The Singapore Engineer December 2019

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THE MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SINGAPORE

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER

www.ies.org.sg

December 2019 | MCI (P) 105/03/2019

COVER STORY: Automation solutions to drive industrial transformation

PLUS

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING: A*STAR launches industry ini a ve for hyper-personalised manufacturing PROJECT APPLICATION: Vietnamese company produces cars ahead of schedule CYBERSECURITY: The new norm - security predic ons for 2020



I BUILD ON EXPERIENCE I see the possibilities my career can bring. Because a career in the built environment is one that can create direct yet far-reaching impact. At BCA, my work on policy measures help to drive change in the built environment sector and make a positive difference. We constantly shape the landscape to prepare for the future of Singapore, rally the built environment sector to achieve farreaching goals beyond today, and improve the living environment for Singaporeans from all walks of life. Be part of this transformation, and join us for a fun and meaningful career. Find out more about our career opportunities at www.bca.gov.sg

Lim Yong Xian Senior Engineer


CONTENTS FEATURES COVER STORY

24 Automa on solu ons to drive industrial transforma on The benefits offered include higher produc vity and energy-efficiency as well as sustainability.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

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28 A*STAR launches industry ini a ve for hyperpersonalised manufacturing Next-genera on produc on and delivery line unveiled for the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

PROJECT APPLICATION 32 Vietnamese company produces cars ahead of schedule The deployment of integrated so ware and hardware has contributed to the successful results.

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President Prof Yeoh Lean Weng Chief Editor T Bhaskaran t_b_n8@yahoo.com

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Publica ons Manager Desmond Teo desmond@iesnet.org.sg Publica ons Execu ve Queek Jiayu jiayu@iesnet.org.sg

Editorial Panel Dr Chandra Segaran Prof Simon Yu Dr Ang Keng Been Dr Victor Sim Mr Syafiq Shahul Media Representa ve Mul Nine Corpora on Pte Ltd sales@mul 9.com.sg

Design & layout by 2EZ Asia Pte Ltd Cover designed by Irin Kuah Cover images by Delta Published by The Ins tu on of Engineers, Singapore 70 Bukit Tinggi Road, Singapore 289758 Tel: 6469 5000 I Fax: 6467 1108 Printed in Singapore


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PROJECT APPLICATION 33 Improving quality of parts and produc on efficiency in the aerospace sector The advanced features of plasma cu ng systems were successfully exploited.

CYBERSECURITY 34 Leading player opens global headquarters in Singapore The decision underscores the commitment to, and the importance of, the Asia Pacific region.

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36 The new norm - security predic ons for 2020 An analysis of the increasing cyber risks and sugges ons to address them, are presented.

REGULAR SECTIONS

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04 INDUSTRY NEWS 16 EVENTS 46 IES UPDATE

The Singapore Engineer is published monthly by The Ins tu on of Engineers, Singapore (IES). The publica on is distributed free-of-charge to IES members and affiliates. Views expressed in this publica on do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or IES. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine shall be reproduced, mechanically or electronically, without the prior consent of IES. Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the content at press me, IES will not be liable for any discrepancies. Unsolicited contribu ons are welcome but their inclusion in the magazine is at the discre on of the Editor.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

MICRON UNVEILS EXPANDED NAND FLASH MEMORY FABRICATION FACILITY IN SINGAPORE

Micron unveils expanded leading-edge NAND flash memory fabrica on facility in Singapore. At the grand opening ceremony are, from le to right, Ms Dee Mooney, Execu ve Director, Micron Founda on; Mr Manish Bha a, EVP Global Opera ons, Micron; Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Heng Swee Keat; Mr Sanjay Mehrotra, President and CEO, Micron; Dr Beh Swan Gin, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board; and Mr Chen Kok Sing, VP and Singapore Country Manager, Micron.

