City University of Hong Kong, Dassault Systemes and MTECH signs a co-operation agreement

 

Hong Kong, (China) September 17, 2001 - The Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management (MEEM) of City University of Hong Kong has signed a co-operation agreement with Dassault Systemes (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) and MTECH Engineering Co. Ltd. (MTECH) with a view to raising knowledge levels and the timely adoption of the PLM (Product Lifecycle management) technology in SMEs in the Pearl River Delta region in order to enhance their innovation, productivity and competitiveness. <br/>

 

 

Under this co-operation agreement, tens of millions worth of software system including CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA and SMARTEAM will be installed in MEEM for teaching, research and consulting work. With the support from Dassault Systemes and MTECH and the installation of the system, MEEM commits to strengthen its efforts to educate and train quality engineers to master the technology for the needs of industry through its regular undergraduate degree programmes, to contribute to the advancement of PLM technology by designing and supervising postgraduate research projects related to PLM, to promote and prepare the ready adoption of the technology by developing life case studies with local manufacturers, and to develop tools and solutions for local industry and SMEs to improve their competitiveness. <br/>

 

 

To kick-start the program, the inauguration of the Product Lifecycle Management Competency Unit  (PLMCU) will be held concurrently. PLMCU operates under the Enterprise Knowledge Integration and Transfer (e-KIT) Laboratory of MEEM. The mission of e-KIT is to design, develop and implement appropriate methodologies, techniques and solutions for the manufacturing industry, particularly the SME's, in order to help them and their business partners operate more competitively through effective acquisition, generation, integration, upgrade and transfer of skill sets and knowledge. <br/>

 

 

 

"There is no better and more timely decision than to locate PLMCU under the umbrella of the e-KIT Laboratory. It demonstrates our Department’s firm belief that “sustained innovation in product design, in process improvement and in management” remains the single weapon for enterprises to win over their competitors. Therefore the transfer of PLM knowledge and skills to local enterprises via this new Unit is one of our many tasks to serve the community ", says Prof. Yiu-Wing Mai, Head of MEEM and designated representative of Executive Council of PLMCU.<br/>

 

 

“To demonstrate our enthusiasm and commitment to the co-operation program, a series of five e-manufacturing short courses have recently been launched for local engineers to upgrade their skills and prepare themselves in this challenging area. In addition, more than 10 undergraduate final year projects were planned and launched to develop real life case studies with local manufacturing companies”, says Dr. Edmund Cheung, Associate Head of MEEM and designated managing coordinator of PLMCU. <br/>

“Hong Kong is going to be a Knowledge Society. And knowledge is created from the mixture of information, theory and practical experience. One of the functions of PLMCU is to form a Manufacturing Community of Practice including government, academy, technology vendors and industrial enterprises so that we can collaborate together to develop knowledge engineering skills and infrastructure (multi-knowledge capturing, sharing and leveraging) for product and process innovation. This definitely can speed up the transformation of Hong Kong manufacturing industries from low cost, labor intensive work to high value added, knowledge base work. Also this experience can help our country, China to develop more rapidly”, says Stephen AU, Managing Director of MTech Engineering Co., Ltd.<br/>

“ The collaboration we create today will be able to enhance the competitiveness of local industry thanks to our worldclass technology. Moreover, this commitment, based on the Product  Lyfecycle Management Competency Unit, will bring a new collaborative dimension  and give the opportunity to develop a special relationship with the worldwide industry”, explained Francis Bernard, executive committee advisor and member of board of Dassault Systemes.