Singapore Manufacturing Federation charts path for human-centric manufacturing in AI era

Source: SMF. From left: Nigel Lee, Singapore GM, Lenovo Singapore; Christanto Suryadarma, Sales VP, Zebra Technologies; Terry Gao, MD, Huawei; Lennon Tan, President, SMF; Alvin Tan, Singapore Minister of State for Trade and Industry; Albert Chan, VP, Inkjet Supplies & Ink Operations, HP Singapore; and Tony Kang, Business VP, Secure Power, Singapore and Brunei Cluster, Schneider Electric during MNC-SME Alliance MoU signing ceremony.

The manufacturing sector, currently the second-largest contributor to Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP), will continue to be a critical driving force of the nation’s economic growth, said the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF). But to maintain its transformation momentum and realise its goals of becoming a global advanced manufacturing hub, Singapore must navigate the disruptions of technologies like AI and learn to balance the intersection of technology with human potential to create a more resilient manufacturing ecosystem, concluded participants of Manufacturing Day Summit 2025, SMF's flagship conference.

Themed Smart Collaboration: Humanising the Future of Manufacturing in the Age of AI, Manufacturing Day Summit 2025 showcased the transformative role of AI in manufacturing while emphasising that human creativity is indispensable.

Key highlights at the event included the launch of the MNC-SME Alliance with SMF as the key facilitator and orchestrator. The alliance offers a collaborative platform for multinational corporations (MNCs), local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as ecosystem partners.

It aims to support Singapore’s Manufacturing 2030 goals by driving innovation, enhancing supply chain competitiveness, and accelerating the adoption of advanced manufacturing practices, and is designed to create business opportunities between MNCs and SMEs, while facilitating knowledge sharing, capability building, and co-development opportunities. Ultimately, the alliance will prepare SMEs for global challenges in alignment with SMF’s Industry 5.0 vision. 

Applied Total Control Treatment (ATC), Lenovo, Zebra Technologies, Continental and IBM are alliance members, together with ecosystem partners A*STAR Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (A*STAR SIMTech), UOB and the Singapore Institute of Technology’s Innovation Leadership Programme. The programme is a public course designed to equip SMEs with practical strategies and skills to drive innovation, enhance collaboration with MNCs, and scale their operations effectively in a global market.  

Lenovo shared their work with ST Logistics, one of the largest logistics and warehousing providers in Singapore, to streamline processes and enhance operational efficiency through AI, automation and robotics. The joint case study featured Industry 5.0 applications and will pave the way towards a smarter and more innovative manufacturing future.

“The future of manufacturing is not about replacing humans with machines, but about creating a powerful synergy between human ingenuity and AI capabilities,” said Lennon Tan, President, Singapore Manufacturing Federation.

“Through strategic partnerships and knowledge sharing, we are building a smarter and more resilient manufacturing ecosystem that empowers our workforce, drives innovation, and strengthens Singapore’s position as a global manufacturing hub. This collaborative approach is essential as we look towards the next 60 years and beyond.”

At the event, HP, Huawei, Lenovo, Schneider Electric and Zebra Technologies were awarded Honorary Gold certifications under the Green Excellence for Manufacturing (GEM) Mark programme, part of SMF’s Chief-Sustainability-Officer-as-a-Service (CSOaaS) initiative. This certification recognises organisations that have achieved advanced sustainability levels and demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable operations. 

Eligible companies must have consistently excelled in sustainability reporting and continually enhanced their sustainability practices, setting a benchmark for others to follow. The CSOaaS programme, launched at last year’s Manufacturing Day Summit, empowers SMEs with the tools and guidance necessary to incorporate sustainable practices into their operations.

In addition, the Manufacturing Day Summit shone a spotlight on the significance of developing a skilled and future-ready manufacturing workforce that will support SG60’s manufacturing ambitions. A new Learning-and-Development-Solutions-as-a-Service (L&DSaaS) initiative from SMF will address the critical need for a skilled, adaptable workforce in SMEs. By offering tailored training, leadership development, and advanced digital learning, the L&DSaaS helps to build resilient businesses through strengthening workforce capabilities, driving innovation, and enhancing operational effectiveness.

The SMF Centre for Corporate Learning (SMF-CCL) also announced that SMF-CCL and Duke Corporate Education (Duke CE) are working on an initiative to empower enterprises to lead a sustainable future amid the climate crisis. Leveraging Duke CE's global leadership expertise, the collaboration will culminate in an e-learning platform with curated sustainability programmes to equip organisations with the knowledge to tackle complex manufacturing and supply chain challenges, foster innovation and drive sustainable, scalable impact for long-term success.

The L&DSaaS and partnership with the Duke CE will target 100 companies and benefit approximately 2,500 employees.

To further support the growth and development of manufacturing SMEs, SMF and NTUC U SME also inked an MOU to create awareness of training available for SMEs to transform their workforce. With SMEs representing 99% of all businesses in Singapore, SMF and U SME want to encourage SMEs to adopt new technologies; support workers’ training and development; and facilitate harmonious labour-management relations.

Beyond upskilling the existing workforce, SMF is also focused on nurturing the next generation of manufacturing talents. The association inked an MoU with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Flexspeed Technology to enhance workforce development in Singapore’s manufacturing sector. The five-year collaboration, supported by factory automation specialist FANUC, will promote upskilling and technology adoption of robotics automation through customised training programmes, workplace learning initiatives, and technology development projects.

“Sustainability and talent development are twin pillars of a resilient and forward-looking manufacturing sector,” said Dennis Mark, CEO, Singapore Manufacturing Federation. 

“We hope that initiatives and collaborations like these will not only drive innovation and environmental responsibility but also ensure the industry is well-equipped with the talent and capabilities needed to grow Singapore into an advanced manufacturing hub.”