Assalamualaikum & Salam Sejahtera.
Alhamdulillah. I've once again given this opportunity to write reflection this week. Its really sad to say this that this week is the last reflection for our subject(Introduction To Electronic System Engineering). I mean this is the end of evaluation process for this subject.After this, I just can write anythings i learn in this course later on, as i found that this reflective journal really help me in study and targeting what i want to achieve in this course. I will try to update this reflective journal always. For me, this reflection really help me to review and understand more about this course generally. Its good actually as we first year student still new to this course. A lot of us, still confuse of what this course provide us, what will we learn in details as after we choose what field of electronic system we want, and what are the future of graduated students from this course. As we know, its almost the end for semester one, and of course we electronic system(elecsys) students gain a lot of knowledge and information about this course after going through this course for a few months. hahaha.
Okay lets start discussing every single things in details of the trip to Canon Opto (Malaysia) Factory Sdn. Bhd (COM). The factory located in Shah Alam, and we going there by using two buses, as both section combine to do this industrial visit. Its like a happy and big family of elecsys work together and cooperate with each other in doing this industrial visit. We depart from Kolej Siswa Jaya (KSJ) around 8 am, and we arrive at COM factory around 10 am. Seems like the COM really far from our college as it took quite some time to arrive there. But, actually, we misguided because of certain problem during the trip. But nevermind, we still arrived at COM right.
Canon Opto Malaysia main building
When we arrived at the factory, we can see that a few COM staff are waiting for us in front of the main building there. They really welcome us with warm smile and we feel really appreciated and most welcome of course. Then after greeting between our trip lecturers that are Dr AKM Muzahidul Islam and Mr. Redzuan, with representative from COM that are their Assistant General Manager, Mr Nazir and manager from Public Relation and Communication Department(PR), Mdm Jurina and her assistant. The first thing that we do at the COM before we enter the building is taking picture together, because COM want to keep the photo of their visitors as it is like a memories to the company. Then, we were lead into the beauty building of COM factory for tour or trip briefing in this COM factory. We are lead to meeting room in that building to hear a few regulations that we must follow during the tour in the factory and a welcome speech from Mr Nazir. First briefing is from Mr Ayub the manager form Safety and Environmental Health. The briefing really short and simple but full of information about everything related to safety during the tour. Then the briefing continue by Mr Nazir the Assistant GM of COM. A warm welcome speech from him covered aspects like activities of COM this year, and achievement of the company from it start on 1989 till today 2012. Some of it like the first company to receive the ISO 14000 from the government, they giving scholarship to selected student to study in overseas, and many more contribution to charity event. For our information, 95% of COM products like digital camera and EF lenses are exported to overseas and most of Asian and Europe countries. In 1995, Canon Inc. merge COM and CCM under 1 roof that named COM. Start from this, COM start to achieve a lot in Malaysia gain millions of profit year by year.
Ready for group photo...
We listen to what program will we do at COM...
Fortunate : i take picture with Mr Husaini one of the manager at COM...
Lets begin with the tour to Water Treatment Plant. Before that, Mr Husaini tell us that generally there are 4 phase to treat water in COM factory that are :-
- Phase 1 : Filter Press 1
- Phase 2 : Waste Minimization Center
- Phase 3 : Recycle Waste Yard/ Bin Center
- Phase 4 : Tube Well Treatment Plant
First of all, we were guided to phase 1 that is Filter Press phase. This is where Canon treat their water before recharge it into the drain. The company policy state that, They will reduce adverse impacts of the company operation towards protection of environment by necessary means and actions for a better and harmonious environment. It is because Canon is the company that really practice sustainability in their company policy. Actually, according to the data from Canon, they use about 2000 m3 perday. Almost 80% of the water was used for cleaning the lenses and the rest 20% are use for other purpose. There are also a big RO process machine that always used by industry there. According to Mr Husaini, the RO machine are the old one and Canon has been using it for a long time, but what is unique about this RO machine is, we only need a capital of RM 2.00 for 2000 bottle of mineral water, and in the market they sale this mineral water for RM 1 per bottle. Can you guys imagine how much is the profit that they get for selling this mineral water. For our information, big company likes COM that love the environment, they has to comply the rules, regulations and standards imposed by the Malaysian Government, Canon Inc, and COM itself in its daily operations.
