APO COE on Smart Manufacturing Launched in R.O.C
The Launching Ceremony for the APO Center of Excellence on Smart Manufacturing (COE on SM) and 2019 International Forum on Smart Manufacturing was held on August 6, 2019 at the Central District Service Office of China Productivity Center (CPC), on the theme of "Smart Manufacturing Ushers in the Future." The ceremony was jointly chaired by Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn, Secretary General of APO and CPC Chairperson Sheng-Hsiung Hsu. Guest of honors include Mr. Shen Jong-Chin, Minister of Economic Affairs, and Ms. Lu Shiow-yen, Mayor of Taichung City. Along with the launching of the Center, an international forum was organized to explore the trends and applications of smart manufacturing, and to establish a platform for smart manufacturing technology exchanges and cooperation in the future.
The Republic of China (ROC) has been a full member, under its official title, of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) since its founding in 1961. The proposal for the establishment of the "Center of Excellence on Smart Manufacturing (COE on SM)" in ROC was approved by APO Board of Directors in April 2019, to be the second such center established in ROC, following the APO Center of Excellence on Green Productivity (COE on GP) approved in 2013. This is a recognition by the Secretariat and member economies of APO of the achievement of ROC in performing the functions of the APO center of excellence.
(from left) CPC General Manager Pao-Cheng Chang; Jang-Hwa Leu, Director General of Industrial Development Bureau; Shih Cheng-Mao, Minister of MOFA; Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn, APO Secretary General; Shen Jong-Chin, Minister of Economic Affairs; Sheng-Hsiung Hsu, CPC Chairperson; Bruce J.D. Linghu, Deputy Mayor of Taichung City; Juan Chi-Chuan, Deputy Director-General of Workforce Development Agency, MOL; and Wang Kuo-Ming, CPC General Consultant
Promote Smart Manufacturing
And Assist Technology Transfer among Member Economies
In his opening remarks, Mr. Sheng-Hsiung Hsu, APO Board Director and CPC Chairperson, mentions that the achievement ROC attained in administering the COE on GP since 2013 has been acknowledged by the APO Secretariat and the member economies, which leads to the calls from APO Secretariat for ROC to share its experience on Internet of Things (IoT), smart machinery, and industrial clusters with fellow member economies to seek industrial upgrading to the era of Industry 4.0. That has laid the foundation for the establishment of the COE on Smart Manufacturing, with the hope to promote smart manufacturing programs, compile and provide smart manufacturing information, introduce smart manufacturing technology and management models to APO member economies and promote technology transfer to assist SMEs in the Asia-Pacific region to cope with the rapid international changes.
Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn, APO Secretary-General, remarks that COE on Smart Manufacturing is the second center of excellence approved by APO in the Republic of China. It is also a plan developed in response to the trend of Industry 4.0, by assisting member economies in developing smart manufacturing technologies and further enhancing their industrial development. The continuous growth of industries in the Asia-Pacific region will help to maintain competitiveness in the global value chain.
Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn, APO Secretary-General (left) presenting the plaque of COE on Smart Manufacturing to CPC Chairperson Sheng-Hsiung Hsu (right), witnessed by Mr. Shen Jong-Chin, Minister of Economic Affairs (center)
A Win-win Situation, Shared by All on the Platform
Mr. Shen Jong-Chin, Minister of Economic Affairs, says that smart manufacturing is a focus of the “5+2 Industrial Innovation Program.” In the program, smart machinery is introduced into the precision manufacture industry in central Taiwan and now it is the fastest growing sector. The Ministry of Economic Affairs hopes that COE on smart manufacturing can serve as a platform through which the achievements of smart manufacturing can be shared with APO member economies so all states enjoy a win-win situation.
Mr. Bruce J.D. Linghu, Deputy Mayor of Taichung City, expresses his gratitude to APO for setting up the COE on smart manufacturing in Taichung. He mentions that, as Taichung is a major setting for mechanical industry in Taiwan, the city government is promoting the smart machinery industry with the hope to establish a prosperous industrial zone in the Dadushan Valley. Taichung City hopes to work closely with the central government to continue promoting the industrial upgrading to the status of smart machinery and to achieve the goal of 2 trillion NT Dollars in output value.
The establishment of APO COE on Smart Manufacturing is the result of the joint effort of several government offices, including the Industrial Development Bureau and the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It also owes a lot to the support and assistance from APO Secretariat. It is expected that, through joint programs of research and training, seminars, and mutual visits and exchanges, new international cooperation models can be developed so as to help member economies to enhance the competitiveness of their enterprises, and make substantial contributions to the international community and strengthen industrial competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.
CPC assists to enhance industrial competitiveness
Mr. Pao-Cheng Chang, CPC General Manager, also points out in his speech that CPC will spare no effort in the administration of the APO Center of Excellence on Smart Manufacturing, as an integral part of its engagement in the “5+2 Industrial Innovation Program,” which include the promotion of smart machinery and the New Southbound Policy. Experts in technology, information, system integration and management services related to smart manufacturing will be invited to provide consultation to assist member economies to enhance the capability of smart manufacturing and to raise the industrial competitiveness.
Besides delegates from APO member economies and ROC government officials, there are about 150 participants attending the event, from the industries, government, and academia. The international forums and technical seminars, targeting new ideas in smart manufacturing such as smart factories, smart production, Internet of Things (IoT) and big data, are organized with presentations by speakers from exemplary domestic and foreign industries including Hiwin, Fair Friend, The Intelligent Warehouse from Singapore, and SOLiD Inc. from India, sharing their expertise and experience in smart manufacturing technology and promotion progress. Through the in-depth learning, visits and presentations, participants all benefit a lot in their knowledge acquired on smart manufacturing trends and intelligent core technologies.
Dr. Santhi Kanoktanaporn, APO Secretary-General, CPC Chairperson Sheng-Hsiung Hsu, and delegates of member economies visiting the Center of Excellence on Smart Manufacturing.