SERVICES Logistics & Supply Chain SPEEDING AHEAD WITH SIMTECH Teckwah Industrial Corporation Limited $800,000 IMPACT ANNUALISED 57% oSvAerV3INyeGaSrs PRODUCTION MANPOWER EFFICIENCY As a trusted partner to many renowned brands Teckwah’s indomitable can-do spirit pervades every aspect of its around the world, Teckwah Industrial Corporation business. From customer services to technological competencies, Limited is a formidable force to be reckoned with. Teckwah aspires to deliver a first-rate experience to all its In global logistics, it is commonly known that the stakeholders. Staying true to its belief, the rousing success large local enterprise chiefly draws its blade of strength from a from SIMTech’s Operations MaNagement Innovation (OMNI) can-do attitude. “We are willing to partner with customers to programme was followed up with several productivity initiatives. set up operations in overseas markets where we have yet to By adopting digital technologies to accelerate its organic growth, establish our presence,” opined Ms Sherlin Lee, General Manager Teckwah is sweetening its pot of value propositions. of Teckwah, “Such initiatives demonstrate our full commitment to our customer-first policy.” Teckwah’s transformation from good to great started in 2011 when it kick-started SIMTech’s OMNI programme. A total of 17 productivity improvement initiatives, including the re-engineering and migration of its logistics system, were implemented company- wide under the mentorship of SIMTech. At the same time, 13 “Technovation Managers” at Teckwah were trained to champion productivity improvement initiatives. A SIMTech researcher was simultaneously seconded to Teckwah to help set up a framework for the monitoring and execution of productivity initiatives under the Technology for Enterprise Capability Upgrading (T-UP) initiative. Over a mere 3 years, Teckwah chalked up substantial annualised savings of over $800,000. Ms Mai Ah Ngo, Executive Director,Teckwah receiving SIMTech Partnership for Impact In its journey towards productivity excellence, Teckwah faithfully Award at SIMTech’s 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner adheres to its “learn, unlearn and re-learn” mantra. “The Digital Transformation & Innovation™ (DTI™) programme is a natural progression from the OMNI programme in the course of digital 50
SERVICES Logistics & Supply Chain transformation. It provides us with a more structured way of The DTI™ initiative with digitalisation by invoking a step-by-step thinking process, which SIMTech will prepare us culminates in a set of deliverables integral to our future success,” for the digital economy, explained Mr Ng Chee Mun, InforComm Technology Director, Teckwah. aligning us with Singapore’s transformation Bagging many takeaways from the DTI™ programme, Teckwah into a Smart Nation. It will is thrilled about its prospects. Currently, it is in the process of ensure that we are ready implementing the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to connect shop-floor machines to its Enterprise Resource Planning to leverage on digital (ERP) order processing system, enabling real-time status updates technologies to improve and a seamless flow of orders. It is also working on Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions to automate its repetitive our products, service end-user operations. In order to manage its extensive Asia- delivery and business Pacific networks, Teckwah is now exploring a Nerve Centre set up that acts as a control tower, providing operational insights processes through data analytics. Yet, the quintessential product of the DTI™ programme is Project 2020 – Teckwah’s Logistics team Mr Thomas Chua, relocation to a Smart Warehouse where inventory management Chairman and Managing Director, Teckwah will be automated. “The Smart Warehouse is a revolutionary change. Presently, Serving as the paragon of an everlasting partnership between goods have to be physically carried. It is a laborious and time- SIMTech and Teckwah is the latest multi-site inventory consuming process. In the new warehouse, storage automation management in supply chain under the Cyber Physical Production will be deployed to enable goods to be retrieved electronically,” System – Towards Contextual and Intelligent Response Ms Lee highlighted. programme, a multi-year research programme funded under the Singapore’s RIE2020 for Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering. Most would think that the successful conclusion of the DTI™ programme this year would spell the end of the deep-rooted Incredibly, these exemplary measures are all taking place collaboration between Teckwah and SIMTech. Yet, the call concurrently at admirable speed. “Positioning itself as a speedboat for digitalisation continues to beckon. “To ease Teckwah in its rather than a cumbersome oil tanker, Teckwah has always prided transition to a vibrant future of Industrie 4.0 and Worker 4.0, itself as being versatile and nimble. As a result, technological SIMTech will expend all means to support the implementation of upgrades have become inescapable in our quest to be distinctly its DTI™ initiatives such as the Overall Equipment Effectiveness unique in the eyes of our customers,” Ms Lee commented. (OEE) programme and the Data Mining programme where operations will be radically transformed to maximise business value,” proclaimed Dr Tan Puay Siew, Director, SIMTech’s Manufacturing Productivity Technology Centre. “The DTI™ initiative with SIMTech will prepare us for the digital Mr John Lee, Supervisor using vTrack system to monitor shipment orders across economy, aligning us with Singapore’s transformation into a Asia-Pacific Smart Nation. It will ensure that we are ready to leverage on digital technologies to improve our products, service delivery and business processes,” concurred Mr Thomas Chua, Chairman and Managing Director, Teckwah. 51
