Improving workers' skills important: GE executive

SURABAYA (JP): PT GE Lighting Indonesia, a lighting producer owned by the U.S. General Electric, believes improving workers' skills and welfare is one of the most important strategies in raising its market share in the country.

Company president, Paul Morse, said here yesterday that a company was required not just to operate modern equipment and facilities but also to improve its employees skills to boost sales.

"It's GE's responsibility to take an active role in developing its employees skills to meet the growing demand for advanced skills in Indonesia. Adding value to the nation through management training and employee development are key parts of GE's strategy," he said.

He said there were only two expatriates out of the about 2,000 employees at GE Lighting Indonesia.

He said his company gave Indonesian employees advanced training related to production and technology.

"GE's commitment to human resources development is a win-win situation for Indonesia and GE. The immediate result will be superior quality and service from GE Lighting Indonesia at competitive prices," Morse said.

"However, more importantly, we are investing in the development of Indonesia's human resources base. Indonesia is a dynamic country and GE is confident of the nation's future."

Morse said GE Lighting Indonesia made neons and light bulbs. It has an annual capacity of 180 million units from its three manufacturing facilities in Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Jakarta.

He said the annual capacity figure was for 30 percent bulbs and 70 percent neons.

"We export some 40 percent to Asian nations including Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, the Middle East and Africa," he said.

He said Indonesia's market was very strong.

GE Lighting Indonesia competes with Philips which currently leads the market.

Product engineer of GE Lighting Indonesia, Ahmad Gozali, said GE neons' lifespan ranged between 7,000 hours and 10,000 hours and the bulbs' lifespan reached 1,000 hours.

Morse said GE Lighting Indonesia still had to buy glass materials from Philips and a Thai firm. "We are still working out whether we can make the glass ourselves."

GE holds a number of joint venture firms in Indonesia, including PT General Electric Teknologi Indonesia, PT GE Astra Finance, PT GE Nusantara Turbine Services, PT Paiton Energy Company and PT GE Lokomotif Indonesia. (icn)