reporter2
05-08-13, 11:53
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/archive/tuesday/premium/singapore/jtc-launches-small-footprint-factory-20130730
Published July 30, 2013
JTC launches small footprint factory
Buroh St standard factories to help tenants save costs
By ng zhuo yang
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/archive/tuesday/sites/businesstimes.com.sg/files/imagecache/image_300x200/BT_20130730_ZYJTC30_689032.jpg
This way up: Production activities that are usually on one level will be spread across three levels, occupying a smaller footprint. - PHOTO: JTC
IN A bid to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore to enhance competitiveness and increase land productivity, JTC Corporation has officially opened its latest next-generation standard factories located along Buroh Street.
JTC's small footprint standard factories (SFP) makes use of an innovative and unconventional industrial infrastructure concept.
By housing manufacturing activities that are traditionally located on a single storey across three storeys, the SFP allows companies to occupy a smaller footprint without compromising production space, thereby reducing land costs.
In addition, JTC chief executive Png Cheong Boon said that companies that set up shop at the SFP are also able to set up their operations quickly and lower their capital investments.
The main reason for this is that the SFP's structural set-up provides industrialists with the flexibility to install their preferred choice of materials handling systems that best cater to their operational needs.
According to Terence Ng, deputy director of JTC's precision engineering department, industrialists are often resistant to the use of multi-storey standard factories due to the various challenges of operating in a multi-level manufacturing facility.
One of these is the high set-up cost resulting from the extensive structural modifications required, which JTC had set out to overcome through the SFP's structural provisions.
Other challenges include insufficient flexibility for expansion of business operations and reduced operational efficiency due to material handling between floors, which JTC had also addressed through the SFP's design layout to ensure seamless production processes and optimal flexibility for expansion.
At an official opening event yesterday, JTC announced that eight of the SFP's 18 units have been taken up since its completion in January this year.
These tenants comprise SMEs from industries such as oil and gas, medtech and aerospace. Three tenants have already begun operations at the SFP.
Mr Png said: "Given the good response from SMEs, we are looking into similar developments in the next few years."
Guest-of-honour Teo Ser Luck said that the government was looking at ways to bring this concept further by clustering companies together in order to increase productivity and to save business costs through shared services and flexible factory structures.
Citing strong competition from abroad as a problem that SMEs face on top of the tightening labour costs back home, the Minister of State for Trade and Industry said: "We feel that industry collaboration is one of the ways to go in terms of raising productivity as a whole."
Published July 30, 2013
JTC launches small footprint factory
Buroh St standard factories to help tenants save costs
By ng zhuo yang
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/archive/tuesday/sites/businesstimes.com.sg/files/imagecache/image_300x200/BT_20130730_ZYJTC30_689032.jpg
This way up: Production activities that are usually on one level will be spread across three levels, occupying a smaller footprint. - PHOTO: JTC
IN A bid to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore to enhance competitiveness and increase land productivity, JTC Corporation has officially opened its latest next-generation standard factories located along Buroh Street.
JTC's small footprint standard factories (SFP) makes use of an innovative and unconventional industrial infrastructure concept.
By housing manufacturing activities that are traditionally located on a single storey across three storeys, the SFP allows companies to occupy a smaller footprint without compromising production space, thereby reducing land costs.
In addition, JTC chief executive Png Cheong Boon said that companies that set up shop at the SFP are also able to set up their operations quickly and lower their capital investments.
The main reason for this is that the SFP's structural set-up provides industrialists with the flexibility to install their preferred choice of materials handling systems that best cater to their operational needs.
According to Terence Ng, deputy director of JTC's precision engineering department, industrialists are often resistant to the use of multi-storey standard factories due to the various challenges of operating in a multi-level manufacturing facility.
One of these is the high set-up cost resulting from the extensive structural modifications required, which JTC had set out to overcome through the SFP's structural provisions.
Other challenges include insufficient flexibility for expansion of business operations and reduced operational efficiency due to material handling between floors, which JTC had also addressed through the SFP's design layout to ensure seamless production processes and optimal flexibility for expansion.
At an official opening event yesterday, JTC announced that eight of the SFP's 18 units have been taken up since its completion in January this year.
These tenants comprise SMEs from industries such as oil and gas, medtech and aerospace. Three tenants have already begun operations at the SFP.
Mr Png said: "Given the good response from SMEs, we are looking into similar developments in the next few years."
Guest-of-honour Teo Ser Luck said that the government was looking at ways to bring this concept further by clustering companies together in order to increase productivity and to save business costs through shared services and flexible factory structures.
Citing strong competition from abroad as a problem that SMEs face on top of the tightening labour costs back home, the Minister of State for Trade and Industry said: "We feel that industry collaboration is one of the ways to go in terms of raising productivity as a whole."