About 1,000 SMEs expected to benefit from the Industry Digital Plan rolled out by Enterprise Singapore and IMDA
SINGAPORE – 25 MAY 2021
About 1,000 enterprises and 75,000 employees can take advantage of the Marine & Offshore Engineering Industry Digital Plan (IDP) to overcome current industry challenges through digitalisation. Digitalisation would allow M&OE enterprises to mitigate some of the impact brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Jointly developed by Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)1, the IDP was launched by Ms Low Yen Ling, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, at a virtual engagement session today. The IDP helps Marine & Offshore Engineering (M&OE) enterprises assess their digital readiness and identify ways to go digital.
The IDP was developed based on consultations and feedback from industry players in 2020 which showed that SMEs were keen to streamline operations and maximise productivity through digital tools. In line with the needs of the industry, the IDP comprises two roadmaps – the Digital Roadmap charts out different digital solutions SMEs can adopt at each stage of their business growth and digital maturity; while the Digital Training Roadmap offers a corresponding training roadmap for employees, to equip them with the right skill sets.
The IDP includes specially curated solutions such as Workforce Optimiser, Project and Scheduling Management, and Asset Monitoring and Management System. Companies who have adopted such solutions have seen productivity improvements and better time management by employees. For example,
- Local SME Masterscan Engineering Pte Ltd recently adopted a Workforce Management solution. Together with their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, this has enabled them to reduce the time needed for invoicing and payroll by about 50% and 30% respectively.
- Another SME Completion Products Pte Ltd, implemented an ERP solution to streamline their corporate functions. In addition, the company adopted new software and machinery such as Quality Management System (QMS) and semi-automated Screen Wrapping Machine to reduce material waste and project lead time. This helped lower their operating expenditure by 10%.
A step-by-step guide on digital adoption for M&OE SMEs
As part of the SMEs Go Digital Programme2, the IDP also provides a step-by-step guide on the digital solutions that SMEs can adopt at three stages of growth:
- Stage 1 gets SMEs ready for the digital economy and lists the basic digital solutions that can help them streamline operations to optimise the use of their existing resources. Solutions such as ERP for Sales and Accounting and Project and Scheduling Management, will help automate manual data entry and tracking. These solutions will reduce human errors, and enable employees to focus on higher-value work whilst allowing enterprises to monitor and plan their resources more efficiently.
- Stage 2 provides digital solutions for SMEs that are ready to scale up. These solutions enable SMEs to integrate their current workflow, machinery and key processes to enhance their front-end sales processes and back-end production capabilities. These include solutions such as a centralised digital platform with data analytics that allows businesses to better monitor and control multiple software applications to optimise processes and make more informed decisions. Others include condition-monitoring tools that anticipate equipment failures by tracking overall equipment performance. Coupled with data analytics and artificial intelligence, better data-driven decisions can be made for process and product improvements.
- Stage 3 identifies advanced technologies that SMEs can adopt to strengthen their competitive edge. These include autonomous robots and drones to perform tasks such as work site monitoring or inspections. These solutions free up employees from repetitive, manual work, and provides them the opportunity to take on higher-value jobs such as drone operations or robotics programming. High-risk tasks will also be reduced, making the work environment safer for the employees.
Ms Low Yen Ling, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, said, “Although the Marine and Offshore Engineering industry is facing very challenging times, it can pivot to new adjacent growth areas and scale up through digital transformation. The Government is deeply cognisant of the present challenges faced by this sector and will continue providing utmost support to the ecosystem of SMEs undergirding it. We will keep on fine-tuning efforts to mitigate the pandemic’s impact and maintaining the industry’s global edge of integrating parts of production from all over the world in Singapore. It is also equally critical for the sector to keep an eye on the future. To ride out the storm together, we will equip and enable our SMEs to leverage technology to upskill their workers’ e-capabilities and capture new opportunities. With digitalisation, they can do more with less. Besides gaining higher productivity and better cost savings through digitalisation, SMEs can optimise resources and focus their manpower on achieving higher efficiencies. In addition, companies can leverage technology to improve their product and service offerings. Going digital is essential for surviving disruption and ensuring future relevance.”
Ms Esther Xu, Director for Marine & Offshore and Engineering Services, ESG said, “Apart from the impact of COVID-19, the Marine & Offshore Engineering industry was already facing major shifts, such as the accelerated global transition towards cleaner energy and rapid advancements in technology such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), cloud computing, robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). As an export-oriented sector, SMEs will need to leverage digital technology and solutions to manage current challenges and in the longer run, stay ahead of global competition. This is not just about knowing which digital solutions are available, but understanding how different technologies can be applied to deliver business value and impact. However, the use of technology must be complemented by a workforce that is equipped with the necessary digital skillsets. This IDP provides a framework for M&OE SMEs to start their digital journey.”
Ms Catherine Chong, Director for the SMEs Go Digital programme, IMDA said, “We encourage more SMEs in the Marine & Offshore Engineering industry to kickstart their digitalisation journey tapping on the Industry Digital Plan (IDP). With increasing shortage in skilled manpower and rising global competition, it is vital for SMEs in the M&OE industry to build greater resilience to adapt and thrive in the digital future. SMEs can seize new growth opportunities by integrating and investing in relevant digital technologies to enhance their productivity and business performance, such as Project Scheduling and Workforce Management systems, and Predictive Monitoring & Maintenance using AI and IoT technologies. Ultimately, we hope to see these digitalisation efforts boost the industry as a whole.”
Online self-assessment tool and training roadmap
To embark on their digitalisation journeys, SMEs can make use of an online self-assessment checklist to help them better understand their digital maturity and readiness, as well as identify gaps in their digital capabilities. The checklist takes into consideration factors such as the SME’s current business operations, level of digitalisation and business expansion plans. This is accessible at https://go.gov.sg/imda-marineoffshore-idp.
Continuous workforce upskilling is vital to ensure employees remain relevant and support the company’s digitalisation journey. Under the Digital Training Roadmap, SMEs can tailor their training programmes according to the different needs of workers in various job roles and at each stage of their digital growth. These training programmes are also aligned to the Skills Framework for Marine and Offshore.
Key digital solutions in the IDP, such as Workforce Optimiser, Project and Scheduling Management, and Asset Monitoring and Management System, are included as pre-approved solutions supported by the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG). Apart from digital solutions, companies can also tap PSG to adopt pre-scoped equipment such as semi-mechanised gas cutting machines, welding machines and production tools, to enhance efficiency and optimise their manpower resources. SMEs can visit GoBusiness Gov Assist3 at https://govassist.gobusiness.gov.sg/productivity-solutions-grant/ for the list of pre-approved solutions supported by PSG.
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