{weblog_url} en zoeyho@smfederation.org.sg Copyright 2013 2013-05-21T03:30:15+00:00 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/may-day-model-partnership-awards-2013 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/may-day-model-partnership-awards-2013 The May Day Model Partnership Awards 2013 was held on 18th May 2013, at the Resorts World Convention Center, Resort World Sentosa, Singapore. The Guests-of- Honour for the event was Mr. Tan Chuan-Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State for National Development, Mr. John Ng, Vice President, Singapore National Employers Federation and Ms. Diana Chia, President, National Trades Union Congress. Into its 5th year, the May Day Model Partnership Awards (MDMPA) has recognised more than 1,200 exemplary tripartite partners who have contributed to the transformation of Singapore’s economy through various strategies implemented in the workforce. This year, 37 individual model workers and 67 companies and partners received the Awards for their steadfast partnerships and outstanding efforts towards up-skilling workers and shaping a resilient and adaptable workforce. Together, over 300 exemplary tripartite partners comprising workers, unions, employers and Government agencies were recognised for their initiatives in driving inclusive growth, building a resilient workforce, promoting skills upgrading and maintaining focus on strengthening the Singaporean Core. Mr. Tan Chuan-Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State for National Development, , Mr. John Ng, Vice President, Singapore National Employers Federation and Ms. Diana Chia, President, National Trades Union Congress, with the award recipients. Through collaborations with partners from the unions, workers and Government agencies, many companies have driven productivity initiatives, embraced innovation and upgraded their workers with skills and expertise to manage more complex roles. For this, the Institutional Category Awards recognised 67 institutions and their partners, who had made outstanding contributions towards creating “Better Jobs for All”. “With the changing socio-economic structure, the working arrangements and environment has to be conducive for our workers. WorkPro, a new 3-year scheme supported by the tripartite partners, will benefit both employers and workers as we provide a more age-friendly workplace, foster work-life harmony, and enhance employability of back-to-work and mature locals. One of the companies which value their older workers is Systematic Laundry & Uniform Services. Faced with rising labour cost and stagnant productivity, the company embarked on the Silver Productivity Programme to explore ways to improve their operations. With that, the company raised sales revenue and production output by 30%. Workers were rewarded with assured employment, improved work environment, and salary increase of between 3-8%,” shared Ms. Diana Chia, President, National Trades Union Congress. Systematic Laundry & Uniform Services Pte Ltd and training partners Singapore Manufacturing Federation Centre for Corporate Learning (SMF CCL), Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) and Republic Polytechnic (RP), have won awards for the NTUC May Day Model Partnership Awards 2013 (Institutional Category) for being the early adopter and training partner of the Silver Productivity Programme respectively. This award serves to recognize Institutions and Individuals who worked with their partners to raise wages and productivity through the Progressive Wage Model and/or innovation, technology automation, gain-sharing and job re-design, and/or increase job worth through skills upgrading to develop a Resilient and Adaptable Workforce. Being the first training programme to raise productivity and enhance the well-being of older workers at the workplace, the Silver Productivity Programme is jointly organised by SMF, e2i and RP. This programme is taught both at SMF CCL, where participants receive interactive classroom training and projects, at RP, for training in Human Factors Engineering in their ergonomic laboratory. Funding for the programme is received from e2i. “Winning the May Day Award is a bonus to the company and I think it is very encouraging, especially for SMEs. I am happy that our efforts have been recognised and our elderly workers who participated in the project are extremely delighted with the good news,” concluded Mr. Chan Tai Pang, Managing Director of Systematic Laundry & Uniform Services Pte Ltd. Mr. Chan Tai Pang (Right), Managing Director of Systematic Laundry & Uniform Services Pte Ltd. Announcements, News, SMF, 2013-05-21T03:30:15+00:00 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/workplace-safety-and-health-manufacturing-awards-presentation-ceremony-2013 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/workplace-safety-and-health-manufacturing-awards-presentation-ceremony-2013 On 17 May 2013, the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) presented the annual “Workplace Safety and Health Innovation Awards” and the “Workplace Safety and Health” Awards for Supervisor. For the first session held in the morning, a welcome address was given by Mr. Lam Joon Khoi, Secretary-General, Singapore Manufacturing Federation. Following that, participants were introduced to the panel of judges which comprised of Ms. Liew Wan Sein, Principal Specialist (Engineering Safety), Ministry of Manpower, Ms. Lynn Chng, Senior Assistant Director, Industry Sensing and Development, Workplace Safety and Health Council, Mr. Edd Hong, Manager, WSH Practices, Workplace Safety and Health Council, and Mr, Derek Cheah, Senior Manager, SMF. Mr. Lam Joon Khoi, Secretary-General, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, giving his welcome address. (From L-R) Mr, Derek Cheah, Senior Manager, SMF, Mr. Edd Hong, Manager, WSH Practices, Workplace Safety and Health Council, Ms. Lynn Chng, Senior Assistant Director, Industry Sensing and Development, Workplace Safety and Health Council,Ms. Liew Wan Sein, Principal Specialist (Engineering Safety), Ministry of Manpower. Thereafter, the companies and teams with innovative practices or solutions which improved safety and health in the workplace were given the opportunity to showcase their ideas to a panel of judges. The first team was B.A.S.I.C from the Polyolefin Company (Singapore) Pte Ltd, and their project was on ‘Floss Separator Screen Cover Modification’. The second team was ESH Elite Team from AFPD Pte Ltd, and their project was on ‘Reducing Cut Injuries from Glass Panel Handling’. The third team was Team Metallist from ST Aviation Services Company, and their project was on ‘Scrapped Metal Disposal Bin’. The fourth team was SOXAL PES from Singapore Oxygen Air Liquide Pte Ltd, and their project was on ‘Innovative Mini Jib Crane Design for Limited Spaces’. The fifth team was Machine Shop 2 from Cameron (Singapore) Pte Ltd, and their project was on ‘Improve Ergonomics in De-Burring Process’. The sixth team was Kinelutionlize from Singapore Technologies Kinetics, and their project was on ‘To Improve the Safety & Health of Working Condition for vehicle Acceptance check’. The seventh team was Yellow Submarine from Keppel Merlimau Cogen Pte Ltd, and their project was on ‘Seeing is Believing’. The eighth team was KSTWTE from Keppel Seghers, and their project was on ‘Combustion Grate Cooling Fan Safety Innovation Project’. The last team that presented was Wafer SAW from REC Wafer Pte Ltd, and their project was on ‘Eliminate Used Wire Cutting Process at Wafer Saw’. Following the presentations from all nine teams, Mr. Birch Sio, Chairman of HSSE Function Committee, was invited to present a token of appreciation to the four judges. Participants were then invited to a lunch reception while the judges deliberated over the entries to decide on the award recipients before the awards presentation ceremony.  (From L-R) Mr, Derek Cheah, Senior Manager, SMF, Ms. Lynn Chng, Senior Assistant Director, Industry Sensing and Development, Workplace Safety and Health Council, Mr. Birch Sio, Chairman of HSSE Function Committee, Ms. Liew Wan Sein, Principal Specialist (Engineering Safety), Ministry of Manpower. SMF, Mr. Edd Hong, Manager, WSH Practices, Workplace Safety and Health Council. The second session started with a welcome address from the Guest of Honour, Mr. George Huang, President, Singapore Manufacturing Federation. Following that, Mr. Birch Sio, Chairman of HSSE Function Committee, also delivered his keynote address.  Guest of Honour, Mr. George Huang, President, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, giving his welcome address. Mr. Birch Sio, Chairman of HSSE Function Committee, giving his keynote address. “HSSE Function Committee will continue in its effort to engage the manufacturing sector through the SMF Industry Groups by leveraging on our strong strategic alliances and partnerships with relevant authorities, agencies, institutions and companies to organise more dialogue sessions with relevant government agencies and provide feedback on HSSE legislations, policies and industry standards with the aim of promoting a safer manufacturing work environment,” shared Mr. Birch Sio, Chairman of HSSE Function Committee. Thereafter, the result for the “Workplace Safety and Health Awards for Supervisors” was announced. The award acknowledges and recognizes the valuable contributions by supervisors in cultivating safe and healthy workplaces by taking care of the workers under their charge and improving the safety and health performance in their workplaces. This year’s winners are Mr. Neo Ser Hock from Cameron (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Mr. Subramaniyan Baskaran from Eastman Chemical Singapore Pte Ltd, and Mr. Lau Teck Kwang from ST Kinetics. Winners of the “Workplace Safety and Health Awards for Supervisors”. Mr. Neo Ser Hock from Cameron (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Mr. Subramaniyan Baskaran from Eastman Chemical Singapore Pte Ltd, and Mr. Lau Teck Kwang from ST Kinetic with Mr. George Huang and Mr. Birch Sio. Next was the presentation of the “Workplace Safety and Health Innovation Awards”. The award serves to give recognition to companies and teams with innovative practices or solutions which improved safety and health in the workplace. The Bronze awards went to Team Metallist from ST Aviation Services Company, Kinelutionlize from Singapore Technologies Kinetics, KSTWTE from Keppel Seghers, SOXAL PES from Singapore Oxygen Air Liquide Pte Ltd, and Machine Shop 2 from Cameron (Singapore) Pte Ltd. The Silver award went to Yellow Submarine from Keppel Merlimau Cogen Pte Ltd. While the Gold awards went to ESH Elite Team from AFPD Pte Ltd, B.A.S.I.C from the Polyolefin Company (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Wafer SAW from REC Wafer Pte Ltd. ESH Elite Team from AFPD Pte Ltd, worked on a project to reduce cut injuries from glass panel handling. They came up with a Edge Protector, which will effectively provide extra protection to prevent knocks, cuts or scrapes, protect passer-by from protruding glass, avoid human error or carelessness when inspecting, is Inexpensive to produce and implement as it is created using recyclable material and is easy to setup. ESH Elite Team from AFPD Pte Ltd. B.A.S.I.C from the Polyolefin Company (Singapore) Pte Ltd, worked on a project to create a Floss Separator Screen Cover Modification. By using the light weight scrapper in removing floss, it will effectively reduce the time taken for cleaning operations. It will also help eliminate exposure to hazards, which in turn will increase productivity. B.A.S.I.C from the Polyolefin Company (Singapore) Pte Ltd. Wafer SAW from REC Wafer Pte Ltd, worked on a project to eliminate the used wire cutting process as fire incidents were reported to have occurred inside the chute of the wire cutters. Thus, the benefits of eliminating the used wire cutting process included no waste wire cutting, improved set-up timing, and no more fire hazards. Wafer SAW from REC Wafer Pte Ltd. Following the awards presentation ceremony, Mr. Edmund Low from Concord Associates Pte Ltd, shared with participants on the CultureSAFE Programme. Mr. Low is a practitioner with more than 16 years of WSH experience with direct hands-on WSH working knowledge in various industries. He is a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) approved Lead WSH Auditor, MOM registered WSH Officer and NEA Registered Environmental Control Officer. The CultureSAFE programme provides a one-stop platform for organizations to embark on a WSH culture building journey beyond WSH infrastructure and competency that focuses on cultivating the right WSH mindset and attitudes in every employee. The CultureSAFE Model, developed by WSH Council, is a representation of the characteristic attributes of an organized group as established by its leaders. These attributes can dictate the WSH values and practices of its members which can in turn shape their psycho-social programming of deep seated WSH attitudes and perceptions. To end off the session, the three Gold award winners of the “Workplace Safety and Health Innovation Awards” were invited to present their respective projects to the audience. “I am really happy that this is the fifth time that our company has won the Workplace Safety and Health Innovation Gold Award. I think that it is important that we follow the project guidelines required and also prepare ourselves for the questions that the judges may ask so that we can constantly improve our project and make it more effective,” shared Mr. Raymond Lim, Facilitator of B.A.S.I.C from the Polyolefin Company (Singapore) Pte Ltd. “We are glad that we won the Gold award. This project took us 6 months to plan and implement,” shared Mr. Christopher Heng, Team Leader of Wafer SAW from REC Wafer Pte Ltd. “Being awarded the Gold award came as a surprise to us. Having participated in this programme last year, we learnt a lot and realised that we should create something that is new and cannot be brought off the shelf. Furthermore, we have specialists commenting that with this new product, they feel a greater sense of safety when handling glass.  