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01 Apr 2005
Agilent Singapore makes significant contributions to the group's global business.
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The Agilent FrameScope Pro, a unique handheld network tester developed by Agilent Singapore
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Since leaving the Hewlett-Packard (US, www.hp.com) umbrella in 1999, Agilent Technologies (US, www.agilent.com) has emerged as a strong contender in the technology business by delivering innovative solutions to the communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical industries.
Last year was particularly profitable for Agilent, which saw a 19 per cent increase in revenue over 2003 to reach S$11.7 billion (US$7.2 billion). Strong demand in the semiconductor and related industries, especially wireless communications, was a key driver of Agilent's growth.
A major manufacturing site for the company's semiconductor-related businesses is Agilent Singapore, which ships about half of Agilent's global production of semiconductors. As Agilent's Asia Pacific hub, Agilent Singapore has a staff strength of about 2,700.
Local manufacturing activities span the entire semiconductor production value chain, from integrated circuit design to test and assembly. In addition to its manufacturing facility, Agilent Singapore operates two fabrication plants - a wafer fabrication plant and an epitaxy fabrication plant.
Agilent Singapore's capabilities also include the production of advanced high-speed photonics products for the communications industry. Other products include fibre optic components, infra-red modules, optical isolation components and high-speed input/output devices.
Agilent's Asia Pacific Test and Measurement Contact Center in Singapore provides technical support and consultancy services for Agilent customers in the Asia-Pacific region.
During a visit to Singapore last year, Mr Ned Barnholt, Chairman Emeritus, Agilent, commented on Agilent Singapore's critical role in its global business: "Singapore is really one of the best organisations that we have. The work here is outstanding and consistently delivered with outstanding results...Singapore has become a major hub not just for our businesses but also for the whole corporation."
Local involvement
A firm believer in social responsibility, Agilent Singapore has continuously set out to be an intellectual and social asset to the community. Last year, it was named a partner in Singapore's Wireless Community, an initiative by Singapore Economic Development Board to nurture Singapore-based start-ups and enterprises in the wireless industry. Agilent Singapore has also provided grants, as well as contributed to various education and outreach programmes to encourage students to explore their interests in science.
Community recognition
In 2004, Agilent Singapore received a string of top honours for its exemplary corporate citizenship, including the prestigious 2004 Singapore Family Friendly Employer Award by the Singapore Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy and the Employer of Choice award by leading human resources magazine HRM Singapore.
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According to Mr Werner Huettemann, Vice President and General Manager (Computing and Networking Solutions), Agilent, Singapore has one of the best education systems in terms of engineering.
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Network innovations
Agilent is staking its claim in the telecommunications industry by supplying test and measurement components to some of the world's biggest players, and Agilent Singapore works jointly with Agilent's centres around the world to develop and manufacture communications test products for the global market.
Mr Werner Huettemann, Vice President and General Manager (Computing and Networking Solutions), Agilent, was in Singapore recently to congratulate Agilent Singapore for developing the FrameScope Pro, a low-cost solution for managing gigabit Ethernet networks (a local area network technology that can handle up to 1,000 megabits of data per second). He spoke to Singapore Investment News about the network industry and Agilent Singapore's role in boosting the company's business.
Singapore Investment News: What network developments can we expect to see in 2005?
The big change is that Internet access is [moving towards] gigabit Ethernet. We have gigabit Ethernet in the enterprise, and now it is moving into the public networks, so it is very important to have a product that can test Ethernet capabilities.
Was Agilent's FrameScope Pro a breakthrough product?
The unique part of Agilent's FrameScope Pro is that this is the first product that was defined and developed from scratch in Singapore.
Why did Agilent choose to develop its test products in Singapore?
Singapore has one of the best education [systems] in terms of engineering. As we all know, the Group of Seven leading industrial countries [Germany, Japan, France, Canada, Italy, the US and UK] are getting more expensive, so we need to globally look into where to get the best engineering skills, with the best cost and infrastructure to do these jobs. [In Singapore] we have Asian engineers thinking about Asian customers in a big Asian market, so everything lines up very nicely.
Are you involved in product design?
I've been with the company for 33 years, and I spent 18 years designing test products myself. I'm still involved in setting the direction for designs, but when it comes to directly designing the products, I don't do that anymore. The strong point I always make [to my design teams] is that you have to think like your customer and build quality into the product.
What targets have you set for Agilent Singapore?
The job of the team here is to follow the [trends] of telecommunications. The team needs to have new products coming out in a steady stream. Every six months, we have a new addition, and with this, the team's [portfolio] will grow very large over time.
Any personal goals for this year?
My major goal is to grow new businesses for the company. This is something that doesn't happen in a year; it requires clear thinking about where we want to go. My personal goals are to build a successful company, to have fun doing it and to have enough personal time to enjoy my hobbies.
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