Manufacturing Tech Alliance Targets Southeast Asia Boom
Southeast Asia’s high-tech manufacturing boom just landed a major new player. Critical Manufacturing, the Industrial Operations Platform company, today announced a strategic partnership with UST, a leading AI and technology transformation solutions company, to address growing demand for advanced production technologies across Southeast Asia and India.
Through the partnership, UST will serve as a strategic implementation and engineering partner. The company will help manufacturers modernize production operations through Critical Manufacturing’s Industrial Operations Platform.
Combining Platform Power With Regional Engineering Muscle
As investment in high-tech manufacturing accelerates across the region, companies are increasingly turning to advanced software backed by experienced implementation partners. The partnership combines Critical Manufacturing’s Industrial Operations Platform with UST’s expertise in AI, digital engineering, and manufacturing transformation.
Together, the companies aim to help manufacturers transform production operations and connect factory systems. The goal is improved operational visibility and faster adoption of intelligent manufacturing capabilities across semiconductor and electronics platform environments.
UST brings decades of experience delivering engineering, digital manufacturing, and technology transformation programs for global manufacturers. That experience is backed by local delivery teams across Southeast Asia and India.
UST will support customers at every stage of their manufacturing transformation journey, from implementing next-generation MES capabilities to optimizing existing production environments. Working alongside Critical Manufacturing, UST’s regional engineering teams will provide consulting, implementation, and local delivery expertise to help customers accelerate deployment and maximize the value of their technology investments.
Weng Keong Lan, Managing Director of Critical Manufacturing Malaysia, said having the right implementation expertise is just as important as having the right technology. “UST’s engineering capabilities, industry experience, and regional presence make them a valuable partner as we continue expanding our ecosystem and supporting customers throughout their digital transformation,” he said.
A Bigger Bet on India and the Region’s Future
Amar Chhajer, Vice President, SEA at UST, said manufacturers across Southeast Asia and India are investing heavily in modernizing their production environments, but technology alone isn’t enough to realize value. “By combining Critical Manufacturing’s Industrial Operations Platform with UST’s AI, engineering and manufacturing expertise, we’re helping clients accelerate time-to-value, improve efficiency, and build more connected, intelligent factories,” he said.
The partnership also supports Critical Manufacturing’s longer-term growth ambitions in India. Continued public and private investment there is creating new opportunities for advanced manufacturing software and experienced implementation partners.
Together, the companies will help manufacturers move beyond traditional MES implementations. Their focus is building connected, data-driven production environments that improve performance today while laying the groundwork for AI-driven manufacturing.
Looking ahead, both companies plan to keep building out local capabilities through certification and technical expertise. The goal is to help customers accelerate innovation, improve operational resilience, and realize greater long-term value from their manufacturing technology investments.
