Western Digital Tech and Regional Center receives the Team of the Year - Engineering category 

Introducing different advanced technologies to achieve their vision of being fully automated within their grounds.

Western Digital has successfully implemented cutting-edge Back-End Automation and Material Movement (BEAMM) technology, propelling them towards the realisation of their Smart Factory vision and earning them the prestigious Team of the Year award in the Engineering category at the Malaysia Management Excellence Awards 2023.

This strategic move by Western Digital was intended to establish fully automated facilities supported by backbone of data analytics and advanced monitoring technology. Their vision was to create a Touchless Backend and Lights Out testing facility that could operate seamlessly without the need for on-site workers.

Western Digital achieved significant milestones starting with a Proof of Concept (POC) initiated on a smaller scale. The success of this endeavour garnered support from the Executive Management Team, leading to a secured stream of funding for deployment of the technology. The results speak for themselves, with an impressive 20% increase in daily productivity.

To achieve full automation, Western Digital implemented various cutting-edge automation components, including autonomous mobile vehicles (AMV), collaborative robots (Cobots), vision systems with Machine Learning (ML), and automated conveyors and SCARA robots.

A bespoke command centre was established by Western Digital to manage day-to-day operations and optimise production. This centre provides superior data visualisation, enhanced monitoring capabilities, live dashboards, and an automatic alert system, contributing to heightened equipment efficiency across all managed factories.

Beyond technological advancements, Western Digital’s initiative also presented an excellent opportunity for talent development. Engineers gained valuable experience in diverse fields such as advanced manufacturing technologies, automation hardware design, software development, and more.

Through the utilisation of groundbreaking technologies like BEAMM hardware and software, coupled with the TPE command centre, Western Digital proudly stands as an industry trailblazer. Their achievement of a Touchless Backend in a Lights Out test environment not only positions them at the forefront of technological innovation but also underscores their commitment to pushing the boundaries of excellence in the engineering industry.

The Malaysia Management Excellence Awards is presented by Asian Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2024 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's employee engagements and management initiatives, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].