SERVICES Built Environment FROM FLOORED TO FINESSE Floor Xpert Pte Ltd IMPACT 30% 10% 50% 80% OVERALL COST LABOUR SAVINGS MANPOWER MANPOWER PRODUCTIVITY RESOURCE fEoFrFDICatIaENEnCtrYy UTILISATION Most would expect the owner of a renowned luxury While Ms Lim’s origins may not be the most glamorous, she flooring company, reputed for its impressive is certainly a serial fighter. “I’ve known Lena for many years selection of colours and materials, to come from and her ambitions are truly admirable. She often goes to a glorious background. Yet, this ideal does not great lengths to fulfil customers’ needs and wants; customer define the founder of Floor Xpert, Ms Lena Lim. “Frankly, I satisfaction is always her top priority,” Mr Alan Toh, Managing am glad that my achievements today break the stereotypical Director, Floor Xpert, pointed out. mould of ITE graduates. Far from being a social stigma, the intensive vocational training has actually provided me a solid Staying true to its promise, Floor Xpert afforded no delay in understanding of this industry,” Ms Lim shared unreservedly. adopting their saviour, the FITPRISE Enterprise Management System that is developed by SIMTech and customised by its technology partner, Enhanzcom, a software company. “Finding the right software provider had been an onerous affair. After much agonising trial and error, Enhanzcom ultimately emerged to be the perfect match,” recalled Ms Lim. Flexibly tailored to enhance existing business workflows with minimal disruption, FITPRISE integrates information from pre-sales to post-sales operations. “Recurrent data entry is now a thing of the past; information needs to be entered just once and it automatically connects to all aspects of the business. As such, our data entry colleagues can now refocus on higher value-added activities like sales and marketing,” Mr Toh remarked. Mr Alan Toh, Managing Director (right) and Ms Lena Lim, Founder (centre), Floor “Due to data centralisation, the retrieval and updating of Xpert showing a potential customer their products customers’ records have become much more efficient and 52
accurate. As a fast-growing enterprise, such capabilities are SERVICES long overdue. Clamping down on order fulfilment lapses could translate to an actual explosion in sales,” held Ms Lim. Built Environment Bigger plans are already set in motion. Floor Xpert has Due to data successfully assimilated SIMTech’s Mobile Workflow System centralisation, (wfMOBILE™) into FITPRISE, relieving its large workforce the retrieval from the hefty administrative burden. Built as a common and updating of communication platform, wfMOBILE™ lightens the chore of customers’ records coordination across individuals as well as diverse job roles, have become much from the sales force to the floor installers. Yet, harnessing more efficient and synergy within the organisation is not the only salient reward. accurate. As a fast- More strikingly, this function has facilitated more regular status growing enterprise, updates to customers, thrusting customer approval ratings to such capabilities new highs. are long overdue. Clamping down “On a company-wide basis, FITPRISE and wfMOBILE™ have on order fulfilment tellingly raised our work efficiency by 30 per cent and reduced lapses could our cost by 10 per cent, after taking into consideration the translate to an minimisation of human input error, space and paper usage,” actual explosion in Ms Lim calculated. sales Judging from the high level of receptivity among Floor Xpert’s staff and customers, it is beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ms Lena Lim, Founder, Floor Xpert Enhanzcom’s user-oriented solution is a hit in the bull’s eye. “The next project in the pipeline with SIMTech is the development of a chat box based on artificial intelligence, generally known as Robotic Process Automation (RPA). With the aid of RPA, we believe that a more expeditious response to customers’ queries will certainly capture customers’ interest more readily,” Ms Lim predicted. Floor Xpert Staff discussing the order status using the FITPRISE application of Delivery Specialist completing an order with the wfMOBILE™ SIMTech 53
SERVICES Retail THE TECHNOLOGICAL FARE BEHIND FAIR PRICES NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Limited 75% IMPACT ~$100,000 ANNUAL MANPOWER from RFID-enabled NBPATS OVERTIME SAVING fEoFrFDICatIaENEnCtrYy 41% MAN-HOURS Most supermarket goers will be able to recognise way they operate in order to keep up with the times. As a the neighbourly tagline “Here to make lives progressive retailer, FairPrice not only focuses on strengthening better” and instantly associate it with NTUC current capabilities, but also sees the importance of innovating FairPrice, the largest retailer serving over and adopting new technologies and processes to cater to the 600,000 shoppers daily through its network of over 200 changing lifestyles and needs of our customers,” said Ms Lian outlets across the island. Lay Yong, Chief Integrated Support Officer, NTUC FairPrice. Committed to its social mission of offering fairly priced consumer FairPrice has sought out a productive partnership with SIMTech products, FairPrice is quick to adapt to changing trends to develop and implement a RFID-enabled Night Buying precipitated by its fast-evolving customers and technological Process Automation and Tracking System (NBPATS) for the whirlwinds. “Faced with the rise of online shopping, manpower procurement of fresh seafood. “Using the RFID solution to crunch and high rental costs, retailers have to change the capture transactional data in real time has eliminated the need for manual data entry, leading to massive time saving. Besides that, human error is eliminated as employees are now able to update the inventory systems seamlessly using a handheld scanner and a RFID-enabled weighing machine to scan the RFID tags attached to seafood bags,” added Ms Lian. Overall, the efficiency, accuracy and convenience afforded by the inventory management system have availed impressive visibility of its seafood inventory and unprecedented optimisation of its manpower allocation. As a local retailer, FairPrice will exhaust all possibilities to realise its customer-centric social mission. The Electronic Shelf Labelling system At the store-front, FairPrice implemented the Electronic Shelf Labelling (ESL) system across all its stores, ensuring pricing 54