I think the most important thing is to share your idea so that everyone can contribute to that idea, to brainstorm, and create something better,” shared Ms. May Ong, Project Leader of ESH Elite Team from AFPD Pte Ltd. Winners of the Gold award for the “Workplace Safety and Health Innovation Awards”, with Mr. George Huang and Mr. Birch Sio. Announcements, News, SMF, 2013-05-20T06:51:45+00:00 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/good-business-with-prompt-payment-seminar http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/good-business-with-prompt-payment-seminar On 16 May 2013, a total of 30 representatives from various organisations participated in the ‘Good Business with Prompt Payment’ seminar to understand how to communicate effectively with customers, learn ways to prompt timely payments, and to improve current account receivable processes. This seminar was organized by SME Centre @ SMF, a subsidiary of SMF, which helps businesses to grow and enhance their operations through diagnostics and consultancy services. With the ever changing economic conditions as well as the cautious growth outlook in Singapore, this seminar aims to allow SMEs to gain better insight on how to ensure prompt payment from customers to cope with supply difficulties encountered by their organisations, and to identify bad debts in advance. Ms. Jennifer Lee, Senior Manager of DP Information Network Pte Ltd, started her presentation by asking participants if they extend credit and whether they make payments on time. “The world has many factors that work against timely payments, some of which are beyond the control of even the most efficient collection systems. We need to recognise those factors and learn to make business plans with them in mind. It will make a big difference in in establishing a solid accounts receivable system for businesses,” shared Ms. Lee. Ms. Jennifer Lee, Senior Manager of DP Information Network Pte Ltd, giving a talk on ‘Good Business with Prompt Payment’. She highlighted that by looking at existing customers’ payment behavior, it is often possible to detect recurring cash flow problems with some clients, and to plan accordingly. In some instances, the debtor company may simply have an accounts payable department that needs repeated prodding to make its payment obligations. In other cases, they may simply need more time to make good on its financial obligations. She also spoke about the methods of collecting payment, sharing that making collections the top priority is a good way to improve cash flow and allows the entire company to be aware of the importance of accounts receivable. She added that companies should review outstanding invoice statements regularly, monitor the accounts regularly, establish a weekly schedule of collection goals and have the staff responsible to help collect back the money. Ms. Lee went on to give suggestions on how to communicate with customers effectively, saying that it will be best if payment collectors can be direct and speak without jargon. Negotiation techniques were also presented, which includes creating a win-win situation, striving to conclude a commitment from the debtor and knowing the legal rights against the debtor. She also gave a brief overview of the essential process of a successful phone collection, highlighting the nine steps involved. Besides that, she also listed the things to avoid during phone collections. Ms. Lee concluded the session by giving suggestions on how to overcome delay, objections, gatekeepers and excuses from debtors. She gave strategies on how to handle delay tactics, identifying that those who often delay will always postpone the payment date or give wavering answers. She said that the way to deal with such problems is to be persistent and firm, speak with authority, use the management as an excuse to create authority, and the last resort is to proceed with legal actions. In addition, she also shared how to handle objections, identifying that those who object will give excuses not to pay, and may even threaten to sue the company. She said that the way to handle such problems will be to listen to the objections, be tactful, emphasize but not sympathize, or refer them to the legal agreement signed. She also suggested ways to handle gatekeepers, which are those who usually screen calls and give standard replies. She said that to deal with such cases, it is important to be business-like and sound confident, explain where you are from and the urgency of the matter, and not to give gatekeepers any specific details which might cause matters to get distorted, leading to complaints. Lastly, she gave strategies on how to handle excuses, which are those who delay or refuse to make payment.  She said that the way to deal with such problems will be to persevere, create emotional pressure and build on the debtor’s guilt consciousness. However, she also cautioned participants that such actions may backfire and cause debtors to cut off all connections with their contacts. “The talk was good. The speaker Ms. Lee was engaging and I learnt quite a lot from this session,” concluded Ms. Parm from Servicon Medical (S) Pte Ltd. Announcements, News, SMF, 2013-05-20T06:46:46+00:00 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/awareness-seminar-on-medical-device-3 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/awareness-seminar-on-medical-device-3 Following the first and second Awareness Seminar on Medical Device that was held respectively in July and October 2012, the Awareness Seminar on Medical Device 3 was organised on 15 May 2013 by the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and supported by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). A total of 110 representatives from various organisations participated in the seminar to learn more about the risk classification of medical devices in the market. With the diverse range of medical devices in the market, it is not feasible to apply the same level of regulatory controls on all devices.  Regulatory controls should be proportional to the level of risk of a medical device. In Singapore, all medical devices are categorised using a set of risk classification rules.  The seminar began with updates on the 17th ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards & Quality – Medical Device Product Working Group (ACCSQ-MDPWG) Meeting, which was presented by Ms. May Ng, Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs, APAC from Biosensors International Pte Ltd. She gave updates on the ASEAN nations, elaborating on the medical regulations, rules and laws in the individual countries.  Ms. May Ng, Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs, APAC from Biosensors International Pte Ltd, sharing updates on the 17th ACCSQ-MDPWG Meeting. Thereafter, Mr. Alfred Kwek, Regulatory Affairs Director, ASEAN, from GE Healthcare Pte Ltd, shared about the Draft Code of Conduct. He introduced the “Business Ethics for APEC SMEs” initiatives and added that the key rationale for this is because Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of economic growth and can serve as a key driver in the global economic recovery as long as they are able to operate in open, ethical business environments. He spoke about his recent meetings with the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Chairman Medical Board (CMB), highlighting the problems that they are facing, which include healthcare practitioners and medical representatives accepting gifts from clients during clinic hours.  