Micron Technology Inc, an industry leader in memory and storage solu ons, recently announced the expansion of its 3D NAND flash memory fabrica on opera ons in Singapore. The company hosted a grand opening ceremony to mark the comple on of this strategic achievement which will enable future manufacturing transi ons of Micron’s industry-leading 3D NAND wafer capacity. Five hundred customers, suppliers, distributors, university leaders, community partners, Micron team members and Singapore government officials a ended the ceremony to celebrate the opening of the expanded facility. The Guestof-Honour was Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Heng Swee Keat. Micron’s NAND Center of Excellence brings together func ons in technology development, product engineering, and quality and manufacturing, leveraging Micron’s long-term investment in infrastructure and technical exper se in Singapore. The expanded facility provides flexibility in cleanroom space to facilitate technology transi ons to advanced nodes of 3D NAND technology. Micron’s 3D NAND technology and storage solu ons are pivotal in suppor ng the company’s long-term growth, and they address customer needs in areas such as 5G, Ar ficial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Transporta on. Micron has stated that it will align spending on capital equipment with trends in market demand. Ini al manufacturing output was expected from the expanded fabrica on facility during the second half of 2019. The facility is not expected to add any new wafer capacity. Micron’s NAND Center of Excellence, which includes NAND 04

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flash memory opera ons in Singapore along with assembly and test opera ons in both Singapore and Malaysia, incorporates the latest smart manufacturing technology and processes to reduce manufacturing variability, increase yield and throughput, and improve quality. This cluster of technology and manufacturing capability has helped Micron to become a successful partner to many of the largest NAND flash customers in the industry, many of whom a ended the grand opening ceremony.

Building for the future Micron firmly believes in the importance of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educa on and ac vely promotes educa onal ac vi es through the Micron Founda on. The founda on recently helped fund an autonomous transporta on research project at the Na onal University of Singapore (NUS) Advanced Robo cs Centre, awarding NUS a grant of SGD 101,000 to inspire learning in the STEM fields. The Micron Founda on also provided SGD 50,000 for Nanyang Technological University’s Ins tute for Science and Technology for Humanity, which seeks to address cri cal issues confron ng society and humanity at large, in the era of rapid technological transforma on. In October 2018, the Micron Founda on launched the global Advancing Curiosity Fund, a USD 1 million grant helping universi es and non-profit organisa ons tackle some of AI’s greatest challenges. Singapore is Micron’s primary manufacturing loca on for leading-edge NAND technology nodes. This facility employs a diverse workforce of approximately 8,000 team members, including a strong pool of engineers, 30% of whom are women.



INDUSTRY NEWS

CAAS AND THALES ESTABLISH JOINT AVIATION INNOVATION RESEARCH LAB Mr Kevin Shum, Director-General, CAAS, said, “CAAS is constantly looking ahead and ensuring that we are futureready. The solu ons developed by the lab will enable CAAS to manage the increasingly complex ATM opera ons in one of the busiest and most complex airspaces in the world. By bringing together key stakeholders in the ATM ecosystem and providing access through an open pla orm, the AIR Lab will also play a key role in deepening Singapore’s exper se in ATM”. “The AIR Lab is the first-of-its-kind for Thales in Asia and will allow us to pioneer new technologies with CAAS in the digital avia on field. It serves as a great tool for Thales to tap on and develop exper se to Singapore’s ATM and ANSP ecosystem, while working in close partnership with CAAS and other complementary partners to build capabili es for the future”, said Mr Jean Ferré, VicePresident, Air Traffic Management, Thales. Mr Kevin Shum, Director-General, CAAS and Mr Jean Ferré, Vice President Air Traffic Management, Thales, at the signing ceremony.

The Civil Avia on Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Thales, a global technology leader, have announced the establishment of a SGD 30 million Joint Avia on Innova on Research (AIR) Lab in Singapore to drive innova on in new air traffic management (ATM) technologies. The agreement to establish the AIR Lab was signed between Mr Kevin Shum, Director-General, CAAS, and Mr Jean Ferré, Vice-President Air Traffic Management, Thales, on the sidelines of the Interna onal Civil Avia on Organiza on (ICAO) Innova on Fair in Montreal. The AIR Lab will focus on the development of an Open ATM System architecture minimum viable product as its immediate priority. This project will be a key enabler for CAAS’s next-genera on ATM system. Through the AIR Lab, Thales will be increasing its level of investments into ATM-related research in Singapore by bringing in domain experts and hiring so ware engineers, system engineers and integrators. Supported by the Avia on Transforma on Programme (ATP), which seeks to develop innova ve ATM solu ons for Singapore, the AIR Lab will also provide a pla orm for mul ple stakeholders, including Singapore enterprises with complementary capabili es, to collaborate on these new technologies and develop corresponding prototypes. The AIR Lab builds on the deep partnership and collabora on between CAAS and Thales. In February 2018, the two organisa ons signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on developing new Concepts of Opera ons for ATM as well as the next genera on of digital ATM technologies. In March this year, a follow-up agreement was signed at the World ATM Congress in Madrid to conduct research and development for an Open ATM System architecture. 06