SERVICES Retail integrity through the alignment of prices on shelves and at the As a forward-looking Point of Sale (POS) system. Evidently, the labelling efficiency and retailer, we willingly accuracy has elevated customer satisfaction levels to uncharted embrace dynamic territories. “Previously, much effort and time were expended technologies that are to manually change and print the price labels daily. A typical transformative and store carries between 10,000 and 15,000 products so we used applicable to those to update the price labels consistently due to price fluctuations and regular promotions. However, ESL has rendered these we serve processes redundant. Now, all prices are automatically updated from a central system, significantly amassing tremendous saving Ms Lian Lay Yong, in manpower,” Ms Lian indicated. Chief Integrated Support Officer, What launched FairPrice into a full digitalisation orbit would NTUC FairPrice then be its self-service technology: the Self-Checkout Counter (SSC). “The SSCs allow customers with single basket purchases Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, FairPrice shows to scan their purchases, pack their goods and make payment their commitment to doing their best point at every point of without the need for a cashier. Additionally, we have trained the business ecosystem. our self-checkout attendants to assist customers who may be uncertain or unfamiliar with the system. By focusing on serving Be it their online retail platform, FairPrice On, self-service and interacting with customers as opposed to being busy technologies on the customer front, or digitised back-end processing their transactions and bagging their items, we have processes, FairPrice sees these enhancements as part of successfully shifted from an operational-centric approach to a their wider strategy to remain relevant in the age of comfort, more service-oriented model,” Ms Lian described. convenience, speed and choice. “As a forward-looking retailer, we willingly embrace dynamic technologies that are While FairPrice has a customer-centric focus, it also looks to transformative and applicable to those we serve,” Ms Lian enhance its processes with its suppliers. By integrating their concluded. e-Purchase Order and e-Invoice systems with their suppliers’ Self-Checkout Counters, FairPrice RFID-enabled Night Buying Process Automation and Tracking system 55
SERVICES Transport THE MAGIC BULLET SSTA Technology Development Pte Ltd 2-4% IMPACT ~20 MORE STUDENTS FOR 84% minutes WAITING EACH TRIP TIME FOR TIME SAVING STUDENTS PER TRIP Most parents will share similar gripes about their Co-developed by SIMTech and the Singapore School Transpor t child’s safety before and after school. Has my Association (SSTA), the centralised fleet management and child boarded the school bus? Where is my dynamic bus routing system boasts three practical functions, child’s exact location now? What time will my namely the student attendance and tracking system, an in- child reach home? These were the common questions bus vehicle surveillance system and a smart bus route planning drivers routinely had to answer before the implementation of system. “The automatic attendance-taking and notification the School Bus Management System (SBMS). “Now that the system uses active RFID tags embedded in each student card bus drivers do not have to entertain these regular calls, they and sends push notifications to parents about their child’s can finally get peace of mind to focus on their driving,” said whereabouts through a mobile app,” explained Dr Liu Wei, Mr Li Jinwei, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Senior Scientist at SIMTech and inventor of SBMS. Officer, SSTA Technology Development Pte Ltd. Another notable feature of SBMS is its in-vehicle surveillance system that allows operators to monitor the behaviours of road users, drivers and passengers through its retrofitted cameras that can record up to eight different angles – four directed to the roads and four within the bus. “This security feature of SBMS reinforces the key objective of meeting the highest safety standards for both passengers and pedestrians,” stressed Ms Clare Lee, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, SSTA Tech. Dr Liu Wei, Principal Research Engineer, SIMTech (right), discussing the next Yet, safety is not the biggest advantage of SBMS. Apparently, generation of SBMS with Mr Li Jinwei, Executive VP and COO, SSTA Tech and Ms the smart bus route planning system is considered a stellar Clare Lee, Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer, SSTA Tech upgrade from its primitive predecessor. “The former modus operandi was to literally roll out an enormous Singapore map and plot all the students’ locations. Typically, we would 56
