Singapore factories simply can't afford to let their lights go out

Singapore

TWO semiconductor multinationals' Singapore sites have made it onto a list of exemplary factories feted by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

And, with the semiconductor industry a linchpin of manufacturing here, the hope is for homegrown companies to not be far behind.

The Singapore premises of American chipmaker Micron and Munich-based Infineon joined the ranks of the 44 factories in the WEF's Global Lighthouse Network earlier this year.

Now, "I'm confident that local companies can become part of this network", Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association executive director Ang Wee Seng told The Business Times, predicting that this could happen as soon as in the next two years.

Fong Pin Fen, director of advanced manufacturing at the Economic Development Board (EDB), called the latest feat "testament to the fact that Singapore has built a conducive environment to support companies in their adoption and integration of cutting-edge Industry 4.0 techn…