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The AIR Lab is expected to be launched in early 2020 and established for an ini al period of three years. The AIR Lab will be co-located with the Thales Digital Factory in Singapore to draw synergies between the two facili es.

Deployment of space-based very high frequency voice communica ons The Civil Avia on Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and SITAONAIR have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the deployment of space-based Very High Frequency (VHF) voice communica ons for air traffic management (ATM) in the Singapore Flight Informa on Region. The agreement was signed by Mr Kevin Shum, Director-General, CAAS, and Mr David Lavorel, Chief Execu ve Officer, SITAONAIR, on 26 September 2019, on the sidelines of the 40th Session of the Interna onal Civil Avia on Organiza on (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal, Canada. As part of this MoU, SITAONAIR, one of the primary Digital Service Providers (DSP) providing Aircra Communica ons Addressing and Repor ng System (ACARS) services (digital datalink services) for transmission of short messages between aircra and ground sta on via satellites, will contribute to various studies focusing on dual voice and data capability. SITAONAIR will also engage the industry to explore the implementa on of unmanned aerial pla orms which would hover around 60,000 above the earth’s surface, in the stratosphere. This solu on could poten ally be an alterna ve to a space-based approach to serve hightraffic routes and regions.


INDUSTRY NEWS

NEW DATA WORLD RECORD

AT DE CIX IN FRANKFURT On a Thursday night in late September 2019, the data traffic at DE-CIX (German Commercial Internet Exchange) in Frankfurt, Germany set a new world record, at more than 7.1 Terabits per second. The largest amount of data exchanged at DE-CIX at peak mes previously had been 6.8 Terabits per second. It was only in December 2017 that the barrier of 6 Terabits per second was broken. “The data throughput at DE-CIX in Frankfurt has far more than doubled since 2014, and will con nue to develop fast in the future. In the last year, the connected capacity alone increased by more than 35% to more than 45 Terabits compared to 2017. The con nuously growing number of connected devices and technologies, and increasing digitalisa on act as further growth drivers”, says Harald A Summa, CEO, DE-CIX.

Generally, the data traffic at Internet Exchanges moves in waves and reflects the daily rhythm of Internet usage, beginning at 6 am and reaching its peak at around 9 pm in the evening. Seasonal changes can also be registered. DE-CIX is a worldwide leading operator of Internet Exchanges. Established in 1995, DE-CIX manages 18 Internet Exchanges globally, with loca ons in Europe, India, the Middle East, and the US. At the individual loca ons, Internet service providers, network operators, content delivery networks, and enterprises exchange data traffic on a cost-neutral basis through so-called ‘peering’, so that the data packets get to the recipient via the fastest and most inexpensive path.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

INFINEON SIGNS MOUS

TO ACCELERATE INNOVATION IN SINGAPORE Infineon Technologies signed three separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to boost innova on in Singapore, at the company’s OktoberTech Asia Pacific 2019 event, held in late October. As a result of the MoU signed by Infineon with ST Engineering Land Systems and Xnergy, ST Engineering’s Land Systems arm will collaborate with Xnergy, a wireless charging partner, to incorporate wireless charging to the next genera on of Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR), allowing it to operate within a clean room environment at Infineon’s Smart Factory. The first trial will take place in early 2020, allowing ST Engineering to apply its robo cs system exper se in an advanced manufacturing se ng. Infineon signed an MoU with Avnet Asia to offer startups and incubators from technology-related sectors in Southeast Asia the opportunity to accelerate development and growth.

