Speech by MOS Faishal Ibrahim at The Specialists Trade Alliance of Singapore (STAS) 2nd Edition Prefabricated Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Day Dinner

Oct 6, 2023


  1. Good evening. I am happy to join you tonight at the STAS 2nd Prefab MEP Day dinner.
  1. Let me start by thanking STAS for your continuous efforts to drive the adoption of prefab MEP in the Built Environment (BE) sector.
  1. STAS has been a key industry partner in ensuring high standards in MEP production through its Prefab MEP Manufacturer Accreditation Scheme (MAS).

    a. My congratulations to those of you receiving your accreditations tonight.


Benefits of Prefab MEP

  1. Prefab MEP is a type of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (or DfMA) technology that brings about many benefits.
  1. First, DfMA improves quality, as components and modules are assembled in a controlled, off-site environment.
  1. Second, DfMA is safer for workers. The production of modules in a factory-like environment creates a safer, more pleasant work environment for our engineers and specialists.
  1. Third, it is more productive. Modules can be installed faster and with less manpower.

    a. For instance, Walraven and Winner Engineering, the contractors involved in the BCA Academy Phase 2 project, achieved manpower savings of about 65% by shifting from conventional methods to prefab MEP.


Driving Automation

  1. Hence, it is important that we continue our efforts to increase the productivity of DfMA technologies, such as prefab MEP.

    a. One area is in the adoption of robotics and automation in the production process.

    b. We want to encourage our DfMA production facilities, including prefab MEP factories, to automate their processes and reduce our reliance on lower-skilled labour.

  1. The Government will be enhancing our policies to support this.

    a. We recently announced that lower levies for off-site construction Work Permit Holders (WPHs) will apply to a wider range of DfMA facilities, as long as they adopt a higher level of automation.

    b. This applies to our prefab MEP factories.

  1. I thank STAS for working with BCA to facilitate this change by enhancing the Prefab MEP MAS to a two-tier framework.

    a. Factories that adopt a higher level of automation can achieve Prefab MEP MAS Tier 2, and enjoy the lower levies rates for off-site WPHs from 1 January 2024.


Driving Digitalisation

  1. Besides automation, we also need to push for greater digitalisation to reap the full benefits of DfMA technologies.
  1. I am happy to see that many firms have made good progress in their digitalisation journey.

    a. Tonight, we celebrate firms that have made remarkable strides in digitalisation with STAS’s new Prefab MEP Achievement Award.

    b. My heartiest of congratulations to all firms receiving this award. Your collective efforts have helped to raise the standards of the industry.

  1. Let me also acknowledge the efforts of the professionals that have driven digitalisation within their firms.

    a. One example is Ms Nicole Ang, an Innovation Lead at Active Fire Protection Systems Pte Ltd. She is a talented Singaporean who has played a key role in her firm’s digitalisation journey.

    b. I understand that she joined the construction industry during the pandemic, and that she has been responsible for implementing various digital solutions during the design and prefabrication of fire protection systems. Well done, Nicole!

  1. To our business leaders, I encourage all of you to plan ahead for the upcoming changes, and consider how to adopt greater automation and digitalisation in your production process.
  1. The Government will continue to partner our businesses on this journey.

    a. In addition to the revised levies, BCA’s Productivity Innovation Project (PIP) scheme helps firms adopt productive, labour-efficient technologies.  To date, 21 prefab MEP projects and facilities have benefited from the PIP.

  1. I encourage everyone to explore the various resources and schemes that BCA has made available to support our industry.


Developing our Workforce

  1. As the industry transforms, we need to ensure that our workforce has the necessary skills to support these changes.

    a. This starts from working with Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to provide our students with a relevant and rigorous education.

  1. Everyone here can play a part.

    a. Industry partners like yourselves are best placed to contribute domain expertise to our educators, so that they in turn can impart the necessary skills and knowledge to the next generation of our BE workforce.

  1. I am heartened to hear that STAS is taking the lead in these efforts. You are partnering the Singapore Polytechnic (SP) to set up the SP-STAS Learning Centre for Advance Manufacturing for Prefab MEP.

    a. The centre will help raise students’ interest in the industry, by allowing stakeholders to showcase best practices in digitalisation, and demonstrate how we can push the boundaries of traditional MEP production methods.

  1. It will also serve as a learning hub for students and our specialists.

    a. The centre will conduct Pre-employment Training (PET) programmes for SP’s engineering students; and Continuing Education and Training (CET) programmes for our specialists to further hone their skills.

  1. I encourage firms to participate actively in the programmes when the Learning Centre is launched next year.


Conclusion

  1. Let me conclude by thanking STAS once again for all your contributions and hard work over the years.

    a. The future of the prefab MEP industry remains bright, and I look forward to STAS’s continued partnership in transforming the industry.

  1. I wish you all a good evening ahead. Thank you.