Real-World Business Exposure and Fun Learning at Yakult Malaysia for APU Students

SoMM students witnessed Yakult’s commitment to innovation and quality first-hand during their industrial visit, as well as the great care that goes into producing excellent probiotic strains and perfecting the manufacturing process.

Industrial visits can help students learn about the real world while also making their academics more fun and interesting.

Therefore, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) provided 32 students from the School of Marketing & Management (SoMM) with the opportunity to visit the Yakult Factory in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

Dr. Minoru Shirota created Yakult, and with over 85 years of experience in scientific research, Yakult is committed to supplying the highest quality probiotics bacteria Shirota strain to people all over the world.

SoMM Senior Lecturer Ms. Harjinder Kaur Balbir Singh led the visit, accompanied by SoMM Academic Leader Mr. David Ng Kok Meng.

“The visit provided valuable insights into the various stages, quality control measures, and standards adhered to in order to deliver a high-quality product to consumers,” said Ms. Harjinder Kaur.

Mr. David added, “This educational tour has been designed to facilitate and expose students to as close to real-world business practises as possible, which is critical in today’s education system.”

The goal of the visit was to give students hands-on experience with the production processes and technologies used by Yakult. 

Students learned about the various stages of the Yakult production process, from the selection of bacterial strains to the final packaging of the product, as well as the importance of quality control and the company’s commitment to delivering a high-quality product to consumers.

Ms. Sharifah Khairiyah Syd Ismail, Yakult Malaysia’s Public Relations Specialist, led the tour, which included a general presentation and a corporate video presentation detailing the history of Yakult and the process flow of Yakult production and technologies used, fresh Yakult tasting, a physical factory tour, and exclusive merchandise available for purchase.

The students were fascinated by the precision and effort that goes into making Yakult, as well as the company’s commitment to innovation and its emphasis on research and development (R&D).

“Visit to the Yakult factory was eye-opening, providing us with valuable insights into the world of probiotics and the company’s commitment to providing consumer value.

“This visit reinforced our belief that organisations who genuinely care about their customers stand out in today’s market,” said Lim Sy Hao, one of the students who participated in this tour.

Fresh Yakult tasting is one of the activities that APU students look forward to.

According to Nicholas Ng Jhuen Jieh, the experience left students with a newfound appreciation for the science behind Yakult and its cultural significance.

“It was an amazing and instructive experience. We were glad for the opportunity to experience first-hand the history of a product that has become a symbol of health and happiness for so many, and this factory tour was a journey we will remember and ponder for years to come.”

Tan Angela Cheryl concluded that the Yakult factory tour demonstrated the importance of R&D to the company’s ability to create new products.

“We witnessed Yakult’s commitment to innovation as we observed their scientists working to develop superior probiotic strains and refine their manufacturing processes.

“This encouraging look at the process of continuous improvement emphasised the importance of staying current on developments in the sector,” she said.

Mr. David Ng Kok Meng, SoMM Academic Leader, presented a memento to Ms. Sharifah Khairiyah Syd Ismail, Yakult Malaysia's Public Relations Specialist from the Public Relations & Science Department.