He then shared the importance of setting up preventive measures between the healthcare practitioners and medical representatives so as to avoid having regulators to step in and set up rules. In particular, he noticed that new representatives from smaller companies are often not briefed about the code of conduct. Thus, the proposed solution is to have the new representatives undergo training and orientation on the appropriate code of conduct by the trade associations. Mr. Alfred Kwek, Regulatory Affairs Director, ASEAN, from GE Healthcare Pte Ltd, sharing about the Draft Code of Conduct. The second half of the session was a talk on Risk Classification System by Ms. Low Lai Peng, Regulatory Specialist, Medical Device Branch, Health Sciences Authority. She gave a brief overview of risk classification rules, accompanied with several case studies. She shared that Risk Class is determined by the intended purpose assigned by the manufacturer to the device and not the class assigned to other similar products and the particular technical characteristics of the device. She explained the different General Medical Devices risk class rules, giving specific examples for them. Ms. Low Lai Peng, Regulatory Specialist, Medical Device Branch, Health Sciences Authority giving a talk on Risk Classification System. Following the talk was a Q&A session with Ms. Low, which included questions on the Slow Turn-Around-Time, the FSCA (Field Safety Corrective Action) required from companies which causes a lot of issues and the challenges faced with the CSDT (Common Submission Dossier Template) – A software template for registration submission. Participants also gave feedback regarding the risk classification system. Some suggested that the ASEAN Harmonization of risk classification - the risk classification for the products across member states should be harmonized as much as possible to avoid confusion and the Risk classification for Medical devices that fall under Rule 1 needs to be more specific. Participants posing questions to Ms. Low Lai Peng, Regulatory Specialist, Medical Device Branch, Health Sciences Authority. To end off the session, Ms Jacqueline Monteiro, Deputy Chairman of MedTech & Life Sciences Industry Group (also Associate Director, Regulatory Affairs Surgical, APAC from Bausch & Lomb (S) Pte Ltd) thanked the participants for taking time off to attend the seminar and urged them to give feedback to the Health Sciences Authority if they are encountering problems with risk classification of their medical devices. She then presented a token of appreciation to Ms. Low Lai Peng, Regulatory Specialist, Medical Device Branch, Health Sciences Authority. Ms Jacqueline Monteiro, Deputy Chairman of MedTech & Life Sciences Industry Group, presenting a token of appreciation to Ms. Low Lai Peng, Regulatory Specialist, Medical Device Branch, Health Sciences Authority. “The session was really useful and beneficial and I have learnt quite a lot from this session,” shared Ms. EunKyung Lee, Regulatory Affair Manager, 3M. “The seminar helped to clarify most of my doubts regarding risk classification. With the enhancement and explanations, it was very useful. I will definitely be interested to come back for more of such talks,” shared Ms. Nurul Hana Chew from Mandarin Opto-Medic Co Pte Ltd. Announcements, News, SMF, 2013-05-17T05:32:58+00:00 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/get-up-programme http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/get-up-programme The Growing Enterprises with Technology Upgrade (GET-Up) programme was held on 14th May 2013, at Resorts World Convention Center, Resort World Sentosa, Singapore.   GET-Up is a key programme in A*STAR targeting to upgrade of the technological capabilities of local technology-intensive companies, with the focus on local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), resulting in the enhancement of their competitiveness in the global knowledge-based economy. It aims to help promising local companies grow, glow and globalise through a holistic and integrated approach by harnessing the existing schemes of EDB, SPRING Singapore, IE Singapore and the technical capabilities of A*STAR Research Institutes. Mr. S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs, and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, giving his welcome address. Mr. S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs, and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, who was the guest of Honour for the event, welcomed guests by highlighting the importance of SMEs in the economy and how the government will continue to support them in upgrading their capabilities to meet new business realities. “The success of our SMEs, and in turn our economy, in adapting to the changing economic environment hinges on our ability to harness technology and innovation to develop new growth models and approaches to productivity. The government will continue to support SMEs in developing and deploying innovations to transform their businesses. However, our SMEs must also be proactive in seeking out and leverage on partnerships with public sector research institutes, to strengthen their businesses,” shared Mr. S Iswaran. He proceeded to give out the Technology for Enterprise Capability Upgrading (T-Up) Excellence Award, which was launched in 2011 to provide due recognition to the achievements and contributions of seconded research staff from the participating institutions. This year’s T-Up Excellence Award recipients are, Dr. Eu Zhi Ang from the Institute for Infocomms Research (I2R), A*STAR, seconded to Hoiio Pte Ltd, which specialises in the R&D of IP network-based unified communications systems, Dr. Li Hao from the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), A*STAR, seconded to HistoIndex Pte Ltd, which specialises in stain-free, three-dimensional, quantitative imaging solutions for visualizing and staging fibrosis, and Dr. Sandor Nemeth from the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), A*STAR, seconded to PJI Contract Pte Ltd, which specialises in industrial flooring, waterproofing and surface protection. To date, 413 researchers have been seconded to more than 240 companies under the scheme. In a recent GET-Up survey of T-Up companies, respondents that participated in the T-Up scheme reported that they experienced a 7 percent increase in sales revenue growth and a 15 percent increase in employment growth in the last three years. Dr. Eu Zhi Ang(Far left), Dr. Li Hao(Second from the left), Mr. S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs, and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, and Dr. Sandor Nemeth(Far right). Following the T-Up Excellence award ceremony was a T-Up Send-Off ceremony, where Mr. S Iswaran presented certificates of participation to the new batch of researchers and the company they are seconded to.  The new batch of researchers with Mr. S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs, and Second Minister for Trade and Industry after the T-Up Send-Off ceremony. Four keynote speakers were also invited to share their success stories with guests during the event. The first speaker was Mr. Malcolm Rodrigues, CEO and Co-Founder of MYREPUBLIC. Mr. Rodrigues gave a talk titled ‘Singapore’s Next Gen NBN – A transformational Event’. He shared how he led a team to set up and operate Singapore’s Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN). He gave an overview of what NBN is and the benefits that it entails. Questions posed to Mr. Rodrigues were issues on how he managed to locate, retain and foster talent in Singapore as a small company with limited budget, and what value add he can provide as a retailer.  Mr. Malcolm Rodrigues, CEO and Co-Founder of MYREPUBLIC, giving a talk titled ‘Singapore’s Next Gen NBN – A transformational Event’. The second speaker was Ms. Valerie Tan, Founder and CEO of Pinnacle International. Ms. Tan gave a talk titled ‘Less on Routine, More on Life’. She shared how she managed to start Pinnacle International in 1996 with a startup capital of S$100 million, and the challenges she faced in the car industry, prompting her to switch from the retail to distribution of cars. Her company grew exponentially within a few years to include retail of new cars, export and subsequently a full-fledged service workshop. Questions posed to Mr. Rodrigues were issues pertaining to how technology has helped her business to grow and her thoughts on the new cooling measures implemented on the car industry.  