JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Food Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises embarked on food innovation transformation under the Lean Enterprise Development Scheme supported by Tripartite Partners
21 November 2016, Singapore – Workforce Singapore, NTUC U Associate and the Singapore Institute of Food Science and Technology (SIFST) jointly announced a new Lean Enterprise Development (LED) project - Towards Healthier Food Product Innovation - today. The collaboration is the latest in the suite of over 1,400 manpower lean projects supported by the Government to help SMEs increase the efficiency of product development and reduce resources needed to develop new and higher value-added products. These manpower lean projects also help up-skill the Singaporean workforce and create higher-value jobs in the area of food innovation and product development.
With limited manpower resources in SMEs today, most SMEs in the Food Manufacturing sector do not have a dedicated team of Food Technologists specialising in food innovation research and development (R&D). As a result, there is a lack of food product innovation and local SMEs compete for market share based mainly on price. This new LED project is a first-of-its-kind sector-collaboration, and was conceptualised to help SMEs overcome such major challenges in their food product innovation and development. Faesol Pte Ltd (Faesol), the project lead, harnessed the support of a group of local SMEs to jointly develop and launch the project. Faesol also organised the Food Product Innovation Management masterclass, supported by WSG, as part of the project.
The LED project not only helped reduce the manpower required for food innovation and product development, but also enabled each SME to reduce up to half the time taken for new food product development. In addition, participating SMEs are now able to bring their products out to market faster, with development time reduced from 12 months to six months. Local employees in the Food Manufacturing industry now also have opportunities to take on higher value-added jobs including Food Technologist and Product Development Specialist roles. Other local food manufacturers can also tap on this LED project to be better equipped to produce higher quality food products, become more manpower lean, strengthen their Singaporean workforce and create more employment opportunities in the area of food science and technology.
To date, 22 locals from 13 companies have benefitted from the Food Product Innovation Management masterclass, supported by this LED project. Nine of these companies have successfully developed healthier food products with reduced or no sugar; are preservative or trans-fat free; or have no artificial colouring or flavouring. The concerted effort toward healthier food product innovation is on-going, and up to 50 companies in the food industry are expected to benefit from the LED project.
At the announcement event, key stakeholders including the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU), NTUC U SME, Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association, SIFST, BHF Pte Ltd, D’Cake Pte Ltd, Fong Yit Kaya Pte Ltd, Kim Hing Food Industries Pte Ltd, Food Innovation & Resource Centre, Li Da Foods Pte Ltd, Marinex Pharmaceuticals (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Pure Rich BioGems Pte Ltd, Sogurt Pte Ltd and Wanin Industries Pte Ltd affirmed their support for and adoption of the LED project. The event also showcased a range of the new, healthier food products developed as a result of the LED project.
NTUC U Associate also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SIFST today, with SIFST becoming the 41st U Associate of the Labour Movement. Through the partnership and with support from Workforce Singapore, both parties will come together to create a series of structured training programmes to up-skill Food Technologists.
Chief Executive of Workforce Singapore, Mr Tan Choon Shian said, “This new project signifies the importance of a self-sustaining industry ecosystem, with SMEs helping one another to develop the local food industry. Through this LED project, SMEs can continue to develop healthier food products, at a faster pace, through skills and knowledge upgrading acquired from the masterclass. Workforce Singapore will continue to support willing and progressive SMEs through the LED Scheme to help them be more manpower lean, build technical expertise, strengthen their Singaporean core and advance their global competitiveness.
Director, U Associate and U Future Leaders, NTUC, Mr Vivek Kumar, said, “We are happy and excited to partner SIFST and WSG to reach out to the PMETs in the food industry, to equip them with the necessary skills, expand their networks and offer them more opportunities to thrive in the new economy. As a niche profession, we want to help food technologists gain valuable cross-sectoral knowledge and skillsets by leveraging the U Associate ecosystem. With the tripartite support, we are confident that the new project will enhance Singapore’s competitiveness in the food manufacturing industry and bring about better jobs for the workforce.”
The President of Singapore Institute of Food Science and Technology, Mr Koh Boon Liang said, “The demand for healthier food products is growing and local food technologists need to enhance their technical capabilities in R&D to develop innovative and healthier food products. This can be achieved through resource sharing where food technologists from various entities work together as a team to cross-pollinate ideas by sharing their experience. All consumers can look forward to more innovative and higher-value products to be produced through this LED project supported by WSG.”
Managing Director of BHF Pte Ltd (BHF), Mr Simon Tay said, “We have developed six high-value and healthier products by leveraging shared resources and masterclasses under the LED Scheme. The process has saved me manpower and resources with the product development time being reduced by half. As a homegrown Singapore company, we are eagerly anticipating the boost that we will be getting from the LED scheme – not only in terms of uplifting the capabilities of our employees, but also, by being part of this project that will enable us to contribute to Singapore’s economy as a whole.”
The event was graced by NTUC Secretary-General, Mr Chan Chun Sing, who delivered a speech and participated in a food-tasting session of the food products developed through the project.
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Workforce Singapore
Chung Wen Hua
Senior Manager, Corporate and Marketing Communications Division
DID: +65 6512 1203
HP: +65 9833 7677
Email: chung_wen_hua@wsg.gov.sg
SIFST
Tan Yan Ling
Council Member, Singapore Institute of Food Science & Technology
DID: +65 6264 3233
Hp: +65 9191 2669
Email: yanling@purerichbiogems.com
NTUC
Vimala Krishnan
Principal Consultant, Corporate Communications Division
DID: +65 6213 8194
Hp: +65 9850 2786
Email: vimala_krishnan@ntuc.org.sg
About Workforce Singapore
Workforce Singapore (WSG) will promote the development, competitiveness, inclusiveness, and employability of all levels of the workforce. Its key mission is to enable Singaporeans to meet their career aspirations, take on quality jobs at different stages of life and help enterprises be competitive and manpower-lean. WSG will focus on strengthening the Singaporean core and ensure that Singaporeans are able to have better jobs and careers. WSG, in partnership with key stakeholders, will also provide support to business owners and companies to enable them to transform and grow, while building a future-ready workforce.
For more information, please visit www.wsg.gov.sg
About SIFST
SIFST was founded in 1977 as a non-profit scientific society with members working in food science, food technology and related professions in industry, academia and government. The Institute's mission is the furtherance of food science and technology through learning and interaction and collaboration between professionals in Singapore and worldwide, and has the following objectives:
SIFST is a member of both the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) and the Federation of Institute of Food Science and Technology in ASEAN (FIFSTA). SIFST is also an allied organization of the Institute of Food Technologists of USA and a co-operating society of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (UK).
About NTUC U Associate
The NTUC U Associate Programme is a key initiative by the Labour Movement to reach out to Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs) through professional associations and bring them the U Advantage of the Labour Movement. Launched in March 2011, the programme comprises of an ecosystem of associations across various sectors including Financial, Human Resource, Project Management, Marketing, Engineering and more. NTUC and its U Associates work with a sectorial focus to develop career and skills progression plans for our PMEs in these sectors. Through these alliances, we prepare our PMEs to be future-ready and future-proof and open up greater opportunities for both the associations and PMEs. NTUC U Associates empower the PMEs across four key areas – Protection, Progression, Placement and Privileges (4Ps).