Our Awards
Award Categories
The Malaysia Smart Manufacturing Awards 2025 recognizes companies across various categories that have excelled in implementing smart manufacturing practices. The award categories include:
This category is dedicated to recognizing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have successfully embarked on smart manufacturing initiatives, demonstrating significant improvements in operational efficiency, productivity, and business excellence. SMEs are the backbone of Malaysia’s economy, and their digital transformation is a key driver for positioning the country as a regional advanced manufacturing hub.
Sub-Categories:
Category 1: Annual Revenue Below RM 15 Million
Category 2: Annual Revenue Between RM 15 Million and RM 50 Million
Key considerations for Judging:
- Performance of Adoption
- Level of Company-wide Involvement
- Adoption of Industry 4.0 as Business Strategy and Sustainability
This category is open to Mid-Tier Companies (MTCs) in Malaysia, which contribute approximately 36% of the nation’s GDP while comprising only 0.8% of registered businesses. Known for their export-driven focus, MTCs are critical players in advancing Malaysia’s global trade position. Their adoption of smart manufacturing technologies not only sets a benchmark for SMEs but also enhances their capability to supply complex and innovative products to the world.
Sub-Categories:
Category 1: Annual Revenue Between RM 50 Million and RM 100 Million
Category 2: Annual Revenue Between RM 100 Million and RM 500 Million
Key considerations for Judging:
- Performance of Adoption
- Level of Company-wide Involvement
- Adoption of Industry 4.0 as Business Strategy and Sustainability
This category celebrates corporations with annual revenues exceeding RM 500 million. These industry giants are recognized as leaders in innovation, with extensive resources and market reach to shape the future of advanced manufacturing. Their strategic investments in smart technologies position them as competitive forces in the global manufacturing landscape.
Sub-Categories:
Category 1: Non-Listed Companies
Category 2: Listed Companies or Their Subsidiaries
Key considerations for Judging:
- Performance of Adoption
- Level of Company-wide Involvement
- Adoption of Industry 4.0 as Business Strategy and Sustainability
This award celebrates organizations that leverage data analytics as a core enabler to drive sustainable smart manufacturing practices. In today’s competitive and environmentally conscious landscape, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives are no longer optional but imperative for long-term success. Data-driven manufacturing empowers businesses to monitor processes, drive continuous improvements, and foster innovation with measurable impact on sustainability.
This category rewards companies that have successfully implemented ESG initiatives with data-backed evidence of progress and transformation.
Key considerations for Judging:
- Data Utilization for Sustainability
- Sustainable Product Design & Lifecycle Management
- Environmental Impact Metrics
- Collaboration and Ecosystem Integration
- Outcomes and Scalability
This award recognizes outstanding workforce engagement, leadership, and skills development in advancing smart manufacturing initiatives. Achieving smart manufacturing transformation requires a dynamic team that embodies a clear vision, effective planning, and collaborative execution. This award highlights organizations that prioritize their people as a critical asset for successful innovation and operational growth.
Key Considerations for Judging:
- Workforce Development & Training
- Employee Engagement & Inclusion
- Leadership in Change Management
- Safety, Health, and Well-Being
- Outcomes and Impact
This award celebrates outstanding technology and solutions providers that deliver innovative, practical, cost-effective, and impactful solutions, enabling manufacturers to achieve higher productivity, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth through the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. Recognizing that technological innovation is the driving force behind smart manufacturing transformation, this award highlights providers whose solutions significantly address critical manufacturing challenges and enhance operational performance.
Beyond improving domestic manufacturing capabilities, this award also reflects Malaysia’s ambition to develop a globally competitive smart manufacturing ecosystem. It emphasizes the importance of high local content technology solutions that are ready to be exported and serve international markets, contributing to Malaysia’s position as a global technology and innovation hub.
Key Considerations for Judging :
- Proven delivery of practical and cost-effective solutions that solve complex manufacturing operational challenges
- Innovation in technology design, implementation, and functionality, with measurable impact on manufacturers’ productivity, cost savings, and process efficiency
- Contributions to the smart manufacturing ecosystem
SMART SMEs
This category is dedicated to recognizing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have successfully embarked on smart manufacturing initiatives, demonstrating significant improvements in operational efficiency, productivity, and business excellence. SMEs are the backbone of Malaysia’s economy, and their digital transformation is a key driver for positioning the country as a regional advanced manufacturing hub.
Sub-Categories:
- Annual Revenue Below RM 15 Million
- Annual Revenue Between RM 15 Million and RM 50 Million
SMART Mid-Tier
This category is open to Mid-Tier Companies (MTCs) in Malaysia, which contribute approximately 36% of the nation’s GDP while comprising only 0.8% of registered businesses. Known for their export-driven focus, MTCs are critical players in advancing Malaysia’s global trade position. Their adoption of smart manufacturing technologies not only sets a benchmark for SMEs but also enhances their capability to supply complex and innovative products to the world.