Second one is the phase 2 that is waste minimization center/Bin Center. According to Mr Husaini, this place is where chemical waste from core production is being treat. There is another policy that COM need to follow as it is the company rule, like they cannot bring their waste out from COM factory area because they need to treat their waste products by themselves. They using all the high technology machine in this phase 2, and according to Mr Husaini, the machine use was 1 of the most high technology in the world. I'm impressed with the COM policy that really care about environment besides thinking about how to maximize the company profit. We didnt enter this phase 2 area as it involve the chemical waste, but according to Mr Husaini, its okay as long as we follow the rule and regulations stated by the company. Because of a lot of people didnt want to enter, Mr Husaini lead us to another phase that is phase 3.
Okay, this phase 3 involve in managing the general waste or solid waste that mostly are apart from the production waste. They compose food waste become fertilizer and and food packaging into carbon. Amazing isn't it?? COM really committed and strict in managing their waste. They have the carbonizer machine, that use heating element to transform general waste into carbon or coat the waste with carbon. Actually, this process need science explanation, here i explain this process based on what i understand according to Mr husaini. He said that in order to reduce the hazardous chemical waste, the chemical waste need to undergo carbonizer process with the absence of oxygen. Thus, with the absence of oxygen, it prevents any chemical reaction with polyvinylchloride, and the like and also it prevent the generation of dioxin that really toxic in its properties. The reduced end product is the stable carbon compound and the cooled product is discharged automatically outside the rotary valve, thus its really make carbonizer machine an eco-friendly machine. Furthermore, COM has its own process area, i mean indoor area. The carbonizer machine use is the one of the most high technology in the world. Like i said before, COM really have one of the most eco-friendly policy in the Malaysia and even the world. Actually COM is the first company to treat their waste inside their own factory area in Malaysia. Its really fantastic, and i think most of the COM workers really grateful because they can work in a healthy and clean environment.
The last phase is phase 4, that is The Well treatment Plant. Actually this is the phase where COM using other alternative to get water supply other than water that supply by the government. According to Mr Husaini, actually government really need this action of private company to get their own source of water because water that supplied by government actually for the public citizen, and not for the company. Because of COM really using a lot of water everyday, idea of getting their own water supply pop out, and it implemented at COM factory. From this phase, they get water from the underground and processed into distilled water and supply to production unit. After finish explanation about the 4 phase or water treatment plant,Mr Husaini and us go back to the meeting room in the main building.
Actually i really impressed with the technology, policy, and attitude of work culture and awareness of COM in handling their waste. Its really differ from what i heard before that private company dump their waste into the river and etc, not according to the government policy. I really fortunate to know all this facts, and it changes a whole bunch of idea and perspective in my minds about attitude of private company. Another thing is, the standards that COM practice is they will always do 20% more better than the government standards. I'm really proud of the policy that are done by this company.
Then after we arrived at the meeting room, we are brief about the next agenda that we will go through that day. We rest for almost 10 minutes after 1 hour tour to water treatment plant. Next activity in this trip is, we will see with our own eyes of the camera and lenses production by the company.This activity, we will do it at level 1 of the main buildings, that is the main production sites for lenses and digital camera.
At level 1, we will watch how the staff working to produce the products. First we were given shoes cover, somethings that i thought for the hair because it really looks like one. hahaha. First of all, after arriving at the first floor, we are divide into 3 groups. One group will be lead by 1 manager from the production unit and my group that consist of around 20 students plus Dr AKM muzahidul Islam. We are lead by Mr Hamid and i really feel fortunate to be part of this group, plus Dr Muzahid really ask a lot of questions that benefits us.
Okay lets start the explanation for this activity. This time it will become a story, and the story will have it sequence from i enter the room of production and after i go out from the room.Okay then, lets start, before we enter the production site, there are metal detectors machine that will check metal things that will taken out from the production site. Its really sophisticated technology that can prevent thieves and for safety purpose. Inside the production site, the place divide into two parts, that are site for digital camera production and EF lenses production plus little bit of DSLR testing sites.
You guys know what, in industry, the product will not using their commercial name like in the market, instead all products will be using code name during production. We introduced to five model of the current camera in the market by Mr Hamid, that are EC298, EC299, EC319, EC309 and EC335. These are the code names that produced by COM. This year 5 digital camera are main products of COM. Why only 5?? Mr Hamid answer really like just like Mr Azlan talk the other day. It is because the life of digital camera only last about 9 to 10 months. So every year, COM will produce new camera for the market. So that people like me will always update my gadgets and a buy a new products with upgraded system and function. Its also because of competition in the market with other companies that produce same kid of procuts. From this, i learn something of marketing strategy from the manufacturing line in the industry. When I ask about how long is the lenses age in the market, Mr Hamid said that, lenses for DSLR camera really have longer life than cameraitself because 1 of COM products, already 15 years in the market but still demand of that lenses are still okay. So, the production keep monitoring the demand in the market before producing something in order to maintain the profit of the company.