Ms. Valerie Tan, Founder and CEO of Pinnacle International, giving a talk titled ‘Less on Routine, More on Life’. The third speaker was Mr. Neo Kok-Beng, President and CEO of AWAK Technologies Pte Ltd. Mr. Neo gave a talk titled ‘The Billion Dollar Idea – Identifying, Creating and Evaluating the Growth Engines for the Future’. He shared that ideas have to be sizeable, sustainable and scalable. He also elaborated on the development on the world’s 1st wearable peritoneal-dialysis machine that is 1kg, battery-operated and operates 24/7. He concluded his speech by giving a live demonstration of a recently developed 3D printer which is currently the world’s most affordable 3D printer, at a retail price of US$350. Questions posed to Mr. Neo were issues pertaining to the challenges he faced during the process of developing as well as implementing the new technology, and how to compete with more established companies in the marketing of a product. Mr. Neo Kok-Beng, President and CEO of AWAK Technologies Pte Ltd, giving a talk titled ‘The Billion Dollar Idea – Identifying, Creating and Evaluating the Growth Engines for the Future’. The last speaker was Mr. Simon Goo, Executive Director, and Head of Risk Analytics, Risk Management, UOB. He gave an overview on his role, which validates a wide range of risk models and measurements to assess and manage credit, market, operational and asset and liability risks across the bank’s global business. He addressed both internal and business challenges faced and concluded that strategies have to be developed to embrace an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Questions posed to Mr. Goo were issues pertaining to when risk analysis and consultation should come in for an SME with limited resources and how to sieve out useful information which can help in decision making.  Mr. Simon Goo, Executive Director, and Head of Risk Analytics, Risk Management, UOB giving his talk.  Thereafter, there was a panel discussion and audience Q&A session which was moderated by Dr. Raj. Thampuran, Managing Director, A*STAR. The panelists for the discussion also included Ms Chew Mok Lee, Assistant Chief Executive, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mr. Douglas Foo, Deputy President, SMF and CEO, Sakae Holdings, Mr. Ang Yuit, Vice President, Strategies and Development and Dr. Simon Goo, Executive Director, and Head of Risk Analytics, Risk Management.  Panelists discussing questions raised during the Q&A session. Dr. Raj. Thampuran (Middle), Managing Director, A*STAR. Ms Chew Mok Lee, Assistant Chief Executive (Second from the left), Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mr. Douglas Foo (Second from the right), Deputy President, SMF and CEO, Sakae Holdings, Mr. Ang Yuit (Far left), Vice President, Strategies and Development and Dr. Simon Goo (Far right), Executive Director, and Head of Risk Analytics, Risk Management. The first question raised was how to have a one stop shop that would be beneficial to SMEs since there are so many organizations offering schemes for SMEs. Mr. Douglas Foo, Deputy President, SMF and CEO, Sakae Holdings responded to the question saying that the SME Centre@SMF, one of the Centres of Excellence under SMF, is a good platform for SMEs to develop their business competencies and the adopt best practices in order to enhance their competitiveness in our domestic and global markets. The key roles of the SME Centre@SMF include business and productivity advisory services, seminars and workshops outreach and update on the various government assistance schemes. He urged companies to go to the SME Centre@SMF to find out how they can benefit from the various schemes. The next question raised was how to get researchers to understand the problems faced by SMEs in such a competitive landscape. Mr. Ang Yuit, Vice President, Strategies and Development, responded saying that interaction is very important, and there should be more areas where SMEs can interact with researchers to gain greater understanding on their job scope. He proposed having focus groups discussions which would be beneficial to both parties.  Dr. Simon Goo, Executive Director, and Head of Risk Analytics, Risk Management, added on saying that it depends on the kind of company, whether it is small or established. It is important to focus on business diversity to gain deeper knowledge and greater perspective from different industries, which helps to build stronger ties between the different industries.  Some guests were also interested in the Research & Development (R&D) in the construction sector, asking for greater elaboration in this area. Ms Chew Mok Lee, Assistant Chief Executive, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, responded to the question by saying that construction has been one of the sectors identified for Productivity Improvement, which falls under the building and construction sector. She added that Singapore’s productivity level is just about one third that of Japan’s, which is quite a big concern. She highlighted that SMEs are looking for solutions and it is difficult for them to understand and put to use R&D in their production processes.  She also elaborated that the use of different materials, construction methods and the use of automation can be beneficial to SMEs. Panelists for the panel discussion and audience Q&A. Dr. Raj. Thampuran (Middle), Managing Director, A*STAR. Ms Chew Mok Lee, Assistant Chief Executive (Second from the left), Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mr. Douglas Foo (Second from the right), Deputy President, SMF and CEO, Sakae Holdings, Mr. Ang Yuit (Far left), Vice President, Strategies and Development and Dr. Simon Goo (Far right), Executive Director, and Head of Risk Analytics, Risk Management. Announcements, News, SMF, 2013-05-16T06:16:20+00:00 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/the-maven-series-building-the-sakae-brand http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/the-maven-series-building-the-sakae-brand The third talk of The Maven Series – Building the Sakae Brand, with speaker Mr. Douglas Foo, CEO of Sakae Holdings Ltd, was held at the Singapore Manufacturing Federation on 10 May 2013 evening. More than 40 business decision makers, employees and students attended the event. Business leaders are invited to these series of talks to share their personal experiences and cite real-life case studies and insights. Mr. Douglas Foo, CEO of Sakae Holdings Ltd, introducing Sakae Sushi to the audience Over the talk, Douglas spoke on how he infused meaning into the Sakae logo, where all parts of the logo symbolised his vision for the company. The eyes of the frog meant to provide direction to Sakae with foresight, the smile represented good service with a smile, and the body and legs resembled a gold ingot which signifies prosperity. Together, all parts of the frog represented a united team of Sakae management and staff, working as one to bring the company forward. Sakae, when translated to Japanese, does not refer to Japanese wine as some may think, but actually means development. Mr Douglas Foo, CEO of Sakae Holdings Ltd, shedding light on the meaning of the Sakae logo     A closer look at the Sakae Sushi Logo He moved on to share about the concept and application of branding. “Branding is not just about the product, it also has to communicate the soul. Behind every product, people still run the show. There are some companies that offer good products. However, due to dissatisfied staff, they represent the company poorly which affect people’s impressions of the product. On the other hand, staff who are treated well automatically become your brand advocators and supporters,” explained Mr. Foo. A people-centric person, Douglas places strong