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The MoU between Infineon and Singapore Polytechnic seeks to accelerate ideas for prototyping solu ons focusing on IoT and robo cs applica ons, through the se ng up of the Singapore Polytechnic-Infineon Innova on Centre. The innova on centre will enable students to conceptualise microelectronics solu ons for their problem statements within a short me.

At the signing of the MoU between Infineon and Avnet are, in the back row, from le to right, Dr Reinhard Ploss, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Mr Chua Chee Seong and Dr Ulrich Sante, and in the front row, from le to right, Mr Lim King Soon, Vice President, Distribu on Management, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific and Ms Tan Aik Hoon, Regional President, South Asia, Korea and Avnet United.

Infineon signed an MoU with ST Engineering Land Systems and Xnergy. At the signing are, in the back row, from le to right, Dr Reinhard Ploss, Chief Execu ve, Infineon Technologies; Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister, Singapore; Mr Chua Chee Seong, President and Managing Director, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific; Dr Ulrich Sante, German Ambassador to Singapore; and Dr Lee Shiang Long, President, ST Engineering Land Systems; and in the front row, from le to right, Dr C F Tong, Founder and CEO, Xnergy; Ms Amy Ng, Deputy Head, Global Robo cs, ST Engineering; and Dr Laurent Filipozzi, Vice President and Site Head, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific.

At the signing of the MoU between Infineon and Singapore Polytechnic are, in the back row, from le to right, Dr Reinhard Ploss, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Mr Chua Chee Seong and Dr Ulrich Sante, and in the front row, from le to right, Mr Loh Yew Chiong, Senior Director, Engineering Cluster, Singapore Polytechnic and Mr Francis Foo, Vice President, Power Management & Mul market, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

INFINEON CONTINUES ASSISTANCE TO STARTUPS AND INNOVATORS IN SINGAPORE At the annual OktoberTech Asia Pacific 2019, held in late October, Infineon Technologies welcomed new startups to its Co-Innova on Space, as members of the inaugural batch of startups departed with their commercially-ready solu ons built with Infineon’s microelectronics.

autonomous and electrified mobility, and smart home and personal devices.

Two members of the 2018 intake, Plunify and Shado, will con nue their solu on development at the facility.

“The outcome of the Co-Innova on Space has exceeded our expecta ons. Smart and secure innova ons for industrial, infrastructure and mobility applica ons, created in Singapore for the world, are now ready for the commercial showcase. Addi onally, the synergy with the startups has helped to fan the spirit of innova on among our team and our eco-system of partners. We look forward to inven ng the future together with the new group of innovators to create products that make life easier, safer and greener for everyone”, said Mr Chua Chee Seong, President and Managing Director, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific.

Two members le the Co-Innova on Space - Ampotech, with its smart energy monitoring solu ons, and Xnergy, with its next-genera on wireless power transfer and charging technologies for autonomous devices.

Launched in 2018, the 260 m2 Co-Innova on Space at Infineon’s Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore is the first-of-its-kind for the company and the semiconductor industry.

The startups showcased their innova ons at OktoberTech which brought together more than 300 innovators, businesses, academics, investors, and policy-makers from around the world.

It is a year-long commitment backed by technologies, exper se and guidance from Infineon in Singapore and around the world.

Infineon Technologies AG is a world leader in semiconductor solu ons that make life easier, safer and greener. Three new startups, BAWA Cane, Spectronik and XaLogic, will be developing solu ons for the visually impaired, clean mobility, and machine learning, respec vely, in the next 12 months at Infineon Co-Innova on Space.

Themed ‘Inven ng the future together’, the one-day symposium covered applica ons such as smart city infrastructure, Industry 4.0-enabling technologies,

Par cipants have access to Infineon’s research and development and manufacturing facili es, and connec ons to major Infineon partners and customers in the region.

