Speech by Minister S Iswaran at the Official Opening of HP Singapore's New Facility

SPEECH BY GUEST-OF-HONOUR MR S ISWARAN, MINISTER FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY (INDUSTRY) AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF HP SINGAPORE’S NEW FACILITY, ON 13 DECEMBER 2017, 10.30AM, AT 1 DEPOT CLOSE

Mr Dion Weisler, President and Chief Executive Officer of HP Inc.

Mr Richard Bailey, President of APJ Region, HP Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

Introduction

1. I am delighted to join you today for the opening of the new HP campus in Singapore. My congratulations to the entire HP team on attaining this significant milestone for the company.

HP has been Singapore’s long-standing partner in manufacturing

2. Since 1970, HP has been Singapore’s long-standing partner in manufacturing, which is a key pillar of our economy. In that time, the company has progressed from calculator production and PC assembly in the early years, to advanced thermal inkjet printhead production in recent times. Today, Singapore is not only home to HP’s regional HQ, but also host to one of HP’s largest manufacturing sites globally, employing more than 5,000 workers in total.

3. HP’s decision to locate the manufacturing of its high-value components in Singapore is a testament to the company’s confidence in our highly educated and skilled workforce, pro-business environment, and our value as a platform to access the region. I am glad to learn that HP will bring the manufacturing of its latest advanced inkjet printheads, which are key components of HP’s high-end commercial and 3D printers, to the new Singapore campus.

4. HP is also an important partner in our efforts to raise the capabilities of our SMEs. For example, HP has partnered SME suppliers Mega Plus Technology and Super Pak Manufacturing, under the Partnership for Capability Transformation (PACT) programme, to create a more environment-friendly packaging for ink canisters. That collaboration allowed the two SMEs to develop new expertise and capabilities, which they leveraged on to further advance their businesses.

The Government is committed to invest in Advanced Manufacturing to help companies capture new growth opportunities

5. The Government has identified Advanced Manufacturing as a key growth area for Singapore, and committed $3.2 billion to R&D in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering under our Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 plan. We are also upgrading the skills of our workforce in tandem with the development of new technologies like robotics, additive manufacturing, data analytics and AI.

6. The Electronics Industry Transformation Map sets out Singapore’s aspiration to be the hub for innovation in advanced manufacturing, and aims for all manufacturing facilities in Singapore to be best-in-class compared to their global operations. To support systemic industry transformation, we launched the Singapore Smart Industry Readiness Index earlier in November. Companies can use the Index to evaluate their current standing, and map out possible next steps in adopting advanced manufacturing technologies and processes.

7. I am pleased that HP is leading the way by launching its first Smart Manufacturing Applications and Research Centre (SMARC) in the Singapore campus, where advanced manufacturing solutions will be developed and tested, before being used to upgrade HP’s operations across the globe.

The Government encourages companies to tap on training initiatives to equip their employees with the requisite skillsets

8. We also need to expand the pipeline of talent at both fresh graduate and mid-career levels in order to support companies in adopting advanced manufacturing technologies and solutions. One example of our efforts to equip Singapore’s workforce with the necessary skills to stay abreast of the changing global economy, is the Professional Conversation Programme (PCP), which was launched to help mid-career PMETs gain new capabilities and take on newer and better jobs.

9. This journey of transformation must be a collaborative effort, and I commend HP for being one of the pioneer companies participating in the PCP. Among HP’s first intra-company PCP employees, Ms Tng Jia Xin is an example of how HP has supported its employees in advancing their careers, and benefitted in turn.

10. A mechanical engineer by training, Ms Tng had been working in HP as a manufacturing process development engineer. Using skills acquired under the PCP for Data Analysts, she designed a smart prototype system that automatically performs quality control of complex print bars used in the HP PageWide Array Printers. This has saved almost 24 man hours and reduced turnaround time by 80 per cent. Today, Ms Tng is a product engineer in HP’s PageWide Array team.

Conclusion

11. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that the Government is committed to ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of our manufacturing sector well into the future. We have implemented an array of programmes towards this objective, and welcome more industry partners to join us in this journey by investing in advanced manufacturing technologies and skills upgrading.

12. Once again, my heartiest congratulations to the management and staff of HP on the opening of your new Singapore campus. I look forward to many more years of productive and successful partnership between HP and Singapore. Thank you.