Masterclass
AI for Manufacturing Productivity: Automating Engineering, Production, Quality and Maintenance Workflows
1 October 2026
Iconic Marjorie Hotel, Penang, malaysia

Synopsis
Manufacturing organisations are under increasing pressure to raise productivity, reduce manual effort, accelerate response times, improve quality performance and preserve critical operational knowledge. Yet many teams are still spending too much time on repetitive reporting, document handling, issue investigation and administrative coordination. This practical 1-day masterclass shows how AI can help engineering, production, quality and maintenance teams automate low-value tasks, improve workflow efficiency and strengthen decision support without compromising safety, governance or data protection.
Through live demonstrations, guided hands-on experimentation and team-based application exercises, participants will explore where AI adds the most value across the production cycle, how it can fit into current systems and how to start safely using non-confidential data. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with practical use cases, stronger confidence in applying AI at work, and clear ideas for scaling the learning into customised corporate training and implementation initiatives.
Course Objectives
By attending this masterclass, participants will be:
- Discovering practical ways of reducing manual effort across engineering, production, quality and maintenance workflows using AI.
- Recognising where AI is creating the fastest productivity gains in repetitive, document-heavy and analysis-heavy manufacturing tasks.
- Exploring how AI is supporting faster reporting, clearer communication and more structured decision-making across day-to-day operations.
- Experimenting with realistic manufacturing scenarios to build confidence in using AI tools for workplace applications.
- Understanding how current systems and workflows are being enhanced through AI-assisted integration with documents, spreadsheets, forms and enterprise platforms.
- Learning how sensitive information is being protected through safer usage practices, data classification and human review checkpoints.
- Identifying where their own teams are benefiting most from AI adoption and where customised in-house training can accelerate business impact.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the masterclass, participants will be able to:
- Identifying high-value manufacturing tasks that are being automated with AI to improve speed, consistency and team productivity.
- Applying AI to summarising, structuring, comparing and drafting operational content to reduce administrative burden and improve output quality.
- Recognising which stages of the production cycle are benefiting most from AI support and where low-risk adoption should begin.
- Using simple prompting approaches to generate more useful, accurate and work-ready outputs from AI tools.
- Exploring how engineering, production, quality and maintenance teams are improving workflows with AI-assisted reporting, troubleshooting and knowledge support.
- Distinguishing between non-confidential use cases and protected data scenarios to support safer and more responsible AI adoption.
- Understanding how AI is being integrated with existing systems and processes without disrupting current operations.
- Designing a practical team-based AI use case that can be adapted for their own manufacturing environment.
- Building stronger readiness for customised corporate training and pilot implementation within their organisations.
Who Should Attend?
This masterclass is designed for professionals across manufacturing organisations who are responsible for productivity, process improvement, operational performance, quality, engineering effectiveness and digital transformation.
Recommended Job Titles
- Plant Manager
- Operations Manager
- Production Manager
- Manufacturing Manager
- Engineering Manager
- Process Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Production Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Quality Manager
- QA / QC Manager
- Maintenance Manager
- Reliability Engineer
- Continuous Improvement Manager
- Lean / Six Sigma Manager
- Operational Excellence Manager
- Technical Services Manager
- Innovation Manager
- Digital Transformation Manager
- MES / ERP / OT / IT Manager
- Data and Analytics Manager
- Department Heads overseeing manufacturing performance and transformation
Also suitable for
- Directors of Operations
- Heads of Engineering
- Heads of Manufacturing Excellence
- Plant digitalisation leaders
- Corporate capability development teams
- Business leaders exploring practical AI adoption for manufacturing functions
09:00 AM
Registration Networking
09:30 AM
Introduction and Masterclass Overview
09:50 AM
Identifying Where AI Is Creating the Most Productivity Value Across the Manufacturing Cycle
10:35 AM
Morning Break
10:50 PM
Demonstrating How AI Is Automating Real Manufacturing Work
11:35 PM
Understanding How AI Is Fitting into Current Systems While Keeping Data Protected
12:30 PM
Lunch
01:30 PM
Hands-On Lab Part 1 - Experimenting with AI on Realistic Manufacturing Tasks
02:30 PM
Hands-On Lab Part 2 - Converting AI Experiments into Practical Workflow Designs
03:15 PM
Afternoon Break
03:30 PM
Teamwork and Presentations - Building a High-Value AI Use Case for the Workplace
04:30 PM
Exploring Practical AI Tools and Planning the Next Step for Organisational Adoption
04:50 PM
Wrap-Up, Key Takeaways and Action Planning
End of Day
Future Manufacturing Tech Day
08:30 AM
Registration Networking
09:30 AM
Opening Performance
09:35 AM
Chairperson Remarks