School uses SPEDAS to improve sports performance Global Indian Interna onal School (GIIS), an interna onal educa onal ins tu on, is said to be the first educa onal ins tu on in Singapore to use a Sports Performance Enhancing Data Analy cs System (SPEDAS) as part of its efforts to tailor learning and personal development for individual students. SPEDAS is currently available at its flagship SMART Campus in Singapore and is being used in soccer and basketball. The school plans to incorporate the sports analy cs technology in other sports in its other campuses around the world. Mr Atul Temurnikar, Co-Founder & Chairman of GIIS, said: “GIIS strongly believes in providing a welldesigned learning experience for each student and SPEDAS allows us to offer an NBA level coaching system for students to realise their poten al. With SPEDAS we can course-correct our students who want to excel in sports, using real- me data and predic ve analy cs. It complements other data-analy cs models, like 7S, that are being used at GIIS to measure and improve students’ academic performance”.

GIIS focuses on individuality, leadership and experimenta on amongst students. The 9GEMSTM Model promotes value-based learning beyond academics through a holis c development framework which emphasises academic and sports excellence, an interest in visual and performing arts, personality development, innova on and crea vity, entrepreneurship, leadership, universal values and ethics, community and care, and overall skills development amongst all students. The SMART Campus leverages proprietary data analy cs so ware to improve learning and teaching outcomes across the school’s infrastructure. Other than SPEDAS, 7S Analysis is used to provide detailed and con nuous assessment of academic performance. This allows teachers to iden fy a student’s individual strengths and weaknesses, providing mely support when it is needed to drive success and bring consistency to a student’s performance across classes.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

SSIA SUMMIT 2019 HIGHLIGHTS TRANSFORMATION OF THE MOBILITY SECTOR

The Singapore Semiconductor Industry Associa on Summit 2019 addressed the theme ‘Embracing the Mobility Transforma on’.

At the Semiconductor Dinner, SSIA signed an MoU with NTUC LearningHub to collaborate on ini a ves to upskill and upgrade the workforce.

The Singapore Semiconductor Industry Associa on Summit and Semiconductor Dinner 2019, organised by Singapore Semiconductor Industry Associa on (SSIA) were held on 10 October 2019. The summit addressed the theme ‘Embracing the Mobility Transforma on’, while this year’s gala dinner had the theme ‘Fostering Talents for Tomorrow’.

economic challenges. At the dinner, SSIA also signed an MoU with NTUC LearningHub to collaborate on ini a ves to upskill and upgrade the workforce for future industry needs.

At the SSIA Summit 2019, nine speakers from different companies and agencies, including Na onal Research Founda on, Micron, Infineon Technologies, Soitec, Xilinx, A*STAR’s Ins tute of Microelectronics, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Na onal Instruments, and Ins tute of Materials Research and Engineering, shared insights on the trends in the area of mobility and the paradigm shi in the quality mindset required for the transforma on of the mobility business. There was also a panel discussion on ‘Technologies that will shape the future of mobility’, where representa ves from SSIA, CapitaLand, Asia Mobility Industries, TPG Telecom Pte Ltd and Soitec discussed how different technologies like Ar ficial Intelligence (AI) and 5G will enable fully autonomous vehicles in Singapore and the region. Over 450 delegates from over 70 companies a ended the annual flagship SSIA Summit and Dinner. Mr Ang Wee Seng, Execu ve Director, SSIA, said, in his opening speech, “Ge ng into the automo ve semiconductor business is not as easy as one might imagine. Zero Defects and the comprehensive automo ve quality control cannot be achieved by simply se ng up a system or solu on in the company. It can only be achieved by a paradigm shi in the quality mindset and needs to be built into the core values of the business, and starts with the company’s leadership”. The event ended with the Semiconductor Dinner which was graced by Mr Damian Chan, Assistant Managing Director of EDB, as the Guest-of-Honour. The theme for this year’s dinner, ‘Fostering Talents for Tomorrow’, reinforces the importance of talent development amidst different 10

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SSIA has been working closely with different agencies such as WSG and e2i to help companies in talent recruitment, development and reten on. Mr Andrew Chong, Chairman of SSIA, said, in his speech at the dinner, “Having the right business strategy or investment cannot make a business successful without the right people to execute it. It is now a challenging me for the industry, but it is also the right me to invest in our workforce and keep our talents”. The semiconductor industry has contributed 7.8% of Singapore’s GDP and supported 35% of the manufacturing workforce. Despite the industry facing a slowdown, made worse by prolonged trade tensions between the US and China, the automotive semiconductor market is going to be a key driver for the semiconductor industry. It is expected to expand from USD 37.4 billion (SGD 51.5 billion) in 2017 to over USD 58.5 billion in 2023. This growth will be fuelled by advancements in technologies such as 5G, AI, electric vehicles and automobiles.

