Supervalu achieves 18% productivity growth through WSQ CPI Manager programme

When the children’s apparel and footwear business was started seven years ago, Supervalu directors Edmund Koh and Gwynn Wong, had no plans or ideas on the most efficient way to manage a company.

Instead the two partners were more focused on growing the business. It wasn’t until last year that they decided it was time to raise productivity and cut costs.

They were among the first batch of companies to take up the WSQ Certified Productivity and Innovations (CPI) Manager after it was launched by the Singapore Manufacturers' Federation last year. And well within six months, Supervalu was already reaping the fruits of this programme.

According to Gwynn, their in-house deliveryman makes 55 trips to departmental stores, hypermarkets and retail outlets island-wide every week, with an additional 10 during peak periods like school holidays. To manage this occasional increase in deliveries, the company usually hires external help.

But this June, Supervalu realised there was no such need anymore.

“We re-planned delivery schedule and routes using productivity concepts taught in the WSQ CPI Manager programme. And for the first time, our deliveryman managed to make all 65 trips alone! With this 18% improvement in labour productivity, we also saved 68% of our delivery costs – all thanks to SMa!”

While they are pleasantly surprised by the results, Edmund and Gwynn concurred that this success is just the beginning of their productivity journey. More changes are in the pipeline. 

"The WSQ CPI Manager programme offered by SMa has trained us to take a structured approach in implementing changes in the company. We came to realise that raising productivity does not mean just producing more output; it also brings many interrelated benefits such as cost-savings and increase in revenue. 

"With the new SME Qiang, an abridged version of the WSQ CPI Manager programme, constraints in time and budget for training can be alleviated. I strongly encourage all SMEs to take up the programme and achieve the same success of Supervalu!” said Edmund.