While we were being leads from one section to another and we ask a lot of things and its really nice you know, to understand how they works and manage their working time. To reflect all those section in the production lines, i thinks it will not meet the purpose of this reflective journal, so i'm gonna reflect of what are the discussion about the industry and what can make COM( japanese company) differ from other private company.
Actually during we walk and see how all the workers work, we discussing about japanese work culture in factory, the production technology use by Canon, different between government and non government company, attitude or discipline of workers in COM, the real workplace and what are actually the works of engineer in COM and a lot of other simple things.
COM practice something different from what i know in working environment that i have attained before. It is because they really show the discipline and their attitude are really following the Canon's corporate philosophy that is Kyousei( living and working together for common good). Every works in a section really fast and efficient. For example, 1 section that is assembling section in in assembly line of digital camera consist of 8 subsection. You guys know what, the average time taken for 1 subsection to complete their task is only about 40 seconds. So that means that 1 section only need 5 minutes in average to assemble 1 digital camera. According to Mr Hamid, almost all section are the same in their time of working. One day, one section in production line, can produce maximum of 540 per section and that what they did everyday. The workers that work only can stand up, and cannot sit down doing their works, as they will be given 30 minutes rest every 2 hours. All of them really following this rule and it really amazing you know to see the discipline of the workers. They didn't even talks or gossiping with each other, and according to Mr Hamid, it is because they already implemented with this japanese diligence work culture.
I also asked something to Mr Hamid that is about Computer Integrated Manufacturing(CIM). My question to him sound like this " Do COM implement CIM in this factory and what does the technology used by COM?" Actually this question related to my poster assignment title. I just want to know what are the real opinion of workers in industry itself.
Actually, COM did not fully implemented this CIM yet, but only about 50% of the COM technology using the CIM. Let me draw something more clear into our mind with one example. During the tour in Production line, I saw almost every workers using 1 machine in subsection they manage to use the machine really well. It seem that they really trained using the machine. So according to Mr Hamid, COM still need to use the manpower as fully CIM factory give quite a risk to the company if being implemented there. It is because the traditional way of factory using manpower to do works or produce the products and if COM implement the CIM into their factory, almost ten thousand people will lose their job, as the system works automatically and this is the 1st reason as it will produce everything almost automatically. Second one is, to integrate this system into COM, it will need really a large amount of budgets to ready this system in COM factory, as it is a high technology that work automatically according to the programmed system. They will also need to hired professional manpower to handle or monitor the high tech machine plus the service of CIM technology are really expensive. These are a few reason given by COM manager to me, and i felt that COM really care about the workers welfare.
Then we discussed bout why private company perform really compare to government company. According to Mr Hamid opinion, the different between this 2 company when compare about he system is, private company technology always 1 or 2 step in front the government company. The technology arrive to the private company more faster as they really need to cope with current modernization in order to compete with others company, while technology always late at the government company because a lot of bureaucracy need to be pass before arrive at the factory. Plus government company will never bankrupt as it manage by unlimited government fund while private company only have certain amount of budgets. Thats why Mr Hamid told me that whenever someone from government sector join private sector, he will feel that private sector is really tiring and have a lot of works to compare to government sector and vice versa.
The engineers also work really hard to design or program the machine for assembling process. They work really efficient without any stress and i feel amazed by how their works. Is this really the environment of engineer workplace?? As it seems not like what people said... I think thats all what i can reflect about the production lines plus little bit idea of what industry looks like.
Then, after finish the tour, we go back to meeting room and we have interactions sessions with the staff. Actually it is about the Q & A sessions. But there is no questions raised during that sessions as almost everything have been asked during the tour with Mr Husaini and Mr Hamid. Thanks to the staff that can answer very well every single ques that we asked. After that, we have the exchanging souvenirs between COM and UTM. Thanks for the mug that given by COM as souvenir.
Lastly, we together with the staff of COM eating our lunch at their canteen. This program really managed very well by COM, and we really grateful to be visitors here and we get 5 star sevices from all the staff. THANKS A LOT COM!!
Filter Press Area : RO machine
The process of producing RO water
The Waste Minimization Center...