Singapore Semiconductor Industry Associa on Singapore Semiconductor Industry Associa on (SSIA) has more than 160 members today including companies and organisa ons throughout all parts of the complex and comprehensive value chain - IC design companies, manufacturers, fabless companies, equipment suppliers, photovoltaic companies, EDA and material suppliers, training and service providers, IP companies, research ins tutes and academia, as well as individual members. Since 2013, the SME membership has grown exponenally and SMEs now account for close to half of SSIA’s membership. More informa on on SSIA can be obtained from h ps://ssia.org.sg/.


INDUSTRY NEWS

STRONGER ADVANCED MANUFACTURING ECOSYSTEM

IN JURONG INNOVATION DISTRICT Jurong Innova on District (JID) is fast gaining trac on as a one-stop advanced manufacturing campus, clustering researchers, technology and training providers, and Factories of the Future. Industry 4.0 champions such as Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR) Singapore Ins tute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) and Na onal Metrology Centre (NMC), Bosch Rexroth, ISDN, Flowserve and Siemens are se ng up their facili es in JID, joining A*STAR’s Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC), McKinsey Digital Capability Centre, PBA Group, Sodick Singapore Techno Centre and Shimano. Advanced manufacturers in JID can leverage on the growing ecosystem of R&D, training and capability development, and technology exper se to collaborate and grow together. For example, Siemens will set up its first-of-its-kind Advanced Manufacturing Transforma on Centre (AMTC) to support the digitalisa on and transforma on of manufacturing facili es in ASEAN. The AMTC will showcase state-of-the-art Siemens digital enterprise solu ons, such as tools to create digital twin facility models to simulate and evaluate its opera ons in a real manufacturing environment. AMTC will also house Siemens’ first Addi ve Manufacturing Experience Centre (AMEC) outside Germany. Mr Ng Lang, CEO, JTC, said, “The advanced manufacturing ecosystem in JID is shaping up very well. We are happy to see a campus with a growing ecosystem of researchers, technology and training providers to support the adop on of advanced manufacturing solu ons in Singapore. The campus will not only benefit Singapore’s industries, but has the poten al to serve the region at a me when technology is transforming the manufacturing sector. We hope the JID community can grow collec vely to become leaders in advanced manufacturing”. Mr Raimund Klein, Head of Siemens Digital Industries ASEAN, said, “JID presents itself as an a rac ve loca on for the setup of Siemens’ first Addi ve Manufacturing Experience Centre (AMEC) outside of Germany. The anchoring of players in a common space will allow us to be er support manufacturing facili es on their journey of adop on, transi on and transforma on towards advanced manufacturing”. The Bosch Rexroth Regional Training Centre in JID will administer a standardised training programme following the AHK (German Chamber of Industry and Commerce) framework, to expose manufacturers to the applica on of Industry 4.0 technologies and prac ces. Bosch Rexroth will also collaborate with companies to testbed Industry 4.0 projects at the centre. Mr Roland Keller, Director of Bosch Rexroth and Regional President of Bosch Rexroth ASEAN and Oceania,

said, “Advanced manufacturing demands skills that are complex and cross-func onal. It requires an employee to not only understand and integrate processes, machines and technology at the factory shop floor, but also convert generated data into enterprise-level informa on for decision-makers to make informed decisions. By loca ng in JID where the latest advanced manufacturing ac vi es are taking place, we hope to contribute our engineering exper se to meet this changing demand in the manufacturing workforce”. JID targets 40% green coverage with parks, lush greenery and biodiversity for the community, while an 11 km car-free sky corridor, with dedicated lanes for pedestrians, cyclists and autonomous shu les, aims to support a car-lite environment. Its underground logis cs network - the first in Singapore - will reduce traffic conges on by moving heavy vehicles underground. The District Cooling System and Estate Opera ons Centre will monitor and minimise energy consump on across the en re district. The 600-hectare industrial district strategically located along Singapore’s western manufacturing belt is expected to create over 95,000 new jobs.

