Pick out key points from this conversation about digital Transformation in the manufacturing sector.  Lay them in bullet points.  Make it easy to read and understand.

So the topic for tomorrow is JBDC digitally transforming production spaces for manufacturers. So, we spoke some time ago about, how JBDC is kind of facilitating this. And I want to find out from you, where is the world at right now, in terms of technological advancements in production?

there is a term called Industry 4.0 or the 4th Industrial Revolution, which is about smart manufacturing. You know, the terminology being used nowadays, smart, smart home, smartphone, smart everything. So Industrial 4.0 is about synchronizing the means of manufacturing or production with current technologies through the Internet of sync. Everything is interconnected.



We can communicate to machinery, and machinery can send information to us in in in not even real time and in in machine time immediately. That allows for improved production, improved efficiency, that type of thing. Right? So that's where we are now.



A Lots of pieces of equipment and machinery are being integrated or being made to to be integrated to a network. Mhmm. So I can set up my computer. I can design an item. I can hit a button and just like in the what where you would see it would send it to a printer, you print a document.



Mhmm. I can send a code to a machine that can make a part. You know, we hear about things like 3 d printing and laser cutting Industrial 4.0 or or or smart manufacturing. Of course, we have more sophisticated machinery that does a whole lot more depending on the industry you're in, which follows the same principle. Okay.



So looking locally, what do you notice? Are MSMEs, utilizing these technologies? Are they off with the Internet of things, smart manufacturing? What do you see with MSMEs? I see a little bit of a crack in the wall where some of them are now realizing and using it.



I've I am seeing more being used or or I'm seeing it either being applied by small manufacturers of wood items. Mhmm. So I see a lot of people with, CNC machines. You know, thing the cutting boards and cheese boards and stuff like that and small desktop wood night. And I see more and more persons using that right here in Jamaica, making their small scale wooden plugs, using the CNC, router.



And then they're embracing or embedding designs on using the the, laser picture or laser engraver. Right? So we're seeing persons applying it at that level. A lot of micro entrepreneurs are are applying it. I have seen one person using even 3 d printing to create workable items, specialized design, obviously, but still commercially viable and commercially competitive in terms of price.



So we're seeing a little bit of MSME going move in that direction. However, there's still room for more inclusion in different areas in agro processing. For example, we think there's tremendous potential there for persons to to integrate some equipment that they use in other processing and in testing, the products, and so on. Okay. So tell me about, how JBDC can you know?



Because you said there there's a gap. Right? Right. Mhmm. Tell me about how JBDC, the IRC especially, can help MSMEs with, you know, filling that gap.



Persons who are not utilizing the CNC and ERP. And so how can we help, you know, to rein them in, to get them up to speed? Well, how we can help them and, through our technical team and provide them the type of advice and consultation, based on on on their own current situation with manufacturing, we have recommended, appropriate solutions to persons. We have although we ourselves don't really have much equipment, deep in 4.0 as yet, We do have some PISA equipment, which we show them the potential. So we have a laser engraver and cutter.



We have some equipment in our agro processing and decentralized incubator, which does provide some low level integration with, the computer. So, for example, we have a small dehydrator that we can get reload of its performance on a laptop computer. Similarly, we have some testing equipment in the essential oils lab, which when it tests the oil field and it generates the result, it actually sends it to a computer of which we can now print off a report and or email that report to someone. So we're we're moving closely in that direction ourselves. I should point out too that transitioning to such equipment, depending on the scale, can be affordable or it can be very expensive.



Mhmm. Obviously, the affordable, piece of equipment are normally smaller in size. So those would be suitable suitable for prototyping or or doing pilot production runs and that type of stuff. Once you're scaling now, obviously, the cost go up, the more you scale. But the technology is available.



It is accessible. Getting it into a country is is is relatively easy as an agency of Ministry of Industry, investment on commerce. We also direct all clients to the ministry's, productive incentive, the PIR program. I can't see what PIR means. So we can't we can't we can't I can't tell afterwards what it is.



But it's a program where a person can apply for some kind of relief with through the importation of equipment, raw materials that will help to enhance their So in the agroprocessing incubator, is the dehydrator in the in the incubator? Yes. We have the dehydrator and the incubator. Which one? The agro processing are the essential oils?



In the agro processing. But it it can serve for both sides. Okay. Alright. Right.



And that in that that, that piece of equipment Dehydrator is while it is not fully integrated in in a computer system now, it is programmable. So you can put in certain variables, particularly the temperature and the time at which you want the the items to be dried for and how long. And it will automatically adjust itself to provide the the necessary drying within the time period that you would have programmed into it at the desired temperature. And there are advanced versions of which you can control via apps on a smartphone, for example, so you can monitor the progress of the equipment.



I mean, there must be some form of advantage to using these technologies in man in the manufacturing process. Yes. What are some of these advantages? The advantages all lead to, much higher efficiency of production, which means you're doing things optimally. You don't have to experiment with setting as much as before.



And that will result in higher yields, lower losses and waste, shorter turnaround times or more optimal turnaround times, right? And so you can better predict your production. You can better schedule your production, which ultimately will lead to better quality products and you being able to deliver to your customers in a more timely and predictable, manner. Yeah. Speak to me about competitiveness now.



How what are the advantages that it speaks to competitiveness on a global level? You see, industry 4.0 went to that level now, and the Internet of sync speaks to competitiveness at the most at the highest point. You know, we live in a world where we can expect things immediately. So we talk about just in time production, Right?



Where you can have shorter turnaround times and quicker delivery of items from design to manufacture. It puts us on almost level playing field with other of course, scale is important and scale now becomes a differentiator. But in terms of technology which are being used in other, in other, countries or other regions which are more renowned for manufacturing. It allows us to literally use the same technology as they do.



Obviously, they would have, much bigger scale, so their output was a much greater. However, the same efficiencies that they would enjoy, we would also enjoy, and that can lead to you being more competitive. Certainly much more competitive than someone doing everything manually without the use of technology. Okay, mister Porta. Thank you.



Is there anything that you'd else you'd like to point out? Nothing. Just the usual that, you know, the persons can come and sit with us and we can explore and provide further support in this area. Okay. Alright.