emphasis on the well-being of his staff, and the satisfaction of his customers. “I have instructed my staff to judge for themselves whether the food that they serve are something they are willing to eat – if the answer is no, staff are empowered to dispose of the food. I also make sure that Vitamin E is added to all the rice dishes served at Sakae Sushi despite this being additional cost, as customer welfare is important to me,” expressed Douglas. Besides people, another recurring theme in Douglas’ talk is innovativeness. He shared on how he tackled costs in the Food & Beverage (F&B) Industry in the light of rising costs and growing competition. One of his strategies was through patents, where his company developed and patented a portable conveyor belt and the hardware and software of the touch-screen monitors found inside the restaurant. He also adopted a variety of innovative solutions such as investing in solar panels for his cold room, capitalizing on R&D to convert his waste to compost which is then sold to farms in Malaysia and buys property to hedge against business risk. The secret to him being able to generate all these ideas is due to being exposed to many different areas such as healthcare and defence. Douglas closed the session with telling the audience what keeps him motivated. “A 100-year old person lives to around 36,500 days.  I have easily lived for 10,000 days, but will I live to 20,000 days? I do not know. Time is limited, and I want to see what I can achieve at both a personal and organisational level,” shared Douglas. SMF Management Staff and Mr. Douglas Foo (2nd from Left) – (From L – R) Mr. Richard Soh, Dr. Michael Teng (3rd from left), Ms. Janice Kwok and Ms Emmeline Lam “The session was extremely insightful. Douglas shared so much about how to grow his brand and company using very interesting means, most of which we would not have thought of! Besides gaining new ideas, we also see the importance of putting others first,” said participants Marco and Charmaine. “Starting from ground zero is never easy because one must have vision, fight against detractors and tide through the entire experience with perseverance. To understand how he did it is both useful and inspiring. Moreover, I liked that what Douglas shared was not memorised. It was very real,” concluded Mr. Ronnie Tan, Notary Public & Commissioner for Oaths, Managing Director, Central Chambers Law Corporation. Mr. Douglas Foo having an amiable discussion with the audience after the end of the session Announcements, News, SDO, SMF, 2013-05-16T01:13:18+00:00 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/singapores-first-led-oled-trade-show http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/singapores-first-led-oled-trade-show The Singapore International LED/OLED Technology show 2013 was held from 7 to 9 May, at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands. With an optimistic exponentially-growing forecast of the world LED market forecast, and with a year-on-year increase in LED equipment spending in Southeast Asia, LEDTEC Asia is the very first LED/OLED Industry Trade Show in Singapore. The event attracted lighting designers and engineers, architects, and trade delegations. Amongst them were 20 Singaporean companies who exhibited with the Singapore Pavilion, organised by SMF Global Business Groups (GBG), with a total exhibition space of 306 square metres. Opening the event was Guest-of-Honour Mr Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Guest-of-Honour Mr. Zainudin Nordin (2nd from right), Chairman, Government Parliamentary Committee for Manpower, Member of Parliament, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Mr. Nelson Tee (1st from right), President, Specialists Trade Alliance of Singapore (STAS), Mr. Paul Zhang (4th from right), Chairman of Dr. LED Pte Ltd. The three-day exhibition included an array of concurrent events such as the LEDTEC ASIA Technology Conference and the LEDTEC ASIA Business Matching Plaza. With these events, it provides ample opportunities for industry partners to interact and exchange ideas, cultivate valuable business networks and foster effective collaboration on common platforms. VIPs at the opening ceremony of LEDTEC Asia 2013. Mr. Paul Zhang, Chairman of Dr. LED Pte Ltd, who was an exhibitor, commented has been in the LED business for about 10 years now. He highlighted the benefits of their LED light technology products, where their lights have a longer life span, requires little maintenance and is flicker- free which is beneficial for eyesight. Dr. LED Pte Ltd is a professional green solution & application supplier that specializes in LED light products manufacturing in the Asia Pacific Region and has established its own R&D & OEM facilities in Singapore, Japan and China. The Group’s products are focused on using LED light technology for energy savings and to make the world a greener place. Dr. LED products and solutions are also well-recognised in Europe, America, Japan, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. “We are definitely looking forward to future collaborations with SMF. Such events help in our networking with both potential clients and our business partners,” shared Mr. Zhang. Mr. Sim Boon Hiong, Director of Prime Light joined LEDTEC Asia 2013 as he found encouraging results in the first fair. Prime Light Pte Ltd, established in 1992, carries advanced LED lighting and display products. These include innovative and customizable LED light strips, down lights, flood lamps and LED video screens, which has a long life span and is environmentally friendly. “Last year’s response at the trade fair has been good, and I am hoping it would be even better this year. So far, people from Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam have visited my booth. Besides working with SMF to participate in the Singapore Pavilion, I would like to explore training opportunities with the SMF Centre for Corporate Learning in future,” shared Mr. Sim. Mr. Sim Boon Hiong, Director of Prime Light, showcasing his latest products - the Calibre S23 and S37. These are LED Lamp Module System that provides the flexibility of adjusting the lamp’s brightness by adding or removing led modules in the lamp. Mr. Ricky Lim, Director of Innogreen Solution Pte Ltd joined the Singapore Pavilion with SMF for the first time. He felt that the trade fair will increase awareness on his products. “The first reaction for most people who hear about our products is disbelief, as they have not heard about such technology before. It takes about one to two years to inform people who do not know about semiconductors on how significant this new technology is.” Mr. Ricky Lim, Director of Innogreen Solution Pte Ltd (left), demonstrating how his MCOB LED Lights only used 12 watts of power, in contrast to the Taiwanese LED lights using 17 watts of power. Announcements, News, SDO, SMF, 2013-05-15T05:57:50+00:00 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/promoting-safety-and-security-at-fire-disaster-asia-2013 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/promoting-safety-and-security-at-fire-disaster-asia-2013 The 10th Fire & Disaster Asia was held concurrently with two other big events – Safety & Security Asia and the Workplace Safety & Health Asia 2013, where the combined exhibitions provided participants with a more comprehensive understanding on different aspects of issues, solutions and technology for safety. The events were held from 7 to 9 May, at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands. 17 companies joined the Singapore Pavilion organized by