take up to 5 days to draw the linkages between the spots SERVICES based on proximity. Thereafter, we would pilot trial runs to evaluate the feasibility of the arbitrarily planned routes,” Transport recalled Mr Li. The bus operators, With the advent of the smart bus route planning system, many of whom routes can now be optimised, saving as much as 15 minutes are one-man per trip and offsetting the rising fuel expenses. Indirectly, it also lowers maintenance cost due to the wear and tear that operators (OMO), correlates with the mileage clocked. “The bus operators, are especially many of whom are one-man operators (OMO), are especially cost-conscious. cost-conscious. Therefore, SBMS is a magic bullet for the sunset industry that steadily sees fewer market entrants,” Therefore, SBMS is added Mr Li. a magic bullet for the sunset industry While automation may not be the solution to every problem, that steadily sees it certainly holds a strong appeal to the younger generation of bus drivers. “Administrative efficiency and favourable fewer market economics have recently attracted a fresh brood of youthful entrants local drivers, including the second generation of current bus operators, into the industry, virtually reversing the shrinking Mr Li Jinwei, Executive Vice President and pool of players,” Mr Li observed. Chief Operating Officer, SSTA Tech Having savoured the sweet smell of success, SSTA Tech is now working with Dr Liu Wei on SIMTech’s Artificial Intelligence Radio Analytics (AIRA). The two new additions to SBMS are the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and the Driver Monitoring System (DMS). ADAS will detect the driver’s lane departure and forward collision while DMS will surveil the driver’s fatigue level and transgressions, which are both part of a broader goal to instil social responsibility and eliminate safety hazards. Mr Li Jinwei, Executive VP and COO, SSTA Tech demonstrating the next Mr Li Jinwei, Executive VP and COO, SSTA Tech using the SBMS to monitor the generation of SIMTech technology, Artificial Intelligence Radio Analytics Driver movement of school buses Safety Assistance & Monitoring System 57
SERVICES Financial Services & Real Estate MAKING GOOD EVEN BETTER ZACD Group Ltd 75% IMPACT 18% MANPOWER 33% MANPOWER forEPFrFoIpCeIrEtyNSCeYarch AsseEt FAFcIqCuIisEiNtioCnYTime MANPOWER forEFFuFnIdCPIEroNcCesYsing I“ t was daunting at first when I heard that we had to attend the training every Friday morning for 20 weeks,” recalled Ms Amanda Tan, Senior Manager, Middle Office, ZACD. It was a common sentiment shared by the first bout of ZACD staff that attended SIMTech’s OMNI Programme. As an integrated asset manager headquartered in Singapore, ZACD’s growth story from humble beginnings to a company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange is both extraordinary and inspirational. While Singapore is an investment hub for global funds and high net worth individuals, ZACD knows that the company’s sustainable growth involves more than the sheer attractiveness of the local geography. ‘As our investment deal size and client pool grow at rapid rates, operational capacity and efficiency becomes a concern. To build sustainable growth, we needed a shift in the right direction. We need to make Good even Better,” said Mr Darren Chew, Chief Operating Officer, ZACD. Undoubtedly, the marriage between foresight and Mr Darren Chew, Chief Operating Officer, ZACD Group perseverance bore remarkable changes in both culture and processes. SIMTech’s OMNI programme trained ZACD’s staff to identify as many gaps in their business processes as possible, after which liberty would be given to staff to work on any of the initiatives. 58
SERVICES Financial Services & Real Estate A new group initiative to improve the investor client As a service business, the experience was conceptualised and born into reality. most important strategic The initiatives range from implementing a digital platform (Index) for ease of client access and integrate backend resource is human processes; to generating new insights into client behaviour talent. In order to deliver via customer surveys; and to refreshed reports for client excellent services to our investments and market trends. It is no surprise that both client acquisition rate and customer satisfaction have clients, we need to be improved. “Indeed, Index has been an excellent tool in our a platform that attracts, digitalisation journey by significantly streamlining the client onboarding process and enhancing the accessibility and train and transform visibility of our clients’ investments,” both Ms Tan and Mr talented people Chew concurred. Mr Darren Chew, Another group initiative that was cradled from SIMTech’s Chief Operating Officer, ZACD Group OMNI programme is the reformation of Human Resources to become a Human Resource Business Partner (HRBP). collaborate and develop an in-depth understanding of Since then, HRBP has implemented brand new integrated mutual interests. platforms for leave applications, salary portal, performance review, staff appraisal, company broadcast and social The path ahead is challenging but also full of opportunities, media. “As a service business, the most important strategic and ZACD is in full steam, ready to seize the market resource is human talent. In order to deliver excellent opportunities. The strategic course set by SIMTech’s OMNI services to our clients, we need to be a platform that programme has been gradually integrated into the culture attracts, train and transform talented people,” Mr Chew of ZACD. A refreshed ZACD, which underwent a major underscored. brand overhaul in 2018, is becoming a data-driven business and values-driven organisation that aims to deliver unique Now armed with a common language across all divisions, staff opportunities and excellent services to customers. “We at ZACD no longer work in silos – a pre-dominant culture started with processes, and now we focus on values and prior to SIMTech’s OMNI programme implementation. people,” Mr Chew summed up in a nutshell. The OMNI programme provided a common platform for representatives from different business segments to Participants of OMNI programme with SIMTech mentors, and Mr Darren Ms Sherie, Analyst (left), showing Ms Sarah, HR executive, on the use of Hunet Chew, Chief Operating Officer, ZACD (7th from Left), Mr Ng Cher Pong, CEO, e-Appraisal system to input goals and competencies for the year SkillsFuture Singapore (5th from Left) and Dr Lee Eng Wah, Deputy Executive Director, SIMTech (2nd from Left), at the SIMTech-SSG PE WSQ Graduation 59 Ceremony 2018