Sub-Categories:
- Annual Revenue Between RM 50 Million and RM 100 Million
- Annual Revenue Between RM 100 Million and RM 500 Million
SMART Corporation
This category celebrates corporations with annual revenues exceeding RM 500 million. These industry giants are recognized as leaders in innovation, with extensive resources and market reach to shape the future of advanced manufacturing. Their strategic investments in smart technologies position them as competitive forces in the global manufacturing landscape.
Sub-Categories:
- Non-Listed Companies
- Listed Companies or Their Subsidiaries
Special Awards: Data-Driven
Sustainability Excellence
Sustainability Excellence
This award celebrates organizations that leverage data analytics as a core enabler to drive sustainable smart manufacturing practices. In today’s competitive and environmentally conscious landscape, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives are no longer optional but imperative for long-term success. Data-driven manufacturing empowers businesses to monitor processes, drive continuous improvements, and foster innovation with measurable impact on sustainability.
This category rewards companies that have successfully implemented ESG initiatives with data-backed evidence of progress and transformation.
Key considerations for Judging:
- Data Utilization for Sustainability
- Sustainable Product Design & Lifecycle Management
- Environmental Impact Metrics
- Collaboration and Ecosystem Integration
- Outcomes and Scalability
Special Awards:
People Excellence
People Excellence
This award recognizes outstanding workforce engagement, leadership, and skills development in advancing smart manufacturing initiatives. Achieving smart manufacturing transformation requires a dynamic team that embodies a clear vision, effective planning, and collaborative execution. This award highlights organizations that prioritize their people as a critical asset for successful innovation and operational growth.
Key Considerations for Judging:
- Workforce Development & Training
- Employee Engagement & Inclusion
- Leadership in Change Management
- Safety, Health, and Well-Being
- Outcomes and Impact
Special Awards:
Technology Excellence
Technology Excellence
This award celebrates outstanding technology and solutions providers that deliver innovative, practical, cost-effective, and impactful solutions, enabling manufacturers to achieve higher productivity, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth through the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. Recognizing that technological innovation is the driving force behind smart manufacturing transformation, this award highlights providers whose solutions significantly address critical manufacturing challenges and enhance operational performance.
Beyond improving domestic manufacturing capabilities, this award also reflects Malaysia’s ambition to develop a globally competitive smart manufacturing ecosystem. It emphasizes the importance of high local content technology solutions that are ready to be exported and serve international markets, contributing to Malaysia’s position as a global technology and innovation hub.
Key Considerations for Judging :
- Proven delivery of practical and cost-effective solutions that solve complex manufacturing operational challenges
- Innovation in technology design, implementation, and functionality, with measurable impact on manufacturers’ productivity, cost savings, and process efficiency
- Contributions to the smart manufacturing ecosystem
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for participation, organizations must meet the following entry requirements:
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- Category 1: This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue of below RM 15 million.
- Category 2: This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue between RM 15 million and RM 50 million.
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- Category 1: This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue between RM 50 million and RM 100 million.
- Category 2: This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue between RM 100 million and RM 500 million.
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue of more than RM500 million.
- Category 1: This category is open to non-listed companies.
- Category 2: This category is open to listed companies or their subsidiaries.
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue of less than RM 200 million.
- Only non-public listed companies are eligible to apply, and subsidiaries of public listed companies are not eligible.
- Corporations must have completed at least 5 (five) smart manufacturing projects. Smart manufacturing projects refer to the adoption of any of the 11 Industry 4.0 technology pillars, namely Big Data Analytics, Autonomous Robots, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), System Integration, Cybersecurity, Augmented Reality, Simulation, Advanced Materials, and Artificial Intelligence.
- Corporations must submit at least 3 (three) case studies showcasing measurable improvements achieved for their clients.
SMART SMEs
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- Category 1: This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue of below RM 15 million.
- Category 2: This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue between RM 15 million and RM 50 million.
SMART Mid-Tier
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- Category 1: This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue between RM 50 million and RM 100 million.
- Category 2: This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue between RM 100 million and RM 500 million.
SMART Corporation
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue of more than RM500 million.
- Category 1: This category is open to non-listed companies.
- Category 2: This category is open to listed companies or their subsidiaries.
Special Awards: Data-Driven
Sustainability Excellence
Sustainability Excellence
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
Special Awards:
People Excellence
People Excellence
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
Special Awards:
Technology Excellence
Technology Excellence
- The corporations must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- The corporations must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- This category is open to corporations with an annual revenue of less than RM 200 million.
- Only non-public listed companies are eligible to apply, and subsidiaries of public listed companies are not eligible.
- Corporations must have completed at least 5 (five) smart manufacturing projects. Smart manufacturing projects refer to the adoption of any of the 11 Industry 4.0 technology pillars, namely Big Data Analytics, Autonomous Robots, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), System Integration, Cybersecurity, Augmented Reality, Simulation, Advanced Materials, and Artificial Intelligence.
