80th Anniversary Commemorative Book - Singapore Manufacturing ...

One such example is the online arm of flowers and gifts provider Far EastFlora, FarEastFlora.com.FarEastFlora.com became a member of the SMF in 2004 after its ManagingDirector Ryan Chioh had a chance meeting with a SMF member whosuggested that he join. “At the time, it was a bit unusual for a service-orientedcompany like ours to join the SMF,” he conceded, “but we see this as anopportunity to gain more insights across different industries into strategicissues like productivity and process agility.“Since the start of FarEastFlora.com, we have fine-tuned processes andcut our order processing time by 90 per cent. Going online has given us acompetitive edge and I have found that when we shared our experience ithas proven useful to other SMF members. There is now much talk aboutgreen buildings, being eco-friendly and trying to earn eco-labels. It’s part ofour business and we have helped the SMF achieve the eco-label.”FarEastFlora.com may seem anunlikely member, but increasingly,more and more service-orientedcompanies are joining the SMF.Surmounting external challengesThroughout this period of soul-searching and refining its role, SMF membersalso had to grapple with external changes.Change is inevitable. But, with the advent of the digital era and the Internetin the last couple of decades, the pace of change has increased.Property and economic cycles have become shorter. Nowadays, recessionshappen far more often. Lifestyles evolve more quickly – and manufacturersmust adapt faster than ever.At a SMF tribute dinner in 1992, former Singapore Prime Minister LeeKuan Yew painted a compelling picture of the challenges manufacturerswould face: “In the 1990s economic growth will not be as high as the 1980s.We are at a higher income level and are at the limits of our land size andpopulation growth. At the same time many countries are ready to go fasteralong the route we had travelled – Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico,China, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, and many others.“Every economy whether developing or developed faces the need torestructure. Technology does not stand still. It is difficult for those involved.Some businesses must decline because the conditions for their businesshave become unfavourable.”72 Initiating Change 1997 – 2012