TUESDAY, JULY 28, 1992
PROPOSALS TO ENHANCE SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION
VARIETY FOR
GOVERNMENT-COMMISSIONED CONSULTANTS HAVE PUT FORWARD A OF RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT ENHANCING THE INFRASTRUCTURAL SUPPORT AND MANPOWER TRAINING OF INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND THE CULTIVATION OF AN AUTOMATION CULTURE IN SOCIETY.
AN
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE RSTABLISHMENT OF INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION TASK FORCE; THE PROVISION OF LAND, PREMISES AND FUNDING SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION PROJECTS; AND THE PROVISION OF TRAINING FOR STUDENTS, TECHNICIANS AND CRAFTSMEN.
THEY ALSO RECOMMEND THE MONITOR (NG OF THE DEVELOPMENT IN AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES; THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AWARD FOR AUTOMATION PROJECTS AND THE PRODUCTION OF TELEVISION PROGRAMMES ON INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SAID THE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE OF THE INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. (TDC) WAS CONSIDERING THE CONSULTANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS IN DETAIL AND WOULD SUBMIT ITS OWN RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ITDC LATER THIS YEAR.
"THE ITDC WILL. THEN ADVISK GOVERNMENT ON WHAT FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN, HE SAID.
THE CONSULTANCY STUDY ON INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND UNDERTAKEN BY THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL WITH THE HELP OF THREE SUB-CONSULTANTS, NAMELY ARTHUR D. LITTLE INC, AUTOMATFON LEASING AND CONSULTANCY PTE LTD AND KURT SALMON ASSOCIATES INC.
ITS OBJECTIVES WERK TO ASSESS THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION IN HONG KONG, AND TO IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS TO INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION WITH A VIEW TO ADVISING ON MEASURES TO OVERCOME THEM.
THE CONSULTANTS POINTED OUT THAT INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION COULD HELP HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS REALISE THEIR POTENTIAL OF BECOMING WORLD CLASS OPERATORS AND TO ENHANCE THEIR COMPETITIVENESS.
THE BENEFITS OF INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION WOULD INCLUDE THE REDUCTION IN PRODUCTION AND LABOUR COSTS; INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY; BETTER MATERIAL UTILISATION; SHORTENED DELIVERY TIME; AND IMPROVEMENT IN PRODUCT QUALITY AND WORKING RNVIRONMENT.
IDENTIFIED
THE CONSULTANTS HAVE, HOWEVER,
THAT LOCAL MANUFACTURERS ARE FACING VARIOUS BARRIERS TO INDUSTRIAL AITOMATION.
SUCH BARRIERS INCLUDE THE LACK OF APPRECIATION OF THE VALUE-ADDED NATURE OF MANUFACTURING; THE LACK OF A SHARED VISION OF AUTOMATION AMONG MANAGEMENT STAFF; THE LACK OF APPRECIATION OF THE VALUE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN
INSUFFICIENT EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS IN AUTOMATION AND INADEQUATE VENDOR SUPPORT IN AUTOMATION PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES.
AUTOMATION:
/THESE BARRIERS