……Focuses On Manufacturing Sector Technologies
The unification of responses to the devastating impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic to the society will be the focus when a Webinar meeting jointly organized by the Information Technology Association of Nigeria, ITAN, the Nigeria Computer Society, NCS, and the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, holds next week Tuesday.
Themed: “Manufacturing Sector: Unlocking the Potentials of Technologies,” the virtual meeting which will be a joint COVID-19 response webinar for the manufacturing sector technologies, comes even as people embark on internal and individual interventions for this common cause.
A statement signed by Mr. Emmanuel Amos, ITAN Lagos Chapter Chairman and made available to DigitalTimesNG quoted the Chapter as saying that this is the time to give the society a consolidated collaborated attention.
According to Amos, using technology in manufacturing is not a new paradigm but the concern is that in restarting the economy post-pandemic, the sector would demand the attention of the ICT industry more than ever before.
The ITAN, Lagos Chapter Chairman noted that the virtual meeting was borne out of the interest of the collaborated industry ICT associations to see how the manufacturing sector can be assisted to use technology to improve manufacturing so they can grow contribution to the national GDP as expected, especially in economies of current pandemic complications around the world today.
“It is in the light of this and also based on some previous years researching of the sector that we deem it necessary to organise this event taking advantage of the virtual possibilities of the global internet to access the manufacturing organisations remotely across the country and beyond to put forward our thoughts in selected areas and for the short period of the programme to their benefit.
“Modern manufacturing is an increasingly automated and technology-driven industry and largely depends on the application of advanced technologies and systems that are changing the face of manufacturing in ways that were inconceivable just a few decades ago,” he said.
Amos, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Programos Software Limited said the ITAN, NCS, ISPON webinar will attempt to address solutions to common problems of the manufacturing sector.
The problems, he said, include low efficiency, excessive work-in-process, excessive inventory, excessive reworking, poor quality, poor customer satisfaction, poor safety record, employee absenteeism and poor human resource management.
Others include employee turnover, lack of alignment between the measurement system and desired outcomes, raw material supply delays, lack of research and development units, and lack of skilled manpower.
“I am more than happy to do this at this time on two grounds: one for being the Chairman for ITAN Lagos Chapter with amiable support and unity from fellow associations like the Nigeria Computer Society, NCS and Institute of Software Practitioners, ISPON, both of which I am pioneer member to co-convene this event.
“And two, because while as a guest speaker in one of the past annual general meetings of the manufacturers association of Nigeria a few years ago, the manufacturing sector gaps were x-rayed for a national intervention – the pandemic has just escalated a bad situation for attention,” Amos said.
The statement noted that those expected at the virtual meeting include Engr. Tayo Adeniyi, National President, ITAN; Engr Frank Onyebu, Chairman Manufacturing Association Of Nigeria, Apapa and Prof. Adesina Sodiya, a Professor of Computer Science and Information Security and the President of Nigeria Computer Society, NCS.
Others are Udukheli Izebunor, Executive Director, Giro Digital Limited and ISPON member; Melanie Ayoola, Director, Tranter-IT and Executive Member of ITAN, Lagos Chapter; as well as Bonny Mekwunye, Vice-Chairman Kecam Technologies and immediate past Chairman, ITAN Lagos Chapter.
The statement urged members of the public and stakeholders in the ICT and Manufacturing sectors of the economy to register in advance for the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5Kys0Mb4QFis5mrTRMIzEg or https://bit.ly/30IdNlX
The statement added that an email containing information about how to join the webinar will be sent to interested members of the public on the confirmation of registration.