Renee Tan
Chairperson
Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing Asia
09:55 AM
Guest-of-Honour Opening

YB Jagdeep Singh Deo
Deputy Chief Minister II
Penang, Malaysia
10:20 AM
Guest-of-Honour & Ecosystem Opening Commemoration
10:30 AM
Morning Networking Refreshment
Future of Frontier Tech - AI, Robotics and Quantum Computing
11:00 AM
Panel Discussion: Revolutionising Advanced Manufacturing with Industrial AI & Robotics from Design to Production
Moderator

Renee Tan
Chairperson
Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia
Panelists

Dr. Poh Leng Eu
Senior Director Package Innovation
NXP Semiconductors

CS Tan
Group Vice President & General Manager
ST Microelectronics MY

PK Hew
Senior Director, Automation & Analytics Development Engineering
SanDisk Storage Malaysia (SDSM)
11:50 AM
Panel Discussion: Uncovering The Future of Artificial Super Intelligence and Automation from Innovation to Production towards Industry 5.0
Moderator

Victor Fasahati
Founding Managing Partner, Board Member
Mayflower & Partners, SingCham
Panelists

Yvonne Keil
Senior GF, Operations
GlobalFoundries

Choong Poh Foong
Senior Manager, Data, Advance Analytics & Insights
HP

Dr. Yongji Fu
Vice President & Head of R&D
B. Braun Medical Group

Chee Chun Yee
Director of Product Development
AMD
12:40 PM
Speed Networking Session
1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
Global Collaboration Through Industrial Metaverse
2:00 PM
Innovative Manufacturing: Digital & Remote Strategies for a Global Impact

Yvonne Keil
Senior GF, Operations
GlobalFoundries
Advanced Manufacturing Industry Session
2:20 PM
AI at the Edge: Powering an Autonomous Future

Dr Poh Leng Eu
Senior Director Package Innovation
NXP Semiconductors
2:40 PM
Bridging the Gap in Semiconductor Innovation: Advancing AI Hardware from Definition to Deployment

J-Wing Teh
Director, Silicon Design Engineering
AMD
3:00 PM
Building Global Lighthouse Factories for the Future – Pioneering Industry 5.0 with Intelligence, Connectivity & Sustainability

Vigneesha Muniandy
Senior Data Scientist
HP
3:20 PM
Afternoon Networking Refreshment
4:00 PM
Business-for-Impact Session & Q&A Panel
This session is for businesses that bring impact to the advanced manufacturing sector through digital solutions. There will be up to 3 selected businesses who will qualify for this session, each pitching for 4 minutes, followed by a Q&A session with the judges.
Moderator

Alan Ong
Penang Chapter Chairman
Malaysia Business Angels Network (MBAN) Penang
Panelists

William Zhong
CEO & Founder
Irista.AI

Kennard Lin
Vice President
TRST01

Shri Shailesh
Managing Director
Zealcorps
Commercialisation & Capital Raising Strategies
4:40 PM
Panel Discussion: The Future of Commercialisation and Capital Raising for Deep-Tech Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
Moderator

Alan Ong
Penang Chapter Chairman
Malaysia Business Angels Network (MBAN) Penang
Panelists

