gs1 singapore news

GS1 SINGAPORE NEWS
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Asia Pacific Regional Forum concluded with a remarkable
success. The newly-introduced country update by each
MO on key strategies and initiatives were also wellreceived.
We hope that such practice will continue so as to
reinforce better understanding and further collaboration
within the region.
The highlight of this event was the opening address
delivered by Mr. Joseph Phi, the Chairman of GS1 Hong
Kong and the President and Executive Director of
Integrated Distribution Service (IDS) Group, Hong Kong.
Mr Phi mentioned that in time of recession, one area
to effectively cut cost is the “soft dollars” which many
companies have overlooked. He stated that the “Soft
Dollars” represents the areas of a company’s operation
where it is possible to find efficiencies, reduce expenditure
and become more competitive. In many cases, the best
place to start looking for such improvements is still in
the logistics arrangements. He also promoted the idea of
making Hong Kong as a supplier’s hub to service industries
in China, Japan and Korea. In this way only the Hong Kong
Hub need to carry stock and any slack in demands for
stocks either in China, Japan or Korea can be picked up by
customers in another country.
Mr. Phi also made reference to the inflection point in
the curve of the graph of a company’s growth profile.
He defined inflection points as the intersection of a
growth curve which changes directions. All companies/
organisations should strive to create the inflection points
in the growth of their companies to ensure sustainability
and growth. He stressed that only companies which dare to
commit huge sum of funds into investment in infrastructure
during an economic down turn will succeed when the
economy picks up. His IDS group invested heavily during
the 1990s’ economic slow down in China and the region
by automating the supply chain infrastructure with latest
technology including bar coding and RFID. As a result,
IDS is able to command the leadership of the industry
today. All delegates were awaken by this eye opening
presentation. This had remained the brightest spot of the
whole GS1 AP Regional Forum during the next 2 days.
The other subjects presented and discussed at the GS1
AP Regional Forum were:
1. GS1 Strategy
2. GS1 Future Business Model
3. GS1 and the new Consumer Goods Forum
4. GS1 Organisation Effectiveness
5. GS1 Global Office and Technology Update
6. GS1 MobileCom ISO Standard Development:
presented by Tan Jin Soon
7. GS1 MO sharing session.
The next GS1 AP Regional Forum will be hosted by GS1
India in October 2010.
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Students who pass this optional module are awarded an
additional Certification in Cold Chain Management.
This optional module is very popular because the Supply
Chain Management Diploma Course students with this
additional Certificate in Cold Chain Management are in
demand when apply for jobs after they graduate from the
Polytechnic.
The Singapore Cold Chain Centre is currently in discussion
with Singapore Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic
to include the Certificate in Cold Chain Management
course as an optional module to the final Students of the
respective Diploma Course in these 2 polytechnics.
GS1 Singapore News • 13