Industry support programme benefited 227 factories

As many as 227 factories from different sectors including textile, auto parts, foundry, furniture and food processing have been benefited from the Industry Support Programme, launched by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) in collaboration with Japan International Co-operation Agency (Jica).
Sources in Smeda told Business Recorder that 15 Japanese experts under the Industry Support Programme benefited a number of areas of productivity improvement, quality assurance and cost reduction. Smeda and Jica have been working together for the support of industry in Pakistan since 2003.
In continuity of Smeda-Jica Industry Support Programme, Kiyoshi Yoshida, a production management expert having 34 years hands-on experience in Japanese automotive industry, recently concluded six-month tenure in Pakistan that was commenced on February 1, 2010. Out of 115 working days available with the expert, 82 were spent on production floors of different factories.
During his stay, a total number of 15 factories were evaluated in Punjab out of which five were short listed for productivity focused intervention in Lahore, Sheikhupura and Gujrat targeting forging, light engineering and electrical fans sectors. Similarly 3 factories were completed in the Sindh region. It is pertinent to mention that an auto parts factory located in Hub, Balochistan was also facilitated during the period. Significant improvements have been recorded in areas of productivity, optimal capacity utilisation, cost control, layout optimisation, quality control and general management practices in the factories.
Smeda counterpart professionals were also attached with the expert to provide necessary facilitation on shop floor implementation activities and to gain capacity building within Smeda to ensure the continuity of this initiative after the departure of these experts.
It is notable that Smeda, Industry Support Cell (ISC) for the first time intervened in the export oriented fan sector through Japanese expert; Yoshida in a leading manufacturer and exporter of electrical fans. It is anticipated that with the successful implementation of productivity focused initiative, the whole of the fan industry would be benefited from the demonstrated model. It would further enhance co-operation between Smeda and Pakistan Electric Fan Manufacturing Association (PEFMA), the sources added.
Besides the production floor activities, seven training seminars and workshops were also arranged with the industry and academia on public-private partnership model in different cities including Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Karachi to disseminate knowledge and expertise and to share Smeda's experience for broader awareness of the industry regarding Smeda-Jica Industry Support Programme, the sources said and added that 270 participants from various sectors including light engineering, home appliances and textile and students and faculty took part in the workshops during the period.