INDRALAYA – In an effort to foster integration between the academic world and the industrial sector (link and match), the Alumni Sub-Directorate of Sriwijaya University (Unsri) explored a potential partnership with PT Sumatera Prima Fiberboard (SPF), marked by a visit from SPF to the Alumni Sub-Directorate on April 27, 2026. This visit focused on finalizing technology-based community service programs as well as research internship programs for students, which are planned to run in the coming period.
One of the key points of this collaboration is the implementation of community service programs in the form of industrial information system development. The research team from Unsri presented several potential collaboration opportunities, including: The role of Agentic AI in automatically scheduling production, detecting machine failures before they occur (predictive maintenance), analyzing daily factory production data, focusing on machine downtime, and optimizing the supply chain; Prompt engineering for developing industrial dashboards to make AI a true analytical co-pilot and enhance Product Quality (Quality Control); and Knowledge Management System (KMS): Implementing AI methods such as Fuzzy String Matching to manage corporate knowledge and improve employee performance. The research team also presented industrial chatbots as an operational layer that accelerates response times, reduces costs, and consistently improves service quality, where AI chatbots evolve from mere “question answerers” into operational assistants, data analysts, and even task executors
Meanwhile, PT Sumatera Prima Fiberboard also outlined their need for a custom-designed digital panel monitoring system to improve the company’s operational efficiency. This system is expected to include two main features: a production speed monitoring system and a renewable energy efficiency dashboard. The Production Speed Monitoring System involves the development of a digital panel to monitor the speed of wood chipper machines in real-time. This technology aims to optimize production output and facilitate precise monitoring of machine performance. Meanwhile, the Renewable Energy Efficiency Dashboard is the development of an interface that calculates cost savings from the use of solar panels. This system will convert energy savings data into Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) currency units, allowing company management to directly monitor the effectiveness of renewable energy investments. The hope is that the implementation of these monitoring systems goes beyond mere visual digitization; rather, it represents a step toward data-driven decision-making. With the integration of these sensors, the company will have an accurate database to conduct predictive analysis of energy consumption and monthly production targets.
Beyond the information technology aspect, this collaboration includes an independent internship program focused on the preparation of students’ final projects or theses. The research focus is on studying the effectiveness of utilizing factory waste as organic fertilizer for various plant varieties. This study aims to support the Circular Economy concept through rigorous experimental methodology. Students will map the physiological responses of plants to the nutrient content of byproducts from fiberboard production. The research findings are expected to provide scientific recommendations for the company to manage production residues in a more value-added manner, while simultaneously reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. Validation of this data will serve as a technical reference for the development of the company’s future by-products.
This multidisciplinary collaboration, which combines aspects of computer science and agrotechnology, reflects the flexibility of higher education curricula in responding to the dynamics of the private sector. Through structured internship and community service programs, Sriwijaya University ensures that students not only master classroom theory but are also capable of solving complex problems in the field to industry standards.
“We strive to ensure that the academic community can provide technical solutions to industry challenges, while also creating opportunities for students to conduct applied research,” stated the Head of the Alumni Sub-Directorate, Prof. Ir. Deris Stiawan, Ph.D., IPU, ASEAN Eng.
This strategic partnership is expected to continue evolving into a mutually beneficial relationship that enhances the global competitiveness of alumni and strengthens PT Sumatera Prima Fiberboard’s position as an innovative, sustainable, and research-based industry.