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS BLAZING THE TRAIL TOGETHER Asterisk Computer (Far East) Pte Ltd The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, Collaboration allows Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system us to know more than and smart Business Intelligence tool are now widely what we are capable of casted as traditional business solutions. Our world of knowing by ourselves commerce is gravitating towards a complete makeover through a total digitalisation transformation. Being the key to many locks, Mr Samuel Ng, Chief Operating Officer Asterisk Computer (Far East) Pte Ltd is indispensable in shaping Asterisk Computer (Far East) Pte Ltd our national narrative. As of today, it has already assisted more than 200 companies to embark on their unique digitalisation objectives, 2) the Model Factory Visits – a demonstration of journeys. clear, smart technologies that serve as a proof of concept to key stakeholders, and 3) the implementation of best of breed “Helping Businesses Run Better” is the slogan Asterisk has paid solutions that utilise smart technologies. tribute to since its establishment in 1988 and this cannot ring ever truer. By deliberately forging a deep partnership with SIMTech Having onboarded close to 50 corporate beneficiaries on the in research and technology, it stays true to its cause. Indeed, Smart System FrameworkTM and having conducted numerous the collaboration has borne several successful outcomes: 1) the Model Factory visits, Asterisk’s commitment to their customers’ Smart System FrameworkTM – an assessment tool that allows the digitalisation journeys is unquestionable. identification of where, who and how to reach an organisation’s SME Roadmap (SSF) X.0 eCo-systems enterprise events & eXecution employee 4.0 exceptions engagement Inventory Smart Of System Things 4.0 Start Small Strategy Solution-Scope Scale/Size Digital Process, Platform, People, Partners : RPA-driven AI-Assisted Cloud Apps Smart Factory 2021 Challenges Connectivity Commercial Configuration Corridor Company-wide Co-Worker 4.0 Channels Communication Complex Events (CEP) Customers Circles 60
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS PARTNERING TO BREAK ASTRONOMICAL FRONTIERS ASTrio Pte Ltd User Acceptance Test at Feinmetall Singapore Pte Ltd conducted by ASTrio There is so much more we can do with the Apromising technology company spun off from generous support of SIMTech, ASTrio was founded by its two leading researchers, Mr Zhuang Liqun, and Ms Zhang SIMTech in terms of R&D Danhong, in 2013. As part of a bigger movement and technical expertise. towards Industrie 4.0, ASTrio is a key player in realising this national Exciting times lie ahead vision by leveraging its technological prowess to assist companies on their path to productivity excellence. Mr Zhuang Liqun, Director and Co-founder, ASTrio Having received immense support from SIMTech for R&D, A*STAR Intellectual Property licensing and the T-Up programme, The implementation of MMS began earnestly in September 2017 the partnership has reaped many fruits. From enlarging their for Frisco Technologies, a Small and Medium Enterprise specialising portfolio of innovative technologies to expanding their market in building and facility management. Commendably, the scalability of base, the partnership has propped up ASTrio’s growth so much so MMS has offered immediate visibility of operational tasks to Frisco’s that ASTrio now holds a diversified clientele, beyond SATS Ltd, a clients, many of which are big international brands. Essentially a large ground-handling and in-flight catering service provider. Today, workflow manager, MMS has also effectively trimmed machine ASTrio’s customers that hail from semiconductors to consumables downtime, maintenance cost and man-hours. A technology that is bask in the massive productivity gains made possible by the mainly targeted at optimising daily operations, it is built to ensure partnership. ease of use and accessibility for the adopters, be they technicians, engineers or supervisors. In its latest foray, ASTrio has decidedly adopted the Maintenance Management System (MMS) developed by SIMTech to raise its “While the name may sound daunting at first, it is actually not so game in the technological space. Poised for success, this powerful complicated. In reality, the MMS provides an easy platform for job software engine that is hosted on cloud presents businesses with tasks to be created and pushed to individuals automatically so that unrivalled convenience and flexibility while keeping running cost lean. more work can be done with existing resources,” said Mr Zhuang. As a Technology Partner of SIMTech, ASTrio continues to work closely with SIMTech to provide a comprehensive range of services on the cloud platform that focus on enhancing the competitiveness of local companies by bringing greater convenience and cost savings. “There is so much more we can do with the generous support of SIMTech in terms of R&D and technical expertise,” emphasised Mr Zhuang, “Exciting times lie ahead.” 61
