engineering and Prototyping (DEP) programme aims to accelerate the enhancement of design and engineering capability within the automotive industry, especially the component automotive suppliers, through digital engineering application. Participating companies are provided a common platform through shared facilities, software and prototyping hardware in Design, Simulation and Analysis that enable them to conduct and perform digital engineering processes for automotive parts.
LPS – The MAI Lean Production System (LPS) programme, conducted in collaboration with Proton and Perodua involves MAI’s LPS Experts, coaching several automotive suppliers, focusing on the enhancement of productivity within manufacturing operations of automotive suppliers. LPS is a 9-month programme where participating companies will go through one-on-on coaching from industry experts.
AICE – The Automotive Industry Certification Engineering (AICE) programme is a programme catered for engineering graduates to jump start their careers in the industry through a syllabus that tailors them to be immediately employable into the automotive industry upon graduation. AICE programme comprises 8 months of intensive exposure to the various skill and knowledge sets within the automotive industry such as product and process design, as well as manufacturing processes and quality management systems.
IPC – Industry-Led Professional Certificate (IPC) programme aims to produce skilled operators and technicians through industry specific modules and on-job training. During this 6-month programme, trainees are exposed to industry knowledge, hands-on skills and the working culture of the automotive industry.
DEEP – The Dealers Entrepreneurship Enhancement Programme (DEEP) is a programme specifically catered towards automotive dealers that aims to enhance their competency and capabilities. Participating dealers will be exposed to areas that enable them to increase business revenue and profitability of their business.
Apprenticeship – The MAI Industry-Led Graduate Apprenticeship Programme is developed for engineering undergraduates, during their studies in their respective universities. The program is designed to inculcate industry-based habits and practices into the academic syllabus from moment the undergraduates enter the university life.
WTP – The Workshop Transformation Programme (WTP) aims to enhance the capability and competency of workshop owners and entrepreneurs in their business ventures. Participating workshop owners of are trained in fundamentals of entrepreneurship and are exposed to techniques in stabilizing their business through a ‘1-to-1 Intensive Coaching Session’.
“Upstream automotive activities – the design thinking, engineering applications and validation technology are key towards any meaningful participation within the automotive industry, especially as we are moving fast towards the fourth industrial revolution”, said MAI chief executive officer Datuk Madani Sahari.
“The MoU today has a significance beyond capacity building, it is the new way forward towards a change of culture and mind-set for the entire automotive value chain. Businesses must re-invent strategies to keep themselves competitive and relevant”, he added.
According to Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong, the MoU singing is significant for the national car company, as the success of its suppliers is crucial for the future growth of Proton.