- Corporations must submit at least 3 (three) case studies showcasing measurable improvements achieved for their clients.
Judging Criteria
The Malaysia Smart Manufacturing Awards 2025 judging process is based on three fundamental criteria:
Performance of Adoption
Evaluation of how the adoption of Industry 4.0 technology has improved operational efficiency, increased productivity, reduced waste, and contributed to the overall growth of the business. This criterion focuses on tangible outcomes achieved through the implementation of smart manufacturing practices.
Level of Company-wide Involvement
Review of the level of involvement by all levels within the company, assessing whether it has taken into account the elements of people, process, technology, and financial aspects. This criterion emphasizes the holistic approach to adopting smart manufacturing practices throughout the organization.
Adoption of Industry 4.0 as Business Strategy and Sustainability
Assessment of the company’s ability to leverage smart manufacturing as a strategy to innovate, compete, and become a leader in the global value chain. This criterion considers the long-term sustainability of the business through the integration of smart manufacturing practices into the overall business strategy.
Judging Process
To be eligible for participation, organizations must meet the following entry requirements:
First-Level Review:
All applications received will go through a rigorous first-level review process. This review will be based on weighted marks assigned to various criteria, aiming to identify the best performance entries.
Finalists Selection:
After the first-level review, the shortlisted entries will be selected as finalists for the award. These finalists will then be invited to present their smart manufacturing initiatives before a panel of judges. The presentations can be conducted virtually or in a physical setting, depending on the circumstances and preferences.
Judging by Panel of Judges:
The panel of judges, composed of industry experts and professionals, will evaluate the presentations and assess the finalists based on predetermined criteria. The judges will thoroughly review and validate each finalist's smart manufacturing initiatives, including their impact on operational efficiency, productivity, innovation, sustainability, and overall performance.
Decision and Naming of Winners:
The naming of the winners will be based on the final decision made by the panel of judges. Their decision is considered final and authoritative. The judges will carefully consider all the presentations, deliberating on the merits of each finalist's smart manufacturing initiatives and their alignment with the award criteria. The winners will be announced and recognized for their outstanding achievements and contributions during the Award Presentation Ceremony.
Submission of Entries
Step 01
Select your submission category (SMART SMEs, SMART Mid-Tier, SMART Corporation & Special Awards)
Step 2
Prepare your submission answers, supporting documents to be submitted online. Organiser will conduct briefing on the award including submission processes and judging criteria from time to time.
Step 3
Please submit your completed online application form by 11:59 PM, 31st May 2025. Once you have paid the non-refundable processing fee of RM1620*, please email a copy of your receipt to msma@bizsphere.com.my. Please note that award entries will only be processed upon confirmation of receipt of the full processing fee.
*Fees are inclusive of 8 % Service Tax
Note: Panel of Judges may request for more information and documents or even visit to your factory to review your submitted entries.
Submission Guidelines
Dates:
Submission Deadline: 31st May 2025, 11:59 pm.
Awards Presentation Ceremony: 3rd Quarter of 2025
Qualifying Criteria:
To be eligible for participation, organizations must meet the following entry requirements:
- The organization must be incorporated in Malaysia in accordance with the Companies Act, 2016.
- More than 50.0% of the shares of the company are owned by Malaysians.
- Not public-listed companies on Bursa Malaysia Stock Exchange Main Board. Subsidiaries of listed companies are eligible to participate. Companies under ACE Market can participate under OPEN CATEGORY (NON-SME). Companies under LEAP Market can participate under OPEN CATEGORY (SME).
- The organization must have been in business operations for at least three (3) years. Proof of this requirement should be provided through audited financial statements for the past three consecutive years and latest management accounts.
- For organizations participating in the Industry4wrd Category, Industry4wrd RA Report is mandatory to be submitted as supporting document.
Submission of Online Forms and Documents
Step 1:
- Complete the online form.
- One nomination form is applicable for the submission of ONE Award Category only.
- Please make sure all your personal details are entered accurately, including contact details. Please indicate N/A where appropriate.
- You are eligible to enter more than one category, as long as the project submitted meets the criteria.
Step 2:
Submit required supporting documents and templates.
- Declaration Form : Download and must be signed and with company stamp.
- Latest 3 years Audited financial statements
- Latest Annual Return
- SSM e-info Profile
- Additional Supporting Documents in respective Award Categories.
Step 3:
Non-refundable Nomination Fees for each Award Category is RM 1620.* If there are more than 1 nomination, payment of nomination fees must be separated.
*Fees are inclusive of 8 % Service Tax
Payment of Nomination Fees is only via Online Transfer or Cash Deposit, payable to BIZSPHERE SDN BHD Bank details :
Account name: BIZSPHERE SDN BHD
Account number: 056 0033 7673
Bank name: Hong Leong Bank
If you have any questions on the submission process, please contact the secretariat by email to msma@bizsphere.com.my