Through the monozukuri training program, Josenian engineering students in Cebu were mentored by experts in the field of Japanese manufacturing philosophy and technology including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The Japanese word monozukuri means production.
The five-day training is in partnership with Industria Company Limited aims to prepare the students for the 4th Industrial Revolution also known as Industry 4.0. It is a term used to describe the era of the Internet of Systems after the prior revolutions on steam, electricity, and digital.
The Monozukuri Training is composed of lectures, workshops, and group discussions facilitated by the different speakers and mentors from Japan.
President of Industria Co., Ltd, Dr. Kazuaki Takahashi, said that they brought the training to the Philippines in November 2018 to give the Josenians the opportunity to be more familiar with Japanese technology.
“Students will learn the most current knowledge there is for manufacturing and they will have deeper thinking on how it’s done in Japan,” he said.
Hideto Okazaki, Project Manager of the Industria Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) Project, highlighted the importance of the training and education on Monozukuri to the students of the University of San Jose – Recoletos (USJ-R).
“It would be a great opportunity to provide monozukuri training in USJ-R. This would not only benefit the university and the students but also the company in finding the conforming student that will best serve our growing company,” he said.
To strengthen the partnership, Industria Co., Ltd. then signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with USJ-R to conduct more series of training and exchange programs in the months to come.
Engr. Jeremiah Badana, OIC of the College of Engineering, hopes for the engineering students to be responsive to the trend in the global industry through the partnership with companies and their instructional programs.
USJ-R has offered elective programs in partnership with Minebea Mitsumi Co. with Robotics and Automation; Fluor Daniel Inc. Philippines with Plant Engineering Design through S3D Application and the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) Materials Planning and Management Program.
It also ran previous programs with Tsuneishi Technical Services (Phils), Inc. on Ship Building Elective Programs; and with Knowles Electronics (Philippines) on Electro-Acoustic Engineering.
Furthermore, the school showcases its Center for Materials Research with its Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) with Oxford Energy Dispersive Spectrometer.
All of these are in response to the outcomes-based education demanded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) by providing industry-graded skills supported by the collaboration and linkages program.
Badana said these industry partners do not only help in the academic growth of the college and its programs but also provides financial support in upgrading the facilities for better use of the students.
Written by Julie Ann Salmeron (Communication Intern)