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS ENRAPTURING ENHANCEMENT Enhanzcom Pte Ltd Established in 2007 with a vision to bring affordable software technologies to SMEs, Enhanzcom has walked long and far. With the unflagging support from SIMTech, Enhanzcom engineered and developed FITPRISE Unified Configuration Architecture (UCA), a one-stop solution package that enables the easy creation of customised and scalable management systems for companies to adopt into their operations. Deriving FITPRISE, a system that digitises manual business Mr Edwin Seah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Enhanzcom sharing his workflows, from Unified Configuration Architecture (UCA), partnership journey at the SIMTech Annual Manufacturing Forum 2018 Enhanzcom is an appealing solution provider for SMEs pursuing a hassle-free and painless infusion of technology into their existing Instead of digital infrastructure. disrupting the existing software “Instead of disrupting the existing software applications of our applications clients, our customised technologies are flexible enough to of our clients, integrate with the prevailing set-up as seamlessly as possible,” our customised stated Mr Edwin Seah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, of technologies are Enhanzcom Pte Ltd. flexible enough to integrate with the The engine driving these capabilities in Enhanzcom’s project prevailing set-up implementations is none other than the UCA technology licensed as seamlessly as from SIMTech. “Due to the inherent scalability and flexibility of these technologies, we are able to implement them for close to 200 possible projects. Now, we have further developed this robust engine to reflect changing market requirements and needs,” Mr Seah added. Mr Edwin Seah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Soon, FITPRISE UCA will be found not only on desktops but also mobile devices. Churning out big data from Enhanzcom’s Enhanzcom Pte Ltd overarching infrastructure to better manage enterprise performance is also on the horizon. “Our customers have given us good insights into the direction we should be heading towards. We are now working with SIMTech, equally committed in bringing out the best in our current and future projects, to discuss about our next phase of collaboration,” commented Mr Seah. 62
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS A TOTAL SOLUTION THAT LASTS iPlast 4.0 Pte Ltd An expert in Injection Moulding 4.0, iPlast 4.0 It is certainly a very synergistic specialises in Industrie 4.0 transformation by partnership between SIMTech providing an integrated suite of consultancy, training, and iPlast. I’m confident that equipment and digitalisation services. Together with together, we can better serve the their global ecosystem of renowned partners, iPlast 4.0 helps their injection moulding industry and customers to implement Innovation Centres and Model Factory smoothen the adoption curve for Cells (MFC) that are microcosms of Industrie 4.0 concepts. manufacturers looking to upgrade “Currently, the manufacturing environment for injection moulding their competitiveness companies is mostly geared towards taking corrective action, which is akin to fire-fighting. However, with our full suite of solutions, the Mr Anston Tan, Principal, iPlast 4.0 shift will be towards taking preventive action, and with digitalisation, be actualised into predictive action,” noted Mr Ong Kian Chuan, Taking the lead with a fellow partner, SMT Pte Ltd, iPlast is setting up General Manager, Southeast Asia. a consortium of SME solutions providers, with the goal of achieving economies of scale for development of integrated solutions in the iPlast 4.0’s clients are those on a hunt for smart, transformative precision engineering and plastic manufacturing sectors. With technologies that will position their companies well to take the SIMTech as its Technology Partner, the future of the consortium world by storm. To shore up its capabilities as a total solution has never been brighter. “Expansion to regional markets will be our provider, iPlast 4.0 has further strengthened its portfolio with top priority,” declared Mr Poh Leng Yee, Managing Partner. SIMTech’s Overall Equipment Effectiveness Monitoring System (OEEMS) and Mobile Workflow System (wfMOBILE™). “It is certainly a very synergistic partnership between SIMTech and iPlast. I’m confident that together, we can better serve the “OEEMS and wfMOBILE™ are key additions to our comprehensive injection moulding industry and smoothen the adoption curve solution package in a deliberate effort to ramp up productivity for manufacturers looking to upgrade their competitiveness,” gains for our international customers. While it has been a recent seconded Mr Anston Tan, Principal, iPlast. initiative, we are pleased to receive a number of enquiries from different overseas parties who have expressed their keen interest,” added Mr Ong. At present, OEEMS and wfMOBILE™ training have already been iPlast’s digitalisation specialist, Mr Benson Teng, conducting training on the use of incorporated as core modules in iPlast 4.0’s vocational institutes the wfMobileTM application for machine maintenance in Malaysia and China. “To remain as a bright spot in this industry, we are partnering SIMTech, our key technology provider, to make consistent upgrades and refinement to our value proposition,” shared Mr Ong. 63
