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On 27 September 2007, 14 Republic Polytechnic students departed for Malacca. We all met at the Golden Mile Tower early in the morning and departed the moment we had all checked in. I was very excited as this would be my first time travelling to a foreign country without my parents. The journey took about 4 hours.
When we arrived at the destination, we were picked up by one of the staff from Cubic Learning - the heart of Malacca’s premier integrated industrial park. Two buildings within the factory were occupied by the Technology University of Malacca. We were warmly welcomed by the staff of the Cubic Learning factory and the Vice Chairman was also present to welcome us. We were then given a short presentation about what the Cubic Learning factory was all about.
The following day, we were brought back to the factory to be taught about manufacturing management.
We were showed how they productivity of PCBs was increased by reducing electronic static discharge and by wearing wrist straps that
were attached to the earth wire. We were then brought to the factory where the Creative Mp3 players were assembled. We could view the production line and detailed manufacturing processes. One thing I noticed was that the workers on the assembly line were all females. I asked the trainer who said that it is scientifically proven that females can do repetitive work with minimal mistakes. That was a really interesting insight!
After dinner, we were brought to a place called the Malacca River - it is as significant as the Singapore River. Just like Singapore, the river was used in the past for trading and the shop houses nearby were used as store rooms. Now, the shop houses are revamped into cafes and shops. We then met a Dutch café owner who welcomed us to his café to take a few photos. He gave us a short history lesson about the Malacca River, and about the Dutch who occupied Malacca in the past. Even the bricks on the wall can tell a story! He explained that the Dutch-produced bricks were very long and thin, while the British-produced bricks were fat and thick.
The next day, we went to the Mahkota Medical Centre where we were given a short presentation about the hospital. The hospital is not only for the sick, but also for people who wish to feel better about themselves. We were given a short tour of the hospital and even got the opportunity to tour their multi-purpose laboratory. They conducted many types of tests in the laboratory from analysing blood samples to examining corpses. We were able to witness how the laboratory facilities were used to conduct blood tests.
One of the planes on display at the CTRM / Air Bus composites
manufacturing factory
CTRM operates through its subsidiaries in various projects such as manufacturing of composite components, MRO services and engineering design. We learnt about how they maintained a high quality standard for their products. Next, we viewed how they cut and moulded the carbon material; it was then placed in a huge oven for the mold to set. After setting, it was left to cool down before the excess bits were trimmed away. Last but not least, the parts were scanned for defects using advanced technology before a "passport" was issued for the composite part. A small composite in this factory costs about S$5000 each therefore quality
assurance was paramount.
Some pottery at the museum
The next day, we went sightseeing where we visited a few
famous museums in Malacca. The museums showcased their rich history; they had
samples of the banana notes that belonged to the Japanese occupation era. They
also housed the various pottery used in the past. After this, we visited the sultanate palace.
This palace was built using wood but without a single nail! It was very pretty and there were many costumes
on display which were worn by the royalty on festive occasions.
After lunch, we went to the birds nest factory. We were
comfortably seated at the restaurant where the manager explained the cleaning
and manufacturing process for top quality bird’s nest. He explained the different types of bird’s nest
after which we were brought to the actual place where the swiftlets made their nests and laid their eggs. It was about 10 minutes walk away
from the restaurant. When we arrived, the manager explained that the house had a history and it
actually used to be part of the sea. As we walked in, we saw the swiftlets flying around in the back yard.
I have a phobia of birds but managed to pull myself together and entered the
tunnel. Fortunately, we were protected against the fast- flying birds by a
safety net. The birds were fastidious in keeping their nests clean and they
built their nests at the top of the ceiling. The manager also told us how they managed to attract the birds and
that the appropriate temperature and humidity was essential in housing the birds.
Following that, we went to A’farmosa, a small theme park in Malacca. We
watched and enjoyed the musical animal show as well as the spectacular fireworks. We also counted down for the 50th
Independence Day of Malaysia together. It was my first time watching fireworks in Malaysia
and it was a truly spectacular sight! We then headed back to the hotel as everyone was exhausted
and on the brink of falling asleep. All in all, everyone had a wonderful and unforgettable day
out.
A group photo at the A’farmosa cowboy town
The next day, we attended training on Product Realization which gave us an opportunity to understand this phase of
the product development cycle. After the training, we had the chance to do some
serious shopping! We were brought to Makota Parade and Datarang Pahlawan. These
are famous shopping centres as evidenced by the large crowds doing their
shopping there. Most of us managed to buy a variety of items very quickly.
After a good night’s rest, we went back to the factory for
training on quality management and control. We learnt how the products were
rigorously tested prior to their launch. Even the most minute details such as
the design of the packaging were thoroughly checked. In particular, we visited
the factory to see how they tested the sound cards and Mp3 players. Sound cards are tested by installing them into computers
and assessing the sound quality. The Mp3 players are tested by charging them for long periods of time
as well as by placing them in extreme temperature environments. The latter test
would allow the players to be used in temperate countries.
On the final day, we were presented with certificates of participation.
We took photos around the factory, with the trainers as well as with our very
warm and friendly host, Ms. Chan. Finally, it was time to bid farewell to
Malacca and we boarded the bus back to Singapore. It was a wonderful experience
overall, and if I ever have the chance to go back, I would definitely love to!
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