Sirim's NEW TDM Project to advance digital manufacturing

Shah Alam: The Malaysian tool, die and mould (TDM) sector is poised to undergo a digital transformation with the upcoming launch of the NEW TDM Project next month. This initiative, in line with the 13th Malaysia Plan and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, seeks to bolster the TDM ecosystem via digital engineering, talent cultivation, and advanced manufacturing prowess.

TDM 2.0, which ran from 2022 to this year, has already laid a solid foundation, and the NEW TDM Project is expected to propel TDM firms to higher echelons of the manufacturing value chain.

Nik Sazali Nik Hussin, Sirim's president and CEO, highlighted that TDM 2.0 had provided a robust groundwork for the industry's evolution. The NEW TDM Project's primary focus lies in three domains: a digital platform for 3D design, talent enhancement encompassing 3D design, digital engineering, CAD/CAM/CAE and advanced manufacturing, and capability augmentation to bolster companies' delivery of sophisticated tooling solutions.

These endeavors intend to nurture TDM enterprises from preferred suppliers to original equipment manufacturers, strategic suppliers for Tier 1 firms, and eventually globally-renowned TDM solution providers.

TDM 2.0's completion of its three core components—coaching and certification, design capability enhancement, and equipment acquisition—has been a significant milestone, with 36 beneficiary firms having successfully completed the program. The initiative has resulted in notable outcomes, including an 88% increase in production capacity, a 164% surge on average, and a 29% reduction in overall lead time for 77% of participating firms.

Additionally, 70% of the companies have introduced new product lines, averaging an increase of 12 product lines per firm. Collectively, the participating entities contributed RM292 million in gross value added in 2024 alone.

Nik Sazali emphasized that the TDM industry is not merely an auxiliary sector but a foundational pillar for manufacturing capabilities. A nation may attract an automotive plant, aerospace manufacturer, electronics factory, or medical device producer. However, if the indispensable tooling, dies, and moulds required by these industries continue to be crafted elsewhere, a substantial portion of the value chain remains outside the country.

He stressed that localizing TDM capabilities is crucial to capturing greater economic value within Malaysia, strengthening domestic supply chains, nurturing Malaysian engineering prowess, and generating higher-value employment opportunities for Malaysians.