Okay, this phase 3 involve in managing the general waste or solid waste that mostly are apart from the production waste. They compose food waste become fertilizer and and food packaging into carbon. Amazing isn't it?? COM really committed and strict in managing their waste. They have the carbonizer machine, that use heating element to transform general waste into carbon or coat the waste with carbon. Actually, this process need science explanation, here i explain this process based on what i understand according to Mr husaini. He said that in order to reduce the hazardous chemical waste, the chemical waste need to undergo carbonizer process with the absence of oxygen. Thus, with the absence of oxygen, it prevents any chemical reaction with polyvinylchloride, and the like and also it prevent the generation of dioxin that really toxic in its properties. The reduced end product is the stable carbon compound and the cooled product is discharged automatically outside the rotary valve, thus its really make carbonizer machine an eco-friendly machine. Furthermore, COM has its own process area, i mean indoor area. The carbonizer machine use is the one of the most high technology in the world. Like i said before, COM really have one of the most eco-friendly policy in the Malaysia and even the world. Actually COM is the first company to treat their waste inside their own factory area in Malaysia. Its really fantastic, and i think most of the COM workers really grateful because they can work in a healthy and clean environment.
Picture of Carbonizer Machine Used
another picture carbonizer machine
The last phase is phase 4, that is The Well treatment Plant. Actually this is the phase where COM using other alternative to get water supply other than water that supply by the government. According to Mr Husaini, actually government really need this action of private company to get their own source of water because water that supplied by government actually for the public citizen, and not for the company. Because of COM really using a lot of water everyday, idea of getting their own water supply pop out, and it implemented at COM factory. From this phase, they get water from the underground and processed into distilled water and supply to production unit. After finish explanation about the 4 phase or water treatment plant,Mr Husaini and us go back to the meeting room in the main building.
Tube Well Treatment Plant(other alternative to get water supply)...
Actually i really impressed with the technology, policy, and attitude of work culture and awareness of COM in handling their waste. Its really differ from what i heard before that private company dump their waste into the river and etc, not according to the government policy. I really fortunate to know all this facts, and it changes a whole bunch of idea and perspective in my minds about attitude of private company. Another thing is, the standards that COM practice is they will always do 20% more better than the government standards. I'm really proud of the policy that are done by this company.
Then after we arrived at the meeting room, we are brief about the next agenda that we will go through that day. We rest for almost 10 minutes after 1 hour tour to water treatment plant. Next activity in this trip is, we will see with our own eyes of the camera and lenses production by the company.This activity, we will do it at level 1 of the main buildings, that is the main production sites for lenses and digital camera.
At level 1, we will watch how the staff working to produce the products. First we were given shoes cover, somethings that i thought for the hair because it really looks like one. hahaha. First of all, after arriving at the first floor, we are divide into 3 groups. One group will be lead by 1 manager from the production unit and my group that consist of around 20 students plus Dr AKM muzahidul Islam. We are lead by Mr Hamid and i really feel fortunate to be part of this group, plus Dr Muzahid really ask a lot of questions that benefits us.
Okay lets start the explanation for this activity. This time it will become a story, and the story will have it sequence from i enter the room of production and after i go out from the room.Okay then, lets start, before we enter the production site, there are metal detectors machine that will check metal things that will taken out from the production site. Its really sophisticated technology that can prevent thieves and for safety purpose. Inside the production site, the place divide into two parts, that are site for digital camera production and EF lenses production plus little bit of DSLR testing sites.
You guys know what, in industry, the product will not using their commercial name like in the market, instead all products will be using code name during production. We introduced to five model of the current camera in the market by Mr Hamid, that are EC298, EC299, EC319, EC309 and EC335. These are the code names that produced by COM. This year 5 digital camera are main products of COM. Why only 5?? Mr Hamid answer really like just like Mr Azlan talk the other day. It is because the life of digital camera only last about 9 to 10 months. So every year, COM will produce new camera for the market. So that people like me will always update my gadgets and a buy a new products with upgraded system and function. Its also because of competition in the market with other companies that produce same kid of procuts. From this, i learn something of marketing strategy from the manufacturing line in the industry. When I ask about how long is the lenses age in the market, Mr Hamid said that, lenses for DSLR camera really have longer life than cameraitself because 1 of COM products, already 15 years in the market but still demand of that lenses are still okay. So, the production keep monitoring the demand in the market before producing something in order to maintain the profit of the company.
While we were being leads from one section to another and we ask a lot of things and its really nice you know, to understand how they works and manage their working time. To reflect all those section in the production lines, i thinks it will not meet the purpose of this reflective journal, so i'm gonna reflect of what are the discussion about the industry and what can make COM( japanese company) differ from other private company.