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS A BLOSSOMING HUB OF COLLABORATION NTUC LearningHub Pte Ltd Popularly known as a leading training provider in the OmniMethodology™ will be able to identify operational Singapore, NTUC LearningHub offers learning that improvement areas, provide suitable solutions based on their enhances employability and shapes a better life for learning, and thereafter, translate theory into reality. working people of all job types, ages and nationalities. Led by the objective of catalysing companies to develop and After attending the Operations MaNagement Innovation adopt new technologies and capabilities in a rapidly changing (OMNI) Programme offered by SIMTech, NTUC LearningHub digital economy, one key goal of NTUC LearningHub is to unhesitatingly applied the theory into action, realising educate and train workers for tomorrow. This coincided immense business value across several teams. “The highly well with the Digital Transformation & Innovation™ (DTI™) positive results of applying OMNI at NTUC LearningHub programme of SIMTech, which equips workers with the convinced me that taking on a partnership with SIMTech as relevant skillsets and capabilities for a digitalised working their extension partner for OMNI will be aligned with NTUC environment. LearningHub’s social mission,” said Mr Kwek Kok Kwong, Chief Executive Officer, NTUC LearningHub. This partnership has The adoption and partnership of SIMTech’s DTI™ resulted in numerous joint industry outreach to the NTUC programme, which is a major component in accelerating network of companies, translating to concrete results with businesses’ transformation towards Industrie 4.0, alongside many companies coming on board the OMNI programme. an adept workforce of Worker 4.0, has empowered NTUC LearningHub to push its frontiers further forward. Most importantly, NTUC LearningHub is making available on-site mentorship to companies in order to reinforce the This partnership on DTI™ programme with NTUC will bring theory-based lessons that translate into actual implementation digitalisation onto the centre stage, further elevating its stature of methodologies. Specifically, trainees who have mastered as a first-class training provider. Most Inspiring WSQ Trainee Award and Best Industry Partner Award (2018). Mr. The highly positive results Kwek Kok Kwong, Chief Executive Officer, NTUC LearningHub (right) receiving of applying OMNI at NTUC his certificate from Dr Lee Eng Wah, Deputy Executive Director, SIMTech (left) at LearningHub convinced me the SIMTech-SSG Graduation Ceremony 2018 that taking on a partnership with SIMTech as their extension partner for OMNI will be aligned with NTUC LearningHub’s social mission Mr Kwek Kok Kwong, Chief Executive Officer, NTUC LearningHub 64
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS A MUTUAL BOND SATO Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd SATO Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd is the Singapore sales The reward from this partnership has proven to be subsidiary of SATO Holdings Corporation, a boundless. “With SIMTech, we find ourselves constantly Japanese multinational company committed to creating new value for our customers by collaborating customer-centric innovation. As a global provider with different partners to construct an entire ecosystem of auto-ID solutions, SATO not only manufactures thermal that understands and supports our customers’ needs in printers and provides RFID labelling systems, but also works every respect,” Ms Goh concluded, “ultimately, we believe with world-class partners to deliver innovative end-to- in forging a deep partnership where we share a common end solutions to businesses across a wide range of vertical vision of advancing digital transformation in Singapore.” markets including Manufacturing, Logistics, Retail, Food & Beverage, Healthcare and more. Through SIMTech, we find ourselves constantly creating As a Group, SATO is a strong believer of providing value new value for our customers and delivering peace of mind to their customers with their by collaborating with different koto-uri mindset and approach (selling the solution, not partners to construct an entire the product). The team at SATO Asia-Pacific addresses ecosystem that understands customers’ on-site challenges by proposing complete and supports our customers’ solutions comprising their full scope of products including printers, labels and consumables as well as services needs in every respect from pre-sales, such as consultation, software design and development, to post-sales, its “Care From Start” Ms Irene Goh, General Manager, technical support. In keeping with the latest technological SATO Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd advancements, SATO also actively builds global alliances and collaborates with strategic partners to generate greater synergy with its own offerings. Evidently, SATO’s distinctive competencies have made it an Ms Irene Goh, General Manager, SATO Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd (left) and Mr Charles ideal partner for SIMTech’s Inventory Tracking System (ITS) Tan, Assistant Manager (right) sharing RFID labelling solutions to a client and Collection Delivery Management System (CDMS) catered to local companies in Singapore. “Our collaboration with SIMTech started in 2014 when we launched the first universal RFID printer engineered for the most demanding industrial printing needs. Since then, we have been working closely with SIMTech to synchronise the capabilities between our hardware and their software,” said Ms Irene Goh, General Manager, SATO Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd. 65
