Kuala Lumpur:The country is currently facing significant challenges in achieving its ambitious goal of transforming 3,000 manufacturers into smart factories by the year 2030. As of now, only 93 manufacturers have completed this transformation successfully.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin stated that an additional 161 manufacturers are in the process of transforming and are expected to complete the process by December 2026. However, the current progress indicates that Malaysia is still far from meeting its target.

Sim highlighted that the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 includes the transformation of 3,000 smart factories as a key objective. Despite the low take-up rate, the government is focusing on assisting manufacturers that lack the financial capacity and capabilities to adopt smart manufacturing technologies.

The Malaysia Smart Manufacturing Awards (MSMA) 2027, launched recently, aims to inspire more manufacturers to embrace automation and smart manufacturing. Sim urged manufacturers across various sectors to take steps toward automation.

MSMA 2027 seeks to recognize manufacturers who have made strides in smart manufacturing, encompassing both process and automation improvements. The initiative emphasizes the need for more factories to automate their processes, including audit recording, as part of Malaysia's drive to enhance technology and digitalization in the manufacturing sector.