AN INDUSTRY group has launched a playbook for Singapore manufacturers in the machining and moulding sectors looking to brush up the job skills of their employees, and a programme that temporarily assigns chief sustainability officers to companies that need them.

The Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) unveiled the initiatives at its inaugural Manufacturing Day Summit 2024 on Friday (Jan 19). Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan was the guest of honour at the event.

The Workforce Upskilling Playbook for Machining and Molding Sectors is the first of its kind launched by SMF.

It was developed by the Advanced Manufacturing Training Academy (Amta) under SMF and SkillsFuture Singapore, with inputs from Enterprise Singapore, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), the Singapore Precision Engineering and Technology Association, and industry players.

In his opening speech, SMF chief executive officer Dennis Mark said the playbook offers a detailed road map for the precision engineering sector, which accounts for the largest workforce in the Republic’s manufacturing industry.

It employs more than 90,000 workers and contributes an estimated 12.5 per cent to Singapore’s total manufacturing output. About half of precision-engineering companies are engaged in machining and moulding operations.

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Dr Zeng Xianting, director of Amta, acknowledged the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector in the area of training. These include a lack of expertise in analysing critical technology and skills gaps, in sourcing for suitable courses, and dealing with operational disruptions, he said.

The playbook has identified six key roles, ranging from operators to specialists and engineers. It provides details on the breakdown of essential role changes, and a strategy for specified roles to adopt new competencies and skills.

The skills include implementing automation technologies to boost productivity, using data analytics with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and leveraging AI in design to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

SMF intends to develop one to two playbooks a year for other manufacturing segments, such as the electronics sector.

Appointing chief sustainability officers for SMEs

At the summit, SMF also launched a Chief Sustainability Officer-as-a-Service (CSOaaS) programme to help manufacturers reduce their carbon emissions, and support the sustainability reporting efforts of their partners.

The programme will guide SMEs through their sustainability transformation, assess their sustainability gaps, and prioritise improvements based on financial and strategic impact.

“The launch of the CSOaaS programme was prompted by looming deadlines for sustainability compliance worldwide, and the need to support local manufacturing companies needing help in this,” said SMF.

Listed companies in Singapore are required to begin reporting their carbon footprint from 2025; large non-listed companies start in 2027. These companies must also report their supply chain’s carbon footprint, including emissions from SMEs.

While non-listed SMEs are not required to report their carbon footprint, they are at risk of losing business if they are suppliers to local or international companies which are obligated to comply, said the federation.

Under the CSOaaS programme, sustainability consultants appointed by SMF will be seconded to companies to translate findings into decarbonisation road maps.

Once these road maps are implemented, these consultants will help companies to submit the relevant data, which includes Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, to the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s environmental, social and governance data platform.

Scope 1 emissions are those arising from sources that the company controls and owns; Scope 2 emissions are those tied to the entity’s energy consumption.

Consultants may stay with their assigned companies for an estimated 10 working days, though the length of their stint depends on each firm’s sustainability needs, said Clement Teo, SMF’s chief sustainability officer.

The industry body also launched the Asia-Pacific Green Alliance (Apac-GA) on Friday. The alliance brings together trade associations and chambers to promote sustainability standards and industry best practices among manufacturing and non-manufacturing SMEs.

Apac-GA will assess the progress of companies in the CSOaaS programme, and confer a Green Excellence for Manufacturing Mark accordingly.

Fees for the programme range from S$10,000 to S$30,000, depending on the participating company’s scope.

For funding support, companies may apply for the Mentorship Support Grant, which subsidises 70 to 90 per cent of the programme fees, through the Singapore Polytechnic’s Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency.

They may also tap the Career Conversion Programme to send an employee for training to become a sustainability lead or facilitator for their company. Applications for this can be made through the SMF’s Centre for Corporate Learning or Nanyang Polytechnic.