Suppor ng manufacturers in business transforma on Manufacturers, especially SMEs, looking for support in their business transforma on can now look forward to working with JTC’s expanded network of Industry 4.0 partners. Joining the network of partners recently are Singapore Precision Engineering & Technology Associa on (SPETA) and its consor ums (SiTA, iSMART and iSAMS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR) Singapore Ins tute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), Bosch Rexroth, Delta Electronics, Emerson, ISDN, Konica Minolta, McKinsey, Siemens and Sodick Singapore Techno Centre. Under the expanded partnership, manufacturers can gain access to Smart Factories to see the applica on of Industry 4.0 solu ons in real produc on se ngs. They can also a end workshops and seminars to learn from their peers who have successfully adopted Industry 4.0 technologies. JTC’s network of partners covers areas such as consultancy and advisory services, technology solu ons, and training and capability development. Earlier this year, JTC announced its collabora ons with Ins tutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to equip the future workforce with Industry 4.0 skills and competency through industry internships and projects. Over 200 NTU undergraduates and 400 Singapore Polytechnic students are expected to benefit from the partnership over the next few years.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

RICOH SINGAPORE LAUNCHES WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE Ricoh Singapore Pte Ltd recently opened the doors to its new facility, equipped with its proprietary nextgenera on collabora on and produc vity solu ons. The completely transformed office, located at Mapletree Business City, is a live working office environment showcasing Ricoh’s new value proposi on - Digital Workplace Services. This includes digital workplace consulta on, planning and implementa on, via a seamless integra on of people, space and technology. Digital Workplace Services embraces the design and crea on of workplaces to help businesses reap the benefits of workstyle innova on, leveraging digital technology solu on designs along with the comprehensive change management ini a ves needed to ensure success. The immediate benefits of the new approach include the easy sharing of information from the cloud with new intelligent multifunction devices, automated business processes, a meeting room solution to improve room usage efficiency and unified communications systems equipped with interactive whiteboards that improve communication, collaboration and connectivity. “This is the latest phase of our long-term strategy to transform Ricoh workplaces across the region, in order to meet the new challenges of today’s digital world. Ricoh’s Digital Workplace Services are our response to these challenges, mee ng the expecta ons of talent from the digital na ve genera on, and deploying our latest innova ve technologies that will boost produc vity and collabora on, improve staff engagement and empower staff to work smarter”, said Mr Kazuhisa Goto, Managing Director, Ricoh Asia Pacific. “I am extremely pleased to be part of this evolu on. Ricoh’s Digital Workplace Services brings together vital elements of design and technology to make the workplace a healthy, produc ve and enjoyable environment for all employees”, he added. “It took about six months for the whole transforma on journey, from conceptualisa on to frui on, incorpora ng our new workstyle and the implementa on of new digital solu ons and new technologies. Our goal is to create a more technologically empowered and spaceefficient workplace to enhance our employees’ efficiency, produc vity, collabora on and, most importantly, engagements with our customers”, said Mr Ben Chong, Managing Director, Ricoh Singapore. The new office provides a live demonstra on of the new value proposi on Ricoh is offering to its customers. By adop ng a new digital workplace and a new workstyle, 12

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Mr Kazuhisa Goto, Managing Director, Ricoh Asia Pacific (le ) and Mr Ben Chong, Managing Director, Ricoh Singapore (right) at the grand opening of the Ricoh Digital Workplace.

The Ricoh Digital Workplace is equipped with smart technologies.

Ricoh is able to provide a pla orm to help its customers in their own office transforma on to meet their business objec ves, and to prepare their office for workforces of the future. The transforma on of Ricoh Singapore’s office is already mee ng project objec ves. As a result of the transforma on, the company has seen 25% overall space saving, while providing three mes more common space to all staff. The Ricoh Digital Workplace transforma on has helped to reduce the office cost by 10%, despite the new investments that have been made in the latest digital technology. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the Ricoh Group operates in approximately 200 countries and regions. For more than 80 years, Ricoh has been driving innova on and is a leading provider of document management solu ons, IT services, communica ons services, commercial and industrial prin ng, digital cameras, and industrial systems.


