Since Germany introduced the concept of Industry 4.0 in 2011, manufacturers around the world have been striving to revive their competiveness by advanced technology and industry strategy. However, only a few have a clear idea of incorporating Industry 4.0 into their own plants. The Director of Jing Mei Group of Companies (Jing Mei) and the Vice Chairman of Group 27 (Automobile, aeronautical and advance components) of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) Ricky Chan says, “corporates cannot blindly go with the tide when steering their way towards Industry 4.0; they must stay true to their market position and fathom suitable operating practices to make proper investment in order to strengthen a corporate’s competiveness.” Ricky Chan also points out that some developed automated corporates in Japan even increase manpower to cope with detective products to improve productivity and output quality. This illustrates the coordination between advanced technology and operating practices to further enhance competitiveness. Ricky Chan frankly shares his efforts when figuring out Jing Mei’s automation development. “We followed the footsteps of automotive tycoons to figure out the integration of automation software and manufacturing procedures; on the other hand, we keep improving our products and services to meet our customers’ requirements, hoping to accumulate enough experience to precisely understand what customers really need.”

Propelling a Virtuous Cycle

Besides the evolving operating models, the introduction of automation also fosters a virtuous cycle in Jing Mei. Ricky Chan thinks that personnel is the most important asset for a corporate; it is important to communicate to them that automation is not a threat but rather an assistance to add value to their work and simplifies complicated procedures. “Employees do not only get to enjoy new experiences and trials at work, they even gain self value when customers extend positive feedback to their performance, urging them to work with even more dedication. This showcases the communication achievements between management, mid-level, and employees, which further strengthens their mutual understanding and trust to lubricate future cooperation and raise the chance of success.”

Promoting Cooperation Between Corporates

Since the well-developed electronics and information technology industries in Hong Kong have already built up a pool of talents and resources to drive automated manufacturing, with government funding such as Technology Voucher Programme to boot, Ricky Chan thinks the cooperation between corporates will surely be the icing on the cake for local automated industries. “Automation and smart development are not limited to industrial application; many professional services are drawing big data to enhance their product and service quality. The exchange and cooperation between corporates can trigger more innovative ideas and inter-subsidise their resources to promote the overall industry competitiveness in a long run.”