Riady Gozali
Managing Director
Golden Vision Capital

Frank Kang
Country Head & Associate Partner
Antler

Ts. Hj. Mohd Hazani Haji Hassan
Group CEO
Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC)

Maisy Ng
Founder & Managing Partner
Delight Capital

Victor Fasahati
Founder & Managing Partner, Board Member
Mayflower & Partners, SingCham
05:20 PM
Closing Remarks

Renee Tan
Chairperson
Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia
End of Day 1
Sustainable Manufacturing Day
08:30 AM
Registration Networking
09:30 AM
Chairperson Remarks

Renee Tan
Chairperson
Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia
09:40 AM
Guest-of-Honour Opening

YB Dr. Kelvin Yii
Political Secretary to Minister of Human Resources
Malaysia
Global Supply Chain, Tech Exchange & Investment for Sustainable Manufacturing
9:50 AM
Multistakeholders Panel Discussion: Driving a Sustainable Economy Through Innovation, Manufacturing and Investment Strategies
Moderator

Renee Tan
Chairperson
Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia
Panelists

Vikneswaran Muthurajoo
Manager, New Investment Industry & Ecosystem Division
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)

Ramesh Verma
Director, Investment
Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER)

Graham Rice
VP, Sustainability Asia Pacific
B Braun

Dr May Win Naing
Director, Adv Mfg, SERC
Agency for Science & Technology Research (A*STAR)
10:40 AM
Morning Networking Refreshment
Partnerships Shaping the Future of Sustainable Innovation & Manufacturing
11:10 AM
Panel Discussion: Unite to Innovate: Building Collaborative Ecosystems for Investable Growth in Advanced Innovation
Moderator

Victor Fasahati
Founder & Managing Partner, Board Member
Mayflower & Partners, SingCham
Panelists

Chong Seng Lim
Director, Ecosystem Development
Digital Penang

Dr James Ong
Founder & Managing Director
Artificial Intelligence International Institute (AIII)

Syed Mubarak
Managing Director, Vice Chairman, Head of ESG
HyCee, SMART Cities Network

Kean Yaw See Toh
Founding Partner
Kairous Capital
12:00 PM
Harnessing Sustainability AI to Transform Manufacturing for a Greener Future

Eddy Liew
CTO
IBM
12:20 PM
Speed Networking Session
12:40 PM
Networking Lunch
HER-AIM: Diversity in Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing
2:00 PM
Panel Discussion: The Power of Diversity & Inclusion to Fuel Innovation in Manufacturing
Moderator

Renee Tan
Chairperson
Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia
Panelists

Azura Ahmad
Assistant Vice President
TalentCorp Northern Region

Ravenna Chen
CEO
Intrinsic SEA

Dr Poh Leng Eu
Senior Director Package Innovation
NXP Semiconductors
2:50 PM
Panel Discussion: Developing Future-Ready Workforce for the Industry 5.0 Revolution
Moderator

Dato’ Seri Abdul Halim Hussain
Former Penang State Exco for Trade, Industry & Entrepreneur Development
Panelists

Nor Asmahan Othman
Vice President & Head
TalentCorp Northern Region

Nina Yassin
Chief People Officer, Human Capital
Ekuiti Nasional Berhad

Deric Chew
HR Director
Lumileds

Clement Pang
IT Director
Micron Technology
3:40 PM
Exploring Cross-Border Exchange of Knowledge, Talent and Technologies to Propel ASEAN’s Growth
Moderator

Dr James Ong
Founder & Managing Director
Artificial Intelligence International Institute (AIII)
Panelists

Ts. Dr. Shahrul Yazid Yahaya
Vice President of Market & Industry Development
Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST)

Dato’ J. Palaniappan
Executive Chairman
ASEAN Future Workforce Council

Vellu Mahadevan
Country HR Director
Micron Technology Malaysia

Stephen Lai
Chairman
Malaysia-China (Greater Bay Area) Science-Tech Innovation Alliance
4:30 PM
Chairperson Closing Remarks

Renee Tan
Chairperson
Advanced Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Asia