MAIN Board-listed FSBM Holdings Bhd which current focus is to develop an IT services segment has sealed a transformative partnership with Taiwanese artificial intelligence (AI) solutions provider Synergies Intelligent Systems Inc and Zhong Yang Technology Co Ltd, a listed high-precision capability player on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
Inked through its wholly-owned subsidiary FSBM I-Centre Sdn Bhd, the partnership aims to launch and deploy the ground-breaking HMLV.ai, a customer-to-manufacturer (C2M) platform powered by advanced AI algorithms to enhance traditional supply chains in the fabricated metal industry across Southeast Asia (SEA).
The HMLV.ai platform is designed to address key procurement challenges such as speed and cost by leveraging on cutting-edge/generative AI algorithms to deliver instant price quotes for “High Mix Low Volume” (HMLV) products.
This innovation promises improved efficiency and performance, empowering businesses to remain competitive in an ever-changing market. The initial focus will be on the fabricated metal industry with plans to expand into different key manufacturing segments, notably plastics in the near future.
Enormous potential
Malaysia alone represents a substantial market opportunity for HMLV.ai. According to Malaysia’s Department of Statistics (DOSM), the GDP (gross domestic product) for fabricated metal products in 2023 was approximately RM18 bil.
“We estimate that 1% of this sector requires HMLV parts for research and development (R&D), new product introduction (NPI) and engineering studies,” observed FSBM’s managing director Pang Kiew Kun.
“This translates to a market potential of RM180 mil in Malaysia alone. These figures underscore the tremendous opportunity within this niche segment, of which HMLV.ai is ideally positioned to capture it.”
By integrating AI solutions to HMLV.ai, the joint venture partners aim to re-define the entire supply chain in the fabricated metal manufacturing industry from upstream to downstream by optimising the part design, procurement, quality and pricing.
“With Malaysia as our hub, we’re strategically positioned to support the SEA market which underscores our dedication to driving smart manufacturing and digital transformation as a regional leader,” enthused Pang.
FSBM I-Centre will take the lead in identifying and onboarding local suppliers while Synergies will ensure their seamless integration into the platform.
On the other hand, Zhong Yang will ensure the quality and reliability of its contributions by implementing stringent evaluation processes and maintaining a consistently robust supply chain.
“Zhong Yang is an affiliate of the Foxconn Global Network Corp which manufactures high-precision tools and serves as a key supplier of lenses for Apple’s products,” revealed Pang.
“By leveraging the rigorous standards of the Foxconn supply chain as our benchmark, we invite Malaysian suppliers and end users to join our platform.
He added: “Together, we’re building an ecosystem that elevates local capabilities and showcasing them to the world. HMLV.ai is more than just a platform; it is a statement of intent – a proof that innovation when combined with execution can lead to transformational results.”
At the close of today’s (Jan 21) trading, FSBM was up 1 sen or 4% to 26 sen with 6.19 million shares traded, thus valuing the company at RM133 mil. – Jan 21, 2025
