(L-R) Anthony Yung, Senior Director of Operations, Applied Biosystems B.V.; Kiyoshi Imai, Deputy Managing Director, Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific Pte Ltd; Tong Chong Heong, Managing Director, Keppel FELS Ltd; Professor S. Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security; Michael Hsu, Director, United Microelectronics Corporation Singapore Branch; Chris Dobson, Vice President, Global Manufacturing & Supply, GlaxoSmithKline; and Valerie Lee, Human Resources Director, STATS ChipPAC

On 7 November 2008, the MAXA 2008 awards were held in tribute to companies that have raised the bar and maintained high standards in innovation and excellence in Singapore's manufacturing sector.

Presented by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and partners, McKinsey & Company and the Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA), MAXA continues to challenge companies in the achievement of world-class manufacturing standards, and sustainability and success in their operating systems.

MAXA 2008 unveiled several firsts, from first-time participants to a new award category. With more corporations implementing green initiatives, the Excellence In Environmental Management award was introduced to recognise companies with systematic and structured processes in managing their impact on the environment.

MAXA 2008 Honour Roll

Keppel FELS Limited emerged the overall winner for 2008, the first local company to win the much-coveted award, due to its successful international growth anchored on Singapore's advantages. Speaking about the company's victory, Tong Chong Heong, Managing Director, Keppel FELS Ltd, says, "When Keppel FELS entered the MAXA awards, winning the top award was not topmost on our mind. Our aim was more to seize the opportunity to learn from its stringent framework and improve ourselves. Winning the MAXA award today is a big bonus for Keppel FELS. It affirms our passion and commitment to deliver our projects on time, within budget and without incident. With this award and all that we have gained in the process, we can only do better."

Leading healthcare company, GlaxoSmithKline, was named the inaugural winner of the Excellence In Environmental Management award. Says Chris Dobson, Vice-President, Global Manufacturing & Supply, GlaxoSmithKline, "GlaxoSmithKline is delighted to have been recognised for its Environmental Management programme sustained over the years. We entered MAXA to benchmark ourselves against the best in Singapore and it's good to have recognition for our achievements in this area. Through continued focus on our environmental strategy, and with the support of our dedicated workforce, we believe we will sustain our position of strength and further minimise the impact of our operations on our surroundings."

First-time entrants, Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific Pte Ltd emerged as winner of the Innovation Award. "Considering that this is the first time we are participating in the MAXA, we are very honoured and proud to win the MAXA 2008 Innovation Award," says Osamu (Paul) Nakamura, Managing Director, Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific. "We would like to thank all our customers for their continuous support over the years. I would also like to thank all our employees and suppliers for their daily great efforts. I believe this has contributed to us winning this award."

Another first time participant, United Microelectronics Corporation Singapore Branch (UMC), won the Operational Excellence Award, and was commended for its effort in achieving substantial improvements in operations. Michael Hsu, Fab Director, UMC Singapore Branch spoke about the win: "We would like to express our appreciation to MAXA for the opportunity to compete for this award, especially as this is our first time participating. I would like to specially extend my thanks to the UMC team for their great efforts in preparing for this award. Winning this award enables us to raise the wafer fabrication standards in Singapore and provide the visibility to attract more global talent, which will grow in line with our business."

Other finalists included Applied Biosystems and STATS ChipPAC Ltd.

Singapore's Future In Manufacturing

In his speech at the awards ceremony, Professor Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security highlighted that manufacturing is a very important pillar of Singapore's economy, and its economic growth. "Together with other engines of growth, it will help develop the growth of Singapore's services sector, creating demand for services such as finance, logistics and IT, while providing good jobs across the entire chain of activities," he said. "Manufacturing also creates a robust platform for technology development and innovation development. All MAXA companies here today have made important contributions to Singapore's manufacturing sector. You have proven that we have a world-class manufacturing industry here and MAXA is the recognition of your efforts."

Professor Jayakumar reserved special mention for Future•Singapore, EDB's new strategy which positions Singapore as a city of the future - one which is open to innovation and new approaches. “Future•Singapore leverages Singapore's reputation as a preferred business location,” says Professor Jayakumar. "Given our political stability, transparent legal regime, pro-business environment, availability or skilled and talented workforce, and well-educated population, Singapore can be the choice location where new ideas and concepts can be nurtured and grown into future businesses."