- 4 months ago
UMW Aerospace celebrates 10 years of success as Rolls-Royce’s Tier-1 supplier, showcasing Malaysian talent on the global stage and strengthening the nation’s role in the aerospace supply chain.
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00:00Hi, good morning. You are watching Awani Pagi with me, Norsha Azwani Safu Syam.
00:12Today, we will talk about aerospace, where this year marks a remarkable milestone for UMW Aerospace,
00:19a decade of driving Malaysia's footprint in the global aerospace industry.
00:23Beyond business achievements, it's also about nurturing talent,
00:27creating opportunities and shaping Malaysia's aerospace future.
00:31With me today in the studio is Managing Director UMW Aerospace, Mr. Fariz Hashim
00:38to reflect on this inspiring journey and to explore together what lies ahead.
00:44Good morning, Assalamualaikum. How are you?
00:46Morning, Assalamualaikum.
00:48You okay?
00:49I'm okay, I'm okay. A little bit nervous but okay.
00:51Okay, because I think this topic is very near to you.
00:54It's very close to you as well.
00:58So 10 years is a remarkable milestone.
01:01Congrats again.
01:02Looking back, what are you most proud of in UMW Aerospace journey so far?
01:09Well, I think it's beyond more than what I'm proud of.
01:12I think it's more of what Malaysians, us Malaysians can be proud of.
01:19Because just over 10 years, UMW Aerospace has proven a homegrown company.
01:28First of all, I must have to mention that it's a homegrown company.
01:31And it's a Malaysian company that has shown not only can it meet but even exceed the highest international standards.
01:40Now from a greenfield site, Poko Poko, you know, just the land, you know, site back in 2015 showing Rolls-Royce punya people.
01:53The site to delivering our first Trent 1000 fan case under two years to being consistently recognised amongst Rolls-Royce top suppliers.
02:07We've shown that Malaysia has the capability and has the talent to compete with the very best in the world.
02:14Yeah.
02:15And becoming Malaysia's first tier one supplier to Rolls-Royce as what you mentioned was a really bold step.
02:22So how has that partnership itself shaped UMW Aerospace success up until now?
02:29Well, I mean, it has shaped everything we do.
02:32Rolls-Royce has set a very high standard, very high bar, which we've had to raise and deliver on the precision
02:43and consistency and excellence which is required.
02:49Now the partnership has given us credibility on a global stage and showing and giving a platform for the Malaysian talent to show that they can do it and shine.
03:00Okay.
03:01And I understood that UMW Aerospace has achieved consistent recognition as well as one of the bold steps just now,
03:08including the second contract worth RM1 billion in 2022 and multiple global awards.
03:15So what do these milestones say about the company's role, especially in the aerospace industry?
03:21Well, yeah.
03:22These milestones show that we are not just a supplier, but a trusted partner in a global aerospace supply chain.
03:31Rolls-Royce has obviously shown confidence and trust for us to be able to get that RM1 billion contract.
03:44And this one billion contract is to manufacture the rear case for the fan cases, which involves technology of chemical milling, which will see UMW Aerospace having a capability that is of this scale.
04:06Anyway, it's the first of its scale in Malaysia, if not Malaysia, beyond Malaysia, I think it's also the region in Southeast Asia, strengthening not just UMW Aerospace, but Malaysia's entire aerospace system.
04:19Yeah.
04:20And I'm sure one of the most key important thing is the talent development as well as part of UMW Aerospace success.
04:32So how are you building the next generation of aerospace professionals specifically in Malaysia?
04:38Yeah.
04:39I mean, you've hit it on the nail there.
04:41Talent is everything.
04:44It's everything to us.
04:46Yeah.
04:47And it's the heart of everything that we do.
04:49We partner with universities.
04:51We partner with TVET institutions around Malaysia, run structured internships, and even offer in-house certifications in aero engine machining.
05:05Since 2022, 31% of all our trainees actually go on to join UMW Aerospace.
05:17So proof that we are creating real career pathways for Malaysian graduates and supporting the country's push for more high-value, high-skilled jobs.
05:27Is there any challenges on finding talents?
05:32Absolutely.
05:33And finding talent is something that it is difficult, particularly in aerospace, because there is that, you know, as I mentioned before, that standard, that high bar that is set.
05:48But this is something that it is being addressed.
05:54We also have issues with regards to our staff being pinched.
05:59But for me, I don't see it as a problem, an issue more of shows what sort of staff we have, our capability that we have, that people want to pinch our staff into other aerospace companies in Malaysia.
06:14Okay, and I'm sure it's part of your blueprint as well, looking at Malaysia's Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030.
06:20How can the country strengthen the role in the global aerospace supply chain?
06:26And what will UMW Aerospace take part in this blueprint?
06:32Well, Malaysia has all the ingredients.
06:34You know, we have the talent, we have the infrastructure, and more so we have ambition.
06:39Now, to strengthen our role, we must keep investing in skills, technology, and sustainability.
06:45UMW Aerospace won't rest on its laurels.
