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The award is gaining international recognition as a benchmark of Singapore's global manufacturing success.
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Following two successful years, MAXA 2008 is once again open for nominations. Presented by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), together with partners McKinsey & Company and the Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA), the award represents the highest standards in manufacturing innovation and excellence. Recognising companies which have achieved world-class manufacturing standards and long-term sustainability in their Singapore-based operations, MAXA 2008 promises to be even more exciting in its third run.
At its core, MAXA underscores the continued importance of manufacturing as a major pillar of economic growth for Singapore. In 2007, fixed asset investment from manufacturing exceeded S$10 billion (US$7.2 million) for the first time in Singapore's history and a record 28,600 jobs were created. This growth is testament to Singapore's importance as a globally competitive manufacturing hub for MNCs and local enterprises who can leverage on the nation's highly skilled workforce, excellent infrastructure and conducive business environment.
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Ko Kheng Hwa, Managing Director, EDB (3rd from left) and MAXA winners at the MAXA 2007 Celebration Dinner.
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Making The Cut
Companies vying for the award will be judged on innovation, operational excellence and sustainability. As with last year, MAXA 2008 includes input from the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) to further emphasise the importance of innovation and its management in manufacturing.
In terms of the judging process, participating companies will first be selected based on their written submission in relation to operational excellence, innovation, and sustainability in their Singapore-based manufacturing operations. In the second round, a team of assessors from McKinsey and SMA will pay a two-day visit to short-listed candidates to enable a more comprehensive assessment. All short-listed companies will receive a report on the assessors' findings. Companies are then further short-listed to make a final presentation and answer questions from the panel of judges.
MAXA's eminent panel of judges includes chairperson Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, Professor of Manufacturing and Director of Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick; Dr Yoshiyuki Kaneda, former Executive Deputy President and Representative Director, Sony Corporation; Tan Teik Seng, former Senior Executive Managing Director, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Singapore; and Helmut Wieser, Executive Vice President and Group President, Alcoa Inc.
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Tetra Pak Jurong Pte Ltd - the overall winner of MAXA 2007.
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Raising The Bar
Companies participating in MAXA will benefit from an independent assessment, and in turn, learn how their practices measure up to global standards.
The winners of MAXA 2007 agree that they gained much from their experience. According to a statement from Tetra Pak Jurong Pte Ltd, the overall winner of MAXA 2007, the award "was a fair and a clear benchmarking of our operations against top global players". Says Alberto Tureikis, Director, Tetra Pak South and Southeast Asia Supply Chain, "The MAXA award has indeed further engaged our people to their work as it is a testimony of what they have all along believed in - world-class manufacturing through innovation and creativity. It has also increased pride, team effectiveness and helped to retain and attract talent to our company, particularly when there is a shortage of resources."
Kenwood Electronics Technologies, which clinched the Innovation Award in 2007, shares a similar view. "Participating in MAXA allowed Kenwood Singapore to learn valuable and insightful lessons that will certainly propel us forward in our endless quest for excellence and long-term sustainability," says Henry Lau, General Manager, Kenwood Electronics Technologies.
Looking forward, the Singapore government remains committed to the long-term growth of the manufacturing sector, a commitment which is reaffirmed by MAXA 2008. As Aw Kah Peng, Assistant Managing Director, Industry Development, EDB, says, "MAXA is gaining recognition as an award that celebrates the global success of Singapore's manufacturing sectors, recognises our highly skilled engineering talent, and puts Singapore on the map for world-class manufacturing excellence."
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