Currently, the competition among workers in Indonesia is highly competitive. Workers and prospective workers are required not only to have qualified skills or competencies but also need to learn how to prepare themselves to enter the working world.
As a place of study, schools must provide opportunities for industrial visits with the objective that students can get a grasp of the working world. it hopes that students will be more confident when they began their careers.
Mercubuana University take the opportunity to bring the students from the Faculty of Engineering, and the Industrial Engineering Department to visit Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) Sinar Mas business unit, PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk (PT IKPP) Tangerang Mill last 14 June 2023
The visit was warmly welcomed by the company. The company prepares visiting activities starting from the initial planning of activities to their implementation, including sharing sessions, factory trips, and OHS knowledge equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The visit began with a briefing on the pulp and paper industry, through a sharing session on the flow of paper production and safety induction in preparation for practice in the field to see the process firsthand.
Students are also given knowledge of the basics of maintaining occupational safety and health, communication materials, as well as leadership activity sessions as preparation for entering the world of work.
It is interesting that during this visit, the students are also having a good interest in knowing about how PT IKPP – Tangerang Mill operates. During the pre-touring factory, students ask questions while seeing various products and crafts that the Mill has produced. The discussion started with the history of how the mill was established to how digital transformation affects the mill’s operational system. It was exciting and motivating to see how the students put interest in knowing about pulp & paper.
The visit was closed with students were given momentos in the form of APP Sinar Mas products.
Benefits of Industrial Visits
The visit conducted by the Department of Industrial Engineering of Mercubuana University aims to build self-empowerment among students, as one of the competencies that are needed in future professional beings.
In pursuing a career, one must own the ability to explore his/her capability, be confident, and have positive self-empowerment to drive initiative. Having said that, they can adapt and stronger decision-making with minimum supervision from seniors, superiors, or colleagues.
This visit can also open opportunities for prospective professionals to get to know activities in the world of work, see work processes, and learn standard operating procedures that must be carried out by an employee. Apart from that, students can also learn about hard competency and soft competency that companies need.
On the human resources side, industrial visits are useful to be able to see the potential of prospective professionals who can join the company. This activity is also useful for Employer Branding to introduce the company to prospective professionals.
