Advancing Automation: The Evolution of Malaysia's Manufacturing Sector and the Founding of the Automation Association in the ASEAN region

In the late 1990s, Malaysia's manufacturing sector was expanding rapidly, but the industry faced several challenges such as increasing labor costs, competition from emerging markets, and the need to adopt new technologies to remain competitive. To address these challenges, a similar industry group to the Automation Technology Industry Group (ATIG) established in Singapore Confederation of Industries (SCI) was formed in Malaysia on April 24, 2003, under the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM). The primary objective of this new industry group was to become the voice of the Automation Technology Industry in Malaysia and promote industrial automation in the country. The group is now known as the Malaysia Automation Technology Association (MATA).

The establishment of FMM-ATIG was timely as it aimed to create a cohesive environment where industry players could share knowledge, experiences, and challenges. The association sought to raise awareness among Malaysian manufacturers about the benefits of adopting automation and new technologies to increase productivity and efficiency while reducing labor costs. Dr. (h.c.) Benny Yeo was elected as the Chairman of the industry group in Malaysia, and under his leadership, FMM-ATIG collaborated with IA-Community to organize various networking events, trade missions, and exhibitions to discuss and showcase the latest trends and technologies in the automation industry. The association also provided training and educational programs to members to help them acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to implement automation in their businesses.

Since its inception, FMM-ATIG has played a vital role in promoting industrial automation in Malaysia. Today, the Malaysia Automation Technology Association (MATA) continues to work towards its objectives by encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors to facilitate the adoption of new technologies in the manufacturing sector. Through its efforts, MATA hopes to drive innovation and ensure Malaysia remains competitive in the global marketplace.