Advanced Manufacturing: Opening Doors to a New Era of Innovation

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges in Singapore’s employment landscape in 2020, impacting almost every industry, including manufacturing. Yet, certain advanced manufacturing sub-sectors – including biomedical sciences, electronics and precision engineering – have continued to deliver exponential growth.

Goodbye Repetitive Labour, Hello Smart Factories!

Industry 4.0 is rapidly replacing traditional manufacturing plants with hi-tech factories that deploy powerful automation tools and smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented reality and 3D printing. Advanced manufacturing companies that are making this transformation successfully are reaping significant returns in innovation agility, efficiency and productivity.

A long-time contributor to Singapore’s economic growth and competitiveness, manufacturing accounts for some 20% of Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs more than 472,000 workers today. Globally, Singapore ranks as the 4th largest exporter of high-tech goods and 5th in manufacturing value-add.

The future looks bright for advanced manufacturing with strong growth forecasted. It is also leading the way in creating many new kinds of jobs with promising prospects. Almost every sub-sector will need workers with specialised Industry 4.0 skills, encompassing competencies like hardware, software and firmware development, automation and robotics design, and new equipment management.

Demand for skilled workers will also rise, in line with Singapore’s expanding advanced manufacturing footprint to support future growth. Plans are underway to build a strong base of technology and solutions providers to promote Industry 4.0 adoption and invest S$3.2billion to boost research and development (R&D) capabilities in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering.

Developing Specialised Skills for New Advanced Manufacturing Jobs

To address this shortage in specialised manpower and help jobseekers impacted by the pandemic to chart new career paths, the Singapore government has launched the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Programme.

Under this Programme, industry players and institutes of higher learning partner to deliver specialised training courses to cultivate Advanced Manufacturing skills. Local jobseekers also have access to more than 6,300 jobs, attachment and training opportunities offered by some 1,000 manufacturing companies. Of these, 5,100 are PMET openings.

To date, more than 730 jobseekers have joined the sector through the Programme. Of these, 62% are reskilled mid-career individuals. Sixty fresh graduates in the SGUnited Traineeships Programme are gaining hands-on experience with more than 25 host organisations.

Are You Ready for an Exciting New Career in Advanced Manufacturing?

As a training provider, the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) is offering eight specific programme tracks in its SGUnited Skills Advanced Manufacturing Programme to open doors to high-demand careers.

Participants choose between Management or Executive tracks, as well as specialised functional skills to acquire, including Corporate Services, Compliance Management, Operations and Logistics Management, and Research and Project Management.

The six-month full-time course features career coaching, skills assessment, a customised 240-hour industry-relevant skills training course, and a 120-hour industry attachment for practical experience in a real work environment. Participants acquire valuable core and technical competencies, from design thinking and agile project management to blockchain and computer-aided design (CAD).

Yet to find a job at the end of the programme? Don’t fret! SIM will continue to provide career advisory and employment assistance to increase participants’ chances of landing a job.

With these offerings in place, the time is now to embark on your Industry 4.0 journey. Seize the opportunities and realise the full benefits of a new career in Advanced Manufacturing!