Western Digital lauded at ESGBusiness Awards 2024 for smart factory transformation

It has been recognised by the World Economic Forum as the first 4IR Lighthouse in Malaysia.

Data storage solutions provider Western Digital landed the 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution) Programme Award - Malaysia title win at the prestigious ESGBusiness Awards 2024 for the transformative manufacturing innovation it has made in its Batu Kawan Factory through the integration of advanced 4IR technologies.

The company’s initiative at its Batu Kawan Factory transcends mere automation, representing a strategic reimagination of the entire production and logistics ecosystem. The integrated 4IR technologies include artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and the Industrial Internet of Things.

Its uniqueness lies in empowering human potential alongside machines and manual processes into a single, seamlessly orchestrated robotic flow. By integrating in-line automation, cloud-based communication, SECS/GEM protocols, and Big Data analytics tools, Western Digital showcases a comprehensive and innovative approach to lights-out automation.

Western Digital’s implementation of lights-out automation at the Batu Kawan factory has yielded groundbreaking results.

As reported in a World Economic Forum (WEF) White Paper, labour productivity has shown an improvement by 360% in manufacturing, and 90% in material transportation, along with Man Machine Ratio (MMR) improvement from 1:18 to 1:55 that exemplifies the synergistic collaboration between humans and machines, 54.5% and manufacturing lead time reduction with a 40% reduction in manual touchpoints.

Its operations have also become more streamlined, reducing the risk of errors resulting in DPPM from 1000 to 488. Additionally, scrap costs have been reduced by 20%, underscoring the efficiency gains achieved through automation.

The company’s successes have been enabled by continuous training programmes, strategic vendor collaborations, and its PRiSMS-DnA framework, which enables rapid development and keeps the factory at the forefront of the evolving automation landscape.

Recognised by the WEF as the first in Malaysia to achieve Advanced 4IR Lighthouse status and the first in Asia for Sustainability Lighthouse, the project has achieved a global impact and has established itself as a leader in transformative manufacturing.

“This project demonstrates that embracing robotics and lights-out automation is not about eliminating jobs, but about transforming human capabilities and unlocking unprecedented levels of efficiency, speed, and quality,” the company said.

The ESGBusiness Awards 2024 celebrates companies that are leading the way in building a sustainable future. It also highlights businesses that demonstrate outstanding commitment and achievement in environmental, social, and governance practices.