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS JETTING OFF TOGETHER Skyfy Technology Pte Ltd Mr Joseph Ng, Director, Skyfy Technology Pte Ltd Crowned as The Entrepreneur of the Year 2018, Mr Joseph Ng, Director, Skyfy Technology Pte Ltd, is Our explosive loyal to its customer-first principle. Leveraging on business growth SIMTech’s Last Mile Logistics Management System results from the (LM)2, Skyfy Technology has empowered more than 1,600 plugging of a huge Singapore companies with more than 4,000 vehicles via their communication gap Monitor-Track-Control (MTC) programme packaged as a one- between drivers, stop solution. An enabler of route optimisation and efficient fleet management, Skyfy Technology has experienced a spike in the company revenue generation of multiple folds since its inception in 2015. management and “As the industries we serve are multi-farious, ranging from customers funeral businesses to luxury car distributors, we tailor the system design to fit the unique needs of each customer,” said Mr Joseph Ng, Director, Mr Ng, “and the key reason we are able to offer flexibility in Skyfy Technology Pte Ltd this regard is due to SIMTech’s vigorous technical support all this while. Apart from cutting-edge technologies, SIMTech also avails us to a T-Up programme where an experienced research engineer is attached to us full-time for development work.” Laden with a strong mission to provide clients with critical intelligent real-time information for better decision-making, Skyfy Technology is committed to its 3Es: Enabling Drivers, Empowering Companies and Enhancing Customers’ Experience. “Our explosive business growth results from the plugging of a huge communication gap between drivers, the company management and customers,” Mr Ng held. “Apart from providing complete visibility over the fleet and drivers, MTC also promises fuel cost savings of up to 30 per cent attributed to productivity gains,” Mr Ng added. “As long as a company in Singapore has at least 5 vehicles, Skyfy Technology is confident to deliver the guaranteed benefits to the client,” Mr Ng assured, “because we align our business goals with that of the client where we believe in prospering together.” 66
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS TUNING IN TO OPPORTUNITIES AT EVERY TURN Tunity Technologies Pte Ltd In order to provide every object its own unique identity, a The collaboration between Tunity Technologies and SIMTech technopreneurial duo, Ms Lim Peck Hui and Mr Chung Say does not stop at ITS. Collection Delivery Management Kin, founded Tunity Technologies in 2003. As a pioneer in System (CDMS), an extension of ITS, is the latest bid to Singapore’s RFID scene, Ms Lim, Co-founder & Managing further strengthen Tunity’s capabilities, both domestically and Director of Tunity Technologies, and Mr Chung have set their regionally. sights on providing effective RFID solutions to industries as diverse as publishing to retail. Such dedication and foresight to Tunity improving wireless connectivity through RFID, a key driver in Technologies is the Internet of Things (IoT), has culminated in the Partnership now venturing Impact Award, 2018 by SIMTech. abroad to extend its technology to Leveraging on A*STAR SIMTech’s Inventory Tracking System flourishing markets (ITS), Tunity’s original RFID solutions were transformed into a plug and play package – a more comprehensive solutions in ASEAN package that can be easily deployed in SMEs and large companies to manage their operational activities. “To ensure Ms Lim Peck Hui, that our clients get the best solution to their problem, we also Co-founder and Managing Director, provide them with ample handholding and support,” held Ms Lim. Tunity Technologies One unmistakable characteristic emerges out of more than a hundred SMEs Tunity has served: the growth mindset of leaders. “They are all forward looking companies; they invest in the technology because they want to differentiate themselves from their competitors. At the same time, this technology lends a better safeguard against machine hazards and injuries,” Ms Lim observed. Having acquired deep experience in RFID implementation, Ms Lim Peck Hui, Co-founder and Managing Director,Tunity Technologies with Tunity Technologies is now venturing abroad to extend its Mr He Wei (right), Principal Research Engineer, SIMTech technology to flourishing markets in ASEAN, particularly Thailand, Malaysia and Brunei. “Overseas players have been approaching us to form strategic partnerships. As soon as a sustainable project is on the drawing board, we will start an overseas office,” shared Ms Lim with regard to the future prospects of Tunity. 67
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This publication has been made possible with the contributions of many people and companies We thank these companies that have consented to be featured Asterisk Computer (Far East), ASTrio Banshing Industrial Company, BH Global Corporation, CKE Manufacturing, Con-Lash Supplies, Enhanzcom, eGenie Forum, Fong’s Engineering & Manufacturing, Floor Xpert, Golden Bridge Foods Manufacturing, Grocery Logistics of Singapore, iPlast 4.0, IPO SG, Lighthouse eSolutions, LHT Holdings, Racer Technology, Michelman Asia-Pacific, NTUC Fairprice Co-operative, NTUC LearningHub, PM3, Sanmina-SCI Systems Singapore, SATO Asia-Pacific, Singapore Association of Ship Suppliers and Services, Star Information System, SkyFy Technology, SSTA Technology Development, Techcom Technology, Teckwah Industrial Corporation, Tunity Technologies, Wilhelmsen Group, Wrist Ship Supply and ZACD Group OUR SPONSORS Asterisk Computer (FE) Pte Ltd, eGenie Forum and IPO SG Pte Ltd WRITER Felicia Lee PHOTOGR APHY Mika Images Photography DESIGN & PRINTING KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd Published in October 2019 by Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, A*STAR 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-04, Innovis, Singapore 138634 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be re-produced or used in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying without the written permission of SIMTech Copyright©2019 Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology 72
C– 0 M – 100 Y – 100 K– 0 19.08.2015 Digital Ecosystem - Accelerating growth through deep partnerships
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