R&D and assistance for Singapore industries in green manufacturing practices

The Sustainable Manufacturing Centre (SMC) will be officially launched on 4 November 2009. It is a new multi-government agency supported by industry associations like SHTA that will showcase sustainable manufacturing technology and best practices hosted by the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology or SIMTech, a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

The launch next month will be marked by a seminar titled “Sustainable Manufacturing  - The Next Industrial Revolution”. According to Dr Lim Ser Yong, the Centre’s Executive Director, the keynote address will be presented by Prof Nabil Nasr, Director of the Centre for Integrated Manufacturing Studies and Director of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology.

Prof Nasr is widely recognised as the "father" of remanufacturing in the USA, a leader in the research and development efforts in environmentally benign manufacturing, remanufacturing, and sustainable design. He has developed strong ties to industry through efforts to implement and improve sustainable design processes at hundreds of companies from diverse sectors.

The Prof will be joined by other speakers who are experts in the various fields of sustainable manufacturing from industry, research and environmental institutes. They will be giving insights of the challenges, trends and opportunities in the sustainable manufacturing value chain.

SHTA & SMC Inaugural Meeting
In a meeting held on 26 October 2009 leading up to the launch, Mr Sunny Chin (SHTA President) characterised the Association’s partnership with the SMC as one that is equal and mutually beneficial to both organisations. He met SMC Director, Dr Song Bin and said SHTA can take the challenge beyond manufacturing and remanufacturing, to focus on the entire supply chain and also how it can take the lead in organising Carbon Footprint audit methodology training, path finding and awareness workshops for senior management,  stake holders or bosses of SMEs.

Mr Chin proposed a pilot project in the areas discussed above with two or three SHTA member companies with LEAD grant support from SPRING or IE Singapore. On SMC’s part, Dr Song highlighted how the Centre will have all the resources to equip itself and is committed to developing sustainable manufacturing technology for Singapore companies.

About the Sustainable Manufacturing Centre
The SMC develops and implements innovative technologies that minimise emissions, wastes and toxicity in manufacturing, and strengthen the global competitiveness of Singapore’s manufacturing industry.

The SMC works locally and internationally with researchers and industries across sectors to promote sustainability through demonstration, knowledge transfer and research. The core activities of the centre are:
- Research and Development
- Industry Development and Technology Transfer 
- Training and Promotion

SMC also showcases exhibits of sustainable manufacturing technologies, best practices, capabilities, success stories and array of sustainable products including:
- Materials
- Resources (Energy, water)
- Waste treatment and management
- Manufacturing processes
- Packaging
- Eco-design and decision-making 
- Industrial ecology.