06:48We will continue to lead by example, supporting green aviation through initiatives like renewable energy adoption, solar panels on our factory, for example, and rainwater harvesting, while expanding our capabilities into high-value manufacturing.
07:06Now, our success is not just a business story, it's a national one.
07:10It's not just for UMW, but for Malaysia as a whole.
07:14And we are proud to play our part in putting Malaysia on the global aerospace map.
07:19Yeah, definitely.
07:20But looking, that is more on the blueprint, but apart from business achievements, how has UMW Aerospace itself benefited Malaysians, for example, through jobs, training, or maybe community in Surinder itself?
07:38Yeah, I think I've touched upon that in the early question that you asked with regards to staff and training.
07:47But beyond business, our greatest impact has been our people.
07:50I mean, again, I can't emphasize enough that our staff is key here.
07:56More than 99% of our workforce are Malaysians.
08:01I think we have two expats that are still working with us, but we already have succession planning and what have you.
08:11So it will be 100% Malaysian in the next couple of years, maybe even by next year.
08:16We've invested heavily in training, internships, as I mentioned just now, and career pathways that give young Malaysians the skills to thrive in aerospace.
08:25Now, in addition, as a group, we continuously carry out community outreach engagement programs to support the local community in Surinder, which is where we are based.
08:36In doing so, we are not just building components, we are building a future for Malaysians.
08:40Yeah. And just now we talked about how high standard the bar have set, especially with you partnering like a global company like Rolls-Royce itself.
08:50But what values or what culture do you think that has helped the company itself to gain their trust?
08:57And maybe there's more opportunity beyond that?
09:00Well, I mean, what has gained their trust, again, you know, because of the bar, the high bar, the high standard required by us, what has gained their trust is our uncompromising focus on quality and consistency.
09:17Now, we foster a culture of discipline, accountability and continuous improvement.
09:23For example, every person on the floor knows the importance of zero defects.
09:28Now, just as important, we value collaboration and transparency.
09:32Now, this is key for us.
09:34Okay. With that also, maybe right at this moment, many young Malaysians does not know much about aerospace itself.
09:42How would you describe UMW Aerospace to them? And why should they consider that carrier pathway in this industry?
09:51Again, you know, we, we, we, we like to develop a very nurturing environment for our staff.
10:04We, you know, there is a shortage, you know, in terms of employment, sorry, not employment, rather, there's a, there's no shortage of employment.
10:13Yeah.
10:14But in terms of talent in, in, in, in Malaysia, particularly in aerospace.
10:19Now, aerospace is high value, high skill industry where precision and expertise are rewarded.
10:24Now, for young Malaysians, it offers more than just a job.
10:27Uh, it's a pathway to world-class training, global exposure, and strong career progression.
10:34At UMW Aerospace, particularly, you're not only building components for aircraft around the world,
10:39you're building a future that's globally respected and nationally significant.
10:45Now, just to mention, just to go on a little bit more with regards to the significance of what we do.
10:51Um, and, and going back to the earliest question, which you asked with regards to, um, uh, what you call it?
10:59Uh, proud, uh, being proud.
11:01Now, we manufacture the fan case for the Trent 7000 engines.
11:06Now, the Trent 7000 engines specifically goes onto an Airbus A330 Neo.
11:13Okay.
11:14Um, Malaysia Airlines have, um, you know, have, have, have ordered, I think they took delivery at the late last year,
11:20from what I understand, has ordered 40 more, uh, aircraft.
11:23So, you can be proud when you sit in any A330 Neos around the world, by any airline, but more so in Malaysia Airlines.
11:30The engine out there, in that engine out there, the fan case in that engine comes from the facility that we have, um, in, uh, in Surinda.
11:42Okay.
11:43So, this is, this is something quite significant and something that us Malaysians can be proud of.
11:47Okay.
11:48With that lesson, I'm sure, uh, there are hopes as well, or maybe your own envision, uh, throughout UM, UMW Aerospace,
11:57and probably, okay, like, not say 10 years, okay, five years after, especially post pandemic.
12:04And so, what are your new frontiers do you hope to achieve?
12:08Well, I mean, uh, I, I can only, um, uh, let you know in terms of regards to our, uh, ambitions and, uh, moving forward.
12:19We, um, you know, after seven years of making fan cases, we, we, uh, uh, not pivot, but we added on an additional capability of chemical milling,
12:30which is what I mentioned to you earlier, uh, being the only Malaysian company that can do that, uh, do chemical milling, that capability of this scale.
12:39Um, so beyond that, um, we would, you know, we will be, we are currently exploring, um, to, uh, um, to see what else we can do.
12:49Apart from fan cases for Rolls Royce, perhaps look at, um, other, uh, clients as, as well.
12:56Um, so this, but, but these are at the moment just exploratory, exploratory, uh, stage.
13:02Uh, we are 100% focused on our rare case development with using the chemical milling, uh, which should see us complete by the end of this year.
13:11By the end of this year.
13:13All right. Thank you so much for being with us, Mr. Faris Hashim, Managing Director, UMW Aerospace.
13:18Uh, and we're talking about 10 years, uh, milestone for UMW Aerospace.
13:25We'll have a short break.
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