Actually during we walk and see how all the workers work, we discussing about japanese work culture in factory, the production technology use by Canon, different between government and non government company, attitude or discipline of workers in COM, the real workplace and what are actually the works of engineer in COM and a lot of other simple things.
COM practice something different from what i know in working environment that i have attained before. It is because they really show the discipline and their attitude are really following the Canon's corporate philosophy that is Kyousei( living and working together for common good). Every works in a section really fast and efficient. For example, 1 section that is assembling section in in assembly line of digital camera consist of 8 subsection. You guys know what, the average time taken for 1 subsection to complete their task is only about 40 seconds. So that means that 1 section only need 5 minutes in average to assemble 1 digital camera. According to Mr Hamid, almost all section are the same in their time of working. One day, one section in production line, can produce maximum of 540 per section and that what they did everyday. The workers that work only can stand up, and cannot sit down doing their works, as they will be given 30 minutes rest every 2 hours. All of them really following this rule and it really amazing you know to see the discipline of the workers. They didn't even talks or gossiping with each other, and according to Mr Hamid, it is because they already implemented with this japanese diligence work culture.
I also asked something to Mr Hamid that is about Computer Integrated Manufacturing(CIM). My question to him sound like this " Do COM implement CIM in this factory and what does the technology used by COM?" Actually this question related to my poster assignment title. I just want to know what are the real opinion of workers in industry itself.
Actually, COM did not fully implemented this CIM yet, but only about 50% of the COM technology using the CIM. Let me draw something more clear into our mind with one example. During the tour in Production line, I saw almost every workers using 1 machine in subsection they manage to use the machine really well. It seem that they really trained using the machine. So according to Mr Hamid, COM still need to use the manpower as fully CIM factory give quite a risk to the company if being implemented there. It is because the traditional way of factory using manpower to do works or produce the products and if COM implement the CIM into their factory, almost ten thousand people will lose their job, as the system works automatically and this is the 1st reason as it will produce everything almost automatically. Second one is, to integrate this system into COM, it will need really a large amount of budgets to ready this system in COM factory, as it is a high technology that work automatically according to the programmed system. They will also need to hired professional manpower to handle or monitor the high tech machine plus the service of CIM technology are really expensive. These are a few reason given by COM manager to me, and i felt that COM really care about the workers welfare.
Then we discussed bout why private company perform really compare to government company. According to Mr Hamid opinion, the different between this 2 company when compare about he system is, private company technology always 1 or 2 step in front the government company. The technology arrive to the private company more faster as they really need to cope with current modernization in order to compete with others company, while technology always late at the government company because a lot of bureaucracy need to be pass before arrive at the factory. Plus government company will never bankrupt as it manage by unlimited government fund while private company only have certain amount of budgets. Thats why Mr Hamid told me that whenever someone from government sector join private sector, he will feel that private sector is really tiring and have a lot of works to compare to government sector and vice versa.
The engineers also work really hard to design or program the machine for assembling process. They work really efficient without any stress and i feel amazed by how their works. Is this really the environment of engineer workplace?? As it seems not like what people said... I think thats all what i can reflect about the production lines plus little bit idea of what industry looks like.
Then, after finish the tour, we go back to meeting room and we have interactions sessions with the staff. Actually it is about the Q & A sessions. But there is no questions raised during that sessions as almost everything have been asked during the tour with Mr Husaini and Mr Hamid. Thanks to the staff that can answer very well every single ques that we asked. After that, we have the exchanging souvenirs between COM and UTM. Thanks for the mug that given by COM as souvenir.
Ashraf representing students to get the souvenir from COM staff.
Lastly, we together with the staff of COM eating our lunch at their canteen. This program really managed very well by COM, and we really grateful to be visitors here and we get 5 star sevices from all the staff. THANKS A LOT COM!!
Our Lunch : Chicken Rice!! Sedaaappppp..
Its really a great to have been at the factory to watch by our own eyes, how the manufacturing process begin and end, and how engineers or people in electronics industry working. The ethics that show by the staff of the japanese origin company that implemented the culture of southeast asia, really open my mind and eyes about the opinion towards working life. Because of very good policy that shown by company, its educated almost all of the staff about good value and what people should do in order to be success in real workplace.
I think, thats all from me, and I really hope to score very well in this subject. Anything lack bout my reflective journal, you guys are welcome to email me at mnhakimrajaie@gmail.com and i will always accept any comment about my journal@blog. I will always write this journal later, so that i can keep record what is knowledge that i learnt. Assalamualaikum and good to those who read my blog. Thanks....
The END.... (for blogging assignment sem1).
