Story and Photo by Avelyn Ng
Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran launched the Electronics Industry Transformation Map (ITM) at the opening of JTC nanoSpace @ Tampines on 20 September 2017. By 2020, the ITM aims to bring in manufacturing value-add worth $22.2 billion into the economy and create 2,100 new jobs for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).
Upskilling Workers
To equip Singaporeans with the necessary skills to take on future jobs, SkillsFuture Singapore, Workforce Singapore and economic agencies, together with industry stakeholders, also launched the Skills Framework for Electronics.
It identified 29 job roles along or across two career pathways – the technical and engineering track, and the management track. Also detailed were the 58 skills and competencies required, including emerging areas of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, data analytics, robotics and automation.
In a Facebook post, NTUC’s Electronics and Precision and Machinery Engineering (EPME) Cluster Supervising Lead and United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries (UWEEI) Executive Secretary Melvin Yong said: “I am glad that the industry is one step closer towards future-proofing our electronics workers. The NTUC's EPME Cluster and e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) recently worked with our industry partners and institutes of higher learning to curate and put together courses relevant to Industry 4.0. A number of companies have since signed up for the training programmes.
"As for those that are unable to move into new jobs, the Labour Movement will work with our unions to help them transit and remain gainfully employed."
To promote the shift towards higher value jobs, the Electronics Engineer and Electronics Assistant Engineer Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs) were also unveiled. They are in addition to four existing PCPs rolled out in 2016 to reskill PMETs for the Wafer Fabrication and Assembly and Test sectors, which have since benefited close to 130 PMETs.
Diversifying into Growth Markets
The emergence of autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence and healthcare are expected to increase the demand for electronics.
To shorten innovation cycles and enable companies to participate in the new areas, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Enterprise Singapore will look at convening multi-innovation platforms and fostering collaborations amongst multinational companies, small- and medium-sized enterprises and startups.
Companies are encouraged to leverage the Partnerships for Capability Transformation scheme for knowledge transfer, capability upgrading and co-development of new solutions.
Support for Transformation
To attract high value-added activities, JTC will continue to provide next-generation infrastructure solutions and spaces.
The Government will work with companies to help them increase productivity by adopting advanced manufacturing technologies, reduce operating costs and optimise resources. The ITM targets for all manufacturing plants in Singapore to be best-in-class - comparable to their overseas operations.
It will also partner trade associations and chambers to transform the industry. In support of the ITM, the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association has already set out a three-year plan to transform its charter and expand its resources to better support the industry.
More than 600 job vacancies in the electronics sector will be offered by over 20 companies at an Adapt and Grow Career Fair on 26 September 2017. Click here to register.
NTUC’s Future Jobs, Skills and Training capability has also published an infographic and analysis on the future of engineering in electronics.