SMF Global Business groups, spanning across 288 square metres. The event was graced by Guest-of-Honour Mr. Zainudin Nordin, Chairman, Government Parliamentary Committee for Manpower and Member of Parliament, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. Special Guests, including Mr. Zainudin Nordin, Chairman, Government Parliamentary Committee for Manpower and Member of Parliament, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Mr. Lam Joon Khoi, Secretary-General, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, opening the Fire & Disaster Asia 2013 trade show. “The seminar will provide the ideal opportunity for industry professionals to update themselves on the latest Fire Code 2013 and overviews of the Singapore Standards. In light of the increasing natural disasters that surround us, including earthquakes, tsunamis and forest fires, it is crucial for industry professionals to share and exchange expertise on the industry’s latest trends and knowledge to prevent or mitigate the damage caused by fire and such disasters through excellent emergency management,” shared Mr. Tan Jin Thong, President, Institution of Fire Engineers Singapore (IFE). One of the exhibitors, Eversafe Extinguisher Sdn Bhd, specialises in the manufacturing and marketing of fire-fighting appliances and fire-fighting system package. Currently, the company is exporting fire-fighting equipment to more than 38 countries worldwide. Mr. Mak Ka Weng, Sales Manager of Eversafe Extinguisher Sdn Bhd, and an SMF member who joined the exhibition under the Singapore Pavilion with SMF, has participated in FDA 2011 and is back in this trade fair for the second time. “We generated good leads over the FDA 2011, with many of the contacts we met previously becoming our key customers. When people get the opportunity to see your products, they understand what you are selling more, and would be more open to doing business with you,” shared Mr. Mak. Mr. Mak Ka Weng, Sales Manager from Extinguisher Sdn Bhd (left) with his team, displaying their PSB-approved fire extinguishers, fire alarms and home safety kits. Another exhibitor, Novatech Resources Pte Ltd, is a distributor of several safety products such as Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Incubators for Infants, radiation treatment, Multi-use Tool as Shears, Seat Belt Cutter and O2 Wrench and Water-Jel. “This is not first time as an exhibitor at Fire & Disaster Asia. We have been an SMF member for about 6 years now and we have been participating actively in the various events and exhibitions organised by SMF,” shared Mr. Lim Ming Hok, Managing Director of Novatech Resources Pte Ltd. Mr. Lim Ming Hok, sharing about his Water Jel Burn Dressing (white boxes on the right) which soothes burns with healing tea-tree elements and Water Jel Pack (orange cylinder on the left) which is used even in wars. LEONI (SEA) Pte Ltd, also an exhibitor at Fire & Disaster Asia 2013, is a global supplier of wires, optical fibers, cables and cable systems as well as related development services for applications in the automotive business and other industries. The company is also promoting green technology in all their products, system solutions and services that make the use of energy more efficient and easier on resources, thereby reducing emissions and pollution of the environment. A variety of fire voltage cables from LEONI (SEA) Pte Ltd on display. “Fire & Disaster Asia has been a great platform for us to network with our potential clients and business partners. There is definitely a possibility of collaboration with SMF and we look forward to more of such events,” shared Mr. George Lim, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager of LEONI (SEA) Pte Ltd. Mr. George Lim, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager and Mr. Vincent Foo, Business Development Manager of LEONI (SEA) Pte Ltd aim to promote green products; their cables are environmentally friendly with toxic- and pollutant-free compounds. Announcements, News, SDO, SMF, 2013-05-15T05:42:05+00:00 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/southeast-asias-biggest-microelectronic-event http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/southeast-asias-biggest-microelectronic-event Southeast Asia’s Biggest Annual Microelectronic Event, Semicon Singapore 2013 created much buzz with more than 40 hours of business events and over 100 exhibitors. 15 local companies participated with the Singapore Pavilion, organized by the SMF Global Business Groups (GBG) and occupied a total of 189 square metres. The event was opened by Guest-of-Honour, Mr. Yeoh Keat Chuan, Managing Director, EDB. VIPs, including Guest-of-Honour, Mr. Yeoh Keat Chuan, Managing Director, EDB and Mr. Simon Li, SMF Vice President (1st from right),  opening the Semicon Singapore 2013 trade show.   Semicon Singapore 2013 had two main focuses – to demonstrate the latest technology developments for the microelectronics industries, and to emphasize that a skilled workforce is crucial to powering the growth of these industries. One of the exhibitors, Nexray Pte Ltd, a member with SMF, has been nominated for the Best SME Award 2013. Nexray Pte Ltd is a one-stop solution provider for the PCB Assembly and Semiconductor Industries. Their products range from Analysis Instrument to Inspection Equipment. “This is the fourth time Nexray has participated in Semicon. We have benefitted greatly from being a SMF member for the last five years.  We hope to continue working with SMF to have more exposure and build greater brand awareness,” shared Mr. Matin Mansoor, Vice President of Nexray Pte Ltd. Mr. PS Wong and Mr. Matin Mansoor, President and Vice President of Nexray respectively, have gained much insight over trade shows through invaluable networking with other participants. Their discussions have led to them specializing in automotive electronics, thus, expanding their business offerings. At the exhibition booth of Island Optical Systems (S) Pte Ltd, it catches attention with their colourful display of lenses. Being the only local company that manufactures lenses, the company provides a one-stop shop for precision optical and lighting needs, offering products like precision optics, machine vision lighting and machine vision filters. “I have attended at least 10 exhibitions, including those in Taipei and Shanghai. Usually, I participate together with SMF as it is good to go as a group, especially when participating with other countries, as there is a Singapore presence,” said Mr. James Puk, Managing Director of Island Optical Systems (S) Pte Ltd. Mr. James Puk, Managing Director of Island Optical Systems (S) Pte Ltd exhibiting his Telecentric Lenses and rainbow-coloured Machine Vision Filters. The filters help to increase the contrast of a subject under inspection to create clearer images. Another exhibitor, Mr. Jackson Ho, Technical manager from Solidheat Industries Pte Ltd, commented that it was his second time participating in Semicon. His company, Solidheat Industries Pte Ltd, is one of the leading suppliers in the chemical industry. They specialise in products such as electric heaters for both industrial and domestic uses, chemical pumps, DC power supplies and thermal control systems. Their products aim to cater to various industries, which include electronic manufacturing, aerospace manufacturing, medical, military and food industries. “We hope to have more avenues to promote our products with SMF. Also, we aim to gain more networking opportunities with potential clients and business partners through participating in this exhibition,” shared Mr. Jackson Ho, Technical Manager from Solidheat Industries Pte Ltd. Mr. Jackson Ho, Technical Manager of Solidheat Industries Pte Ltd, displaying his range of motor, heater and pump products. “This trade fair is good exposure for products and services and we meet many potential customers from here. With representatives of MNCs viewing our products, they may push their suppliers to make a purchase from us,” concluded Mr. Elton Tan, Assistant Manager (Sales / Application) from Optical Gaging (S) Pte Ltd, a 14-year long member with SMF. Mr. Elton Tan, Assistant Manager (Sales / Application) from Optical Gaging (S) Pte Ltd, showcasing his latest model of Smartscope Zip Advanced which has a full-featured automatic measurement system.   