Bandung – The Ministry of Industry (KEMENPERIN), in collaboration with the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD) of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), organized a Technical Guidance to Enhance Productivity in the Mold and Dies sector. This training is a follow-up to the collaboration between KEMENPERIN, FTMD ITB, and the Korea Institute of Advancement of Technology (KIAT) through the Machine Tools Industry Development Center (MTIDC) project. The event was held from September 30 to October 4, 2024, at FTMD ITB, aiming to strengthen the global supply chain in Indonesia’s machine tool industry.

The MTIDC project, a result of cooperation with South Korea, aims to strengthen Indonesia’s industrial capabilities in the machine tool sector. As part of this collaboration, the Korean government has donated 36 manual NARA lathes to the Indonesian government through FTMD. These lathes will be distributed to various educational institutions, industrial centers under KEMENPERIN, and several industries in Indonesia. In addition to receiving the lathes, recipients must send representatives to MTIDC ITB, which currently operates under the RIEM2TB Center at FTMD ITB, to participate in training related to lathe assembly, machine tool testing, and precision manufacturing concepts.

During the event’s opening, Mr. Yan Sibarang Tandiele, Director of Machinery and Agricultural Machinery Industries (IPAMP), emphasized that this training is a tangible demonstration of KEMENPERIN’s efforts to promote mastery of manufacturing technology, particularly machine tools. “We hope this training can enhance the competencies of local industries and reduce dependence on imported raw materials, thereby strengthening the national economy,” he stated.

This goal aligns with Indonesia’s status as a country rich in natural resources. Indonesia should be able to utilize these resources as valuable raw materials. However, achieving this ambition requires a more profound mastery of technology to decrease reliance on imported raw materials. As a result, Indonesia’s economy can become self-sufficient, enhancing national industrial independence.

Mr. Satrio Wicaksono, PhD, Head of the RIEM2TB Center at FTMD ITB, expressed that FTMD ITB is ready to be a strategic partner for KEMENPERIN in realizing manufacturing independence in Indonesia. “We hope for more collaborations in the future that can strengthen Indonesia’s industrial capabilities, particularly in precision manufacturing,” he remarked.

Previously, ten lathes had been distributed and utilized by institutions that completed training in the first and second batches, held at the end of December 2022 and May 2023. The third batch of training will involve 20 participants from 10 different institutions, continuing the commitment to enhance skills in manufacturing. The fourth and fifth batches will follow the third batch, planned to take place until early November 2024.

Participants in this training come from various educational institutions and industrial centers, such as the Agricultural Industry Standards and Services Center (BBSPJI), Banten Petrochemical Polytechnic, and several Technology Vocational Schools (SMK). The training is facilitated by expert lecturers from FTMD ITB, including Dr. Ir. Agung Wibowo, MT, Vani Virdyawan ST, MT, PhD, and Dr. Ir. Tri Prakosa, M.Eng., along with technicians trained by Korea to deepen participants’ understanding of lathe assembly processes and precision manufacturing technology.

With this training, recipients of the manual lathes will not only be able to operate the machines and understand the precision component manufacturing processes. This initiative represents a significant step toward strengthening the local machine tool industry and driving Indonesia toward independence in producing high-quality machines in the future.