SERDANG, April 22 - The Clothing Technology Laboratory of the Faculty of Educational Studies (FPP), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) produces about 50 to 100 units of personal protective equipment or PPE per day to meet the needs of University Health Center (PKU) staff to prevent Covid-19 infection while on duty.

Support of the Vice Chancellor of UPM, Prof. Datin Paduka Setia Dato ’Dr. Aini Ideris has enabled projects that started with around 50 PPE per day increase production to 100 PPE per day.

Dean of the Faculty of Educational Studies, Prof. Dr. Samsilah Roslan said the sewing process at the laboratory had the participation of more than 20 UPM students and staff.

“This laboratory is equipped with 32 industrial sewing machines, 6 edge sewing machines, 2 buttonhole sewing machines, one fabric cutting machine and various sewing equipment.

I was informed by the Head of the University Health Center (PKU), Dr Fauziah Adnan that they started buying PPE for the use of their staff during the Covid-19 outbreak but the supply of PPE became increasingly difficult to obtain and the price also increased.

"This caused PKU staff to start sewing PPE themselves starting in mid-March by bringing a sewing machine from home," he said.

Meanwhile, a senior lecturer in the Department of Science and Technical Education, Dr. Rahimah Jamaluddin said she practiced the PPE production process using the "mass production" system as used in the garment manufacturing industry.

Through this method, he created five stations according to the specialization of work, namely cutting station, arm rubber sewing station, arm-to-body sewing station, fabric sewing station at the neckline and lastly the packaging and finishing station.

“The application of mass production work system and fabric cutting using an electric cutting machine can increase the production of PPE because students have mastered the skills for their respective fields of work.

"This method can minimize possible mistakes and can ensure the safety of students throughout the PPE production process is carried out," he said.

Bachelor of Business Administration student, Wan Nur Syafiqah Wan Norhisham, 22, said she participated in the FPP & PKU Concerned Touch Project to curb the Coronavirus outbreak because she wanted to learn something new outside her field of study.

"At first I was only assigned to cut the fabric but when I saw other friends sewing, I wanted to learn to sew PPE," he said.

According to another Bachelor of Food Services Management student, Izzah Shahira Anuar, 22, the sewing method and demonstration showed by Dr. Rahimah allows her to learn to sew in a short period of time. ”

 “Dr. Rahimah has organized the position of students systematically according to their respective areas of work, "he said.

The initial goal of establishing a Clothing Technology Laboratory is for the purpose of teaching and learning for students of the Bachelor of Home Science Education which has been offered since 1979.

The laboratory is also used for other TVET programs such as the use of students who take minor subjects in Design and Technology.

Apart from teaching and learning, the laboratory is also used to provide skills training to students, home science teachers, vocational college teachers, and the local community through the organization of sewing workshops as well as short-term courses. - UPM