Aerospace Sector: What’s Next?

General Secretary of SIA Engineering Company Engineers and Executives Union (SEEU) Ong Hwee Liang shares company's developments and initiatives as well as his projections for the aerospace industry.

Transforming the Industry

• Business outlook: Singapore is in a good position to tap on regional aircraft growth, as major manufacturers have facilities here to service the needs of Asia Pacific customers.
• Industry Transformation Map recommendations: To provide visibility on various types of new skills and jobs in areas such as aviation manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul operations. To also highlight career opportunities and pathways across vertical and horizontal tracks.
• Why the need to reskill: To ensure a pipeline of skilled workers for the new jobs in the higher value chain as businesses transform.
• Skillsets in demand: Robotics, data analytics, supply chain management, additive manufacturing.
• Aircrafts of the future: High-tech structures with embedded sensors, self-monitoring equipment? and self-healing material.

Suggestions for Employers

• Communicate companies’ plans and strategies with unions and workers. Workers need to know how the changes will affect them and the unions will rally workers to go for the necessary training.
• Leverage on partnerships to bring in know-how and jobs as well as funding and technologies for productivity initiatives.

Union and Management Efforts

• Technical training on new generation aircrafts
• Courses to build soft skills such as teamwork and managing safety
• Augmented reality training is to use virtual simulation to create a digital twin of actual workplace in classroom environment for training purposes. This technology enhances the learning experience of all, young and old.
• Ensuring workers' feedback and needs are addressed timely and effectively

Company Initiatives

• Current: Automated guided vehicles to deliver spares at workshop levels, automatic dispenser and return kiosks for tooling and consumable spares, data analytics to do preventive maintenance.
• Upcoming plans: To roll out mobile devices, 3D aircraft structure scanners and air castors. To also evaluate possible use of drones, machine vision and sensor technology for inspections.