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SMEs can tap A*Star Model Factories to go digital

SINGAPORE — Some 500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be able to benefit over the next five years from the Model Factories being developed by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), which spearheads research and development for the Government, said Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon.

SINGAPORE — Some 500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be able to benefit over the next five years from the Model Factories being developed by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), which spearheads research and development for the Government, said Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon.

Dr Koh’s remarks were made yesterday during a visit to the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) site at Nanyang Drive. A*Star will establish one of two model factories at SIMTech Fusionopolis to provide local companies with a learning and collaborative environment as they move towards adopting advanced technologies in their business.

The other model factory will be developed at the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC) at CleanTech Loop. Both model factories will be completed by the end of the year.

This is in line with the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) recommendations that aim to help SMEs transform and become more competitive through digitalisation.

The A*Star model factories at SIMTech and ARTC will feature a manufacturing control tower (MCT) to digitally connect the shopfloor as well as the supply chain with operator dashboards, allowing companies to track their manufacturing operations in real time. This will also facilitate timely decision-making capabilities to respond to customer demand.

The model factories will also host masterclasses and workshops on the latest manufacturing system technologies, to be conducted by A*Star and its collaborators. While the key focus will be in the areas of precision engineering, aerospace and electronics industries, other manufacturing companies can also tap into the resources provided at the model factories.

SMEs considering technology adoption to move up the value chain will have a safe environment where they can put their staff through modular training in an experiential learning environment, and get hands-on training with new machines and technologies, added Dr Koh.

Local precision engineering company CKE Manufacturing, which serves a range of industries including oil and gas, started working with SIMTech in late 2015. In a pilot, the homegrown SME linked up its machines on the manufacturing floor to the MCT platform. This allows the firm’s staff to monitor their machines in real time, without having to physically inspect them onsite, which enables each operator to manage more than one machine concurrently. At the same time, the company can also use the captured data for future operations planning.

In addition to the model factories initiative, SIMTech also showcased other technological capabilities under development, such as its Printed Lighting initiative, where large area processing machines are used to manufacture printed electronics. SIMTech is collaborating with WorldBizz Engineering to integrate lighting technology into its architectural acrylic panels for applications in areas like building façade for mood lighting decorations.

The companies that have been working with SIMTech over the past few years have developed new product offerings that not only help them to work closely with multinational firms but also explore opportunities overseas. Amid the challenging global economic environment, which is likely to remain at least in the near term, said Dr Koh, such capabilities provide companies a competitive edge.

“A mindset change is required and the SMEs must be willing to adopt these new initiatives,” he said. Rumi Hardasmalani

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