Announcements, News, SDO, SMF, 2013-05-15T05:23:58+00:00 http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/ceo-dialogue-with-mom-and-mti-ministers http://www.smfederation.org.sg/index.php/news/show/ceo-dialogue-with-mom-and-mti-ministers On 3rd May, 2013, the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) organised a closed-door CEO Dialogue with Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower and Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry to highlight and discuss the current concerns and challenges faced by businesses in Singapore. More than 135 participants comprising of CEOs, senior management and representatives of trade associations attended the dialogue session. Mr. Tan Chuan Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower (4th from Left), greeted by Mr. George Huang, SMF President (5th from Left), SMF Secretary-General Mr. Lam Joon Khoi (1st from Right) and SMF Council Members. Several questions were raised on rising business costs, the tight manpower situation in manufacturing industries and the impact of various government schemes on SMEs over the dialogue session. The participants had a candid discussion with both ministers and shared views on the direction and pace of transformation that Singapore economy should take. Mr. Tan Chuan Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower (left), and Mr. Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry (right) ready to take on queries while moderator Mr. George Huang, SMF President (centre) opens questions to the floor. One of the questions raised was whether commercial grants for the development of medical technology can be extended to genuine users of the technology, for example, start-up companies who have successful start-ups. In response, the ministers shared that there are many grants in place and there is access to these grants in different ways. For example, partnering with A*Star to co-develop a product, as well as tapping on MDA and SPRING Singapore grants. While the ministers acknowledged that businesses were facing manpower issues, they shared that measures still have to be taken to monitor the influx of foreign labour so as to encourage employment of local talents and improving business productivity. To help companies tide through these times, more than 20 schemes have been put in place. One of the schemes the ministers spoke about was the SME talent programme, which helps to ensure a strong and deep collaboration between the Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs) and the Polytechnic with the SME sector. This programme helps local SMEs attract local talents from the Polytechnics and ITEs by sponsoring students study awards and job opportunities upon graduation. Generally, graduating students or students in these institutions feel that joining the SME sector may not give them the desired career path and stability, and hence are not very keen to join the sector.  However, the SME sector can actually provide them the opportunity to be entrepreneurial and also broaden their experience in business. The other scheme is the Work Pro scheme, which provides comprehensive support to encourage the economically inactive locals, including women and mature residents, to return to work. WorkPro is a tripartite programme jointly developed by the MOM, Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), Singapore National Employers’ Federation (SNEF) and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to encourage the adoption of flexible work arrangements, job redesign and support the employment of mature workers and back-to-work locals. A total of $170 million will be made available to companies over 3 years under WorkPro. SMEs are expected to form 70% of the companies that will benefit from this scheme. The third scheme is the Collaborative Industry Projects (CIPs) scheme, where $100 million will be set aside over three years to will help the sectors as a whole improve their productivity through shared services and other innovative solutions. Government agencies will work with industry players and partners such as trade associations to encourage the formation of consortia comprising solution providers and users to develop scalable solutions with potential for mass adoption. The Government will co-fund the development and adoption costs. “SMEs face a difficult time coping with rising business cost and a tightening labour market. Economic restructuring and raising productivity is the sustainable way to overcome these challenges and strengthen our business sector. Our focus remains on building a vibrant economy that creates opportunities for our people and businesses,” said Mr Teo Ser Luck. Ministers answering business questions posed by participants.   One of the participants posing a question to the ministers. Acting Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said, “We had a good meaningful discussion on the challenges and issues facing the manufacturing industry here in Singapore today. As I assured them, the Government remains committed to helping businesses through this transition, and they are certainly not alone here. Together, we can help businesses stay competitive, while employers together with the Government develop our workforce in the manufacturing sector.” The Participants were very satisfied with the CEO dialogue and were appreciative of the ministers taking the time to come down for the event. Ms. Claire Shen, Director of Cooking Art Industries Pte Ltd, commented that “it makes a big difference getting CEOs together and having the opportunity to speak to ministers”. Mr. Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry (2nd from left), Mr. Tan Chuan-Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower (3rd from left) with (From L-R) SMF Council Members Mr. Ryan Chioh, Mr. George Huang, Dr. Moh Chong Tau and Mr. Simon Li. “Dialogues are necessary and effective platforms for two parties to understand each other better. For the government, they will be able to understand the concerns and challenges that SMF members are facing, while SMF members will also have the opportunity to listen to the perspective and considerations of the government. SMF is a national body with a manufacturing base, and it remains committed to creating value for our members. Leveraging on our extensive network of contacts, SMF is well-placed to represent its members objectively. We help to facilitate communications between the government and the local manufacturing community,” concluded Mr. George Huang, President of SMF. Mr George Huang, President of SMF, presenting a token of appreciation to Mr. Tan Chuan-Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower. Mr George Huang, President of SMF, presenting a token of appreciation to Mr. Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry.   Announcements, News, SMF, 2013-05-10T06:54:24+00:00