Success Stories Advance Tech Automation
Advance Tech: What’s Next?
Wednesday, 19 August 2009 19:41
The sky seems to be the limit as this precision engineering company positions itself, ready for Singapore’s next push into the aerospace industry
Advance Tech Automation seems destined to be the type of company that will succeed in the new millennium. In 2000, its youthful co-founder and managing director, Kenneth Neo, just turned 29, invested $100,000 to start a design company for automation equipment with just 5 staff. Today, it has grown and branched out into manufacturing and has a staff of 350 workers spread over its Singapore (Woodlands Spectrum 1 Industrial Park), China (Wuxi) and Malaysian (Gelang Patah, Johor) operations.
Picture: Interview with Mr Kenneth Neo, Managing Director of Advance Tech Automation Pte Ltd
In the last three financial years (2006 to 2008), the Advance Tech group of companies annual turnovers averaged $38.8 million.
In just nine years, the company has built up an impressive roster of blue chip clients that includes companies like Apple, Sony and Maxtor maintaining consistent quality standards acquiring awards such as the ISO 9001 2000 Certification in 2002. And with an eye on what’s coming over the horizon, Kenneth has successfully positioned his company by training a skilled workforce to acquire the Aerospace AS9100 standard early in 2009.
He firmly believes, “I find the more challenging and complex are the machinery and technology, the better are the odds we can survive.” Certification of the AS9100 aside, Advance Tech is also making its presence felt in aerospace by already acquiring high tech six-axis capable precision engineering machines to service this industry. And this he smiled is, “…even before we get our first aerospace client!”
“Only by keeping up with advances in high technology can you survive in the long term so training is very important.” He also said that organisations like SHTA also plays an important role in collecting information of various industries and providing feedback to the government for input in formulating long term policies. “That’s one of the duties of the Association. Our members can help as they are exposed to the worldwide market and can assist by providing information on what is needed and the direction the marketplace is heading.”
Right now the aerospace industry has a special place in his plans for growth of the company. He first started making plans to make inroads into the aerospace sector two years ago. Today, Advance Tech is part of just “a handful” of Singapore companies that are ready to tackle avionic components repair and manufacture. The ground work has paid off as the government’s plans for Seletar to be turned into an Aerospace Park has taken off and the recent announcement by Rolls Royce to invest $700 million for making its hollow titanium aircraft engine blades there augurs well for the future growth of the 140 ha Park.
Kenneth Neo: A Personal Insight
Mr Kenneth Neo is the proverbial self-made man. He was a graduate from Singapore Technical Institute with an Industrial Trade Certificate (Merit) in Mechanical & Electrical Drafting & Design (1991). He went on to earn a Diploma in Manufacturing and Engineering from Singapore Polytechnic.
By the time he left Poly, his parents were retired. For one and a half years, he had to work very hard to save for an overseas university education. At one point juggling four jobs at the same time as a freelance draftsman, working in construction, computer sales and sometimes doing the odd hotel housekeeping stint! There was also a short but lucrative three-month contract working in Vietnam for a Singapore construction company. In the end, he saved enough to study abroad and graduate with Honours with a degree in Manufacturing, Engineering and Management from the University of Loughborough, UK in 1998.
Kenneth planned to enter the construction industry when he returned to Singapore in 1998 but the construction industry was in a slump. So he switched to automation design which was a subject close to his heart, “All along I wanted to be involved in this area and thanks to the interest and passion I had in automation I quickly picked up the knowledge and skills necessary. I am a firm believer in being passionate in everything you do and this is especially true for entrepreneurs. They must have the passion and determination to complete what they set out to do and finally recognize the opportunities that come along or that exists so that they can grab them when they come.”
Kenneth is married with one daughter. His loves visiting fish farms, rearing fish and has a koi pond of his own. He finds these activities an excellent way to de-stress, think and relax.
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