Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education, officiated the launch of

Temasek Polytechnic’s (TP) Advanced Manufacturing Centre (TP AMC), on Friday, 18 June 2021

The TP AMC, the first such facility in an Institute of Higher Learning, is a fully integrated end-to-end manufacturing facility that features a “live” AI-enabled manufacturing line, capable of high-mix low-volume production. It also includes a smart warehouse that has an automated storage and order picking system, and a nerve centre that provides real-time analysis and optimisation using data analytics.

The TP AMC will cater to the learning needs of TP’s pre-employment training (PET) students across the fields of engineering, business and IT, as well as continuing education and training (CET) students seeking to upskill themselves in Industry 4.0 technologies. Annually, TP AMC will train about 1,500 PET and 1,000 CET students to support the manufacturing sector's transformation in Singapore.  It will also support companies and industry partners in their Industry 4.0 transformation efforts through consultancy services and other industry projects.

A wide range of resources and training are needed to build talents and develop capabilities in advanced manufacturing. To this end, TP is partnering key companies and trade associations that are also committed to furthering training and R&D in this field.

To mark these partnerships, Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) will be signed at the launch event between TP and our Industry Partners Network, comprising key industry partners and trade associations, including OMRON Electronics, Fujitsu Singapore, Arcstone Pte Ltd, M8M Pte Ltd, PDS Pte Ltd and Swisslog as well as the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA) and Singapore Precision Engineering & Technology Association (SPETA).

To deepen the polytechnics’ collective commitment to training and capability development in this field, the five polytechnics will also be signing MOUs with the Advanced Manufacturing Training Academy (AMTA) at the event.

Summing up his vision for the TP AMC, Mr Peter Lam, TP’s Principal & CEO said: “The TP AMC is a multi-party commitment set to accelerate the development of the advanced manufacturing capabilities in Singapore. We hope that the training we give our young and adult learners, the projects developed here and the consultancy we provide, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, will lift the competitiveness as well as productivity of our industrial sectors. Ultimately, we aim to support all companies in their advanced manufacturing journey while providing even better employability outcomes for all our students.”

The TP AMC offers the following to our industry partners and students:

        i.            Multidisciplinary learning experience for students in a smart factory

The TP AMC will equip learners from different fields with emerging skills needed in advanced manufacturing. It is part of a robust advanced manufacturing eco-system at TP, comprising cutting-edge facilities, equipment, partners and expertise. The Centre will feature collaborative training with industry partners as well as multi-disciplinary learning across different schools in TP. Through training at the Centre, TP students and graduates will be well equipped to work with the latest technologies as they handle new manufacturing jobs in a digitalised environment.

       ii.            On-the-job training in an authentic advanced manufacturing environment

TP welcomes the partnership with OMRON, a SkillsFuture Queen Bee company appointed by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). OMRON is well-known for their operations technology capable of high-mix low-volume production and will support and grow the advanced manufacturing sector in Singapore. Under the partnership, TP and OMRON will jointly train workers in advanced manufacturing skillsets, and assist companies in adopting relevant technologies to meet their manufacturing needs.

As part of the SkillsFuture Queen Bee partnership, Omron will share their expertise in advanced automation and robotics. Omron will also work with Temasek Polytechnic to co-develop training content in cutting-edge technologies, as well as provide mentorship and skills training to enterprises. Some 2,000 individuals and 180 companies are expected to benefit from the SkillsFuture Queen Bee partnership with Omron.

Welcoming this partnership, Mr Lieu Yew Fatt, managing director of OMRON Electronics Pte Ltd said, “The pace of industry transformation is expected to accelerate, driven both by the maturing of advanced automation technologies ready for adoption and manufacturers’ pressing need to transform their processes to be nimble and flexible to react to market volatilities. The launch of TP AMC is timely and relevant to support our local enterprises to adopt advanced automation technologies as they embark on their industry transformation journey.”

     iii.            Co-building sustainable roadmaps for Industry 4.0 transformation

Beyond training and learning, companies can leverage TP’s advanced manufacturing eco-system and partner the TP AMC in carrying out research, development and consultancy projects, proof-of-concept (PoC) projects, and co-develop innovative solutions to enhance their productivity and competitiveness. In addition, the TP AMC will also provide support and consultancy services to facilitate their adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies and solutions. Through such collaborations, TP aims to help companies build a sustainable and reliable roadmap for their Industry 4.0 transformation.