INDUSTRY NEWS

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS EXPONENTIALLY ACCELERATING ORGANISATIONAL INNOVATION At a media briefing hosted during its annual customer conference in Singapore, in September 2019, AVEVA, a global leader in engineering and industrial software, revealed customer validation of business advantage for industrial and capital intensive organisations who leverage digital transformation projects.

tion programme, as cheap access to cloud computing, great connectivity, a merged edge and enterprise combined with analytics and machine learning, mean that the ability to digitally drive productivity improvements into the industrial world is now unprecedented”, commented Craig Hayman, CEO of AVEVA.

While finance, insurance, health and retail sectors have rapidly harnessed the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data to meet the changing needs of their customers, the industrial world has been slower in adopting new technologies.

“Leaders driving the next wave of transformation know they must move quickly. AVEVA works as a partner to accelerate organisations on their digital journey, helping them accelerate the use of digital technology, realise the value of a digital twin and build a digital team”, he added.

Recent research, conducted by ARC Advisory Group (ARC), of 157 process manufacturers found that there were still barriers in organisational accountability, culture and employee change management, that impeded transformation. ARC Advisory Group is a leading technology research and advisory firm for industry, infrastructure, and cities. Moderating the session, Craig Resnick, Vice President at ARC Advisory Group, said, “Despite the transformational road not being a straight path, digital transformation is a key driver of change that opens new opportunities for companies to grow and create value. The key to successful digitalisation is an agile, digital-savvy leadership that sets forth a strategic vision for organisations, and effectively infuses a digital mindset across the entire workforce”. During the media session, AVEVA’s CEO, Craig Hayman, alongside senior executives from Worley, a leading provider of projects and expertise in engineering, procurement and construction, as well as the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Nestle Worldwide, stressed that it was time for the industrial sector to embrace innovative technology to drive positive business outcomes in order to realise greater productivity, and optimise energy consumption and the return on investment.

Time to break down barriers to adoption According to research conducted by ARC, although more than 80% of industrial process manufacturers are piloting advanced technology, only 5% to 8% of them are ready for digital transformation today. The main barriers to adoption, according to ARC, are organisational makeup and scalability of use cases and users while the biggest driver of digital transformation in the industrial sector is the need to address the business consequences of unplanned downtime. “It has never been easier to begin a digital transforma-

Benefits of digital transformation for the industrial sector The benefits of digital transformation in the industrial sector are many. Improved asset health will result in a reduction in unplanned downtime and better asset performance, while incident prediction capabilities have the power to lower operational risk and protect worker safety. Furthermore, cognitive learning can deliver digitised intelligence resulting in knowledge and experience being freely available throughout the organisation. At the conference, Craig Hayman also outlined three key steps to accelerating the organisational digital transformational journey. Firstly, he urged organisations to ‘snap in’ a unified operating centre to visualise the industrial data they already had. Secondly, organisations need to use data to free up the OPEX or operating budget, build a knowledge graph about an asset as well as utilise machine learning and Artificial Intelligence to predict when it will fail before it fails. This process called Asset Performance Management or APM, is a hot area that has moved very quickly with a lot of innovation. Finally, organisations should use their data to remove risk, bringing simulation into engineering design and using the cloud to eliminate legacy workflows. “Over time, these three steps combine into an endto-end digital twin that spans from an organisation’s original engineering data through to operational performance and maintenance work. By leveraging the integrated data and analytical capabilities of the individual digital twin, companies can embark on true digitalisation to optimise their asset’s lifecycle. This process begins with the initial capital investments right through to the operating phase of a modern plant, refinery, or smart city”, said Craig Hayman. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

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INDUSTRY NEWS

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION LAUNCHES DIGITAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM Rockwell Automa on Inc, a global leader in industrial automa on and digital transforma on, unveiled its Digital Partner Program to delegates at Automa on Fair 2019, hosted jointly with members of its PartnerNetwork, on 19 and 20 November 2019, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The Partner Program will streamline Rockwell Automa on’s customer offering, eleva ng its digital exper se and transforma on capabili es. The new programme is strengthened by collabora ons with new partners announced at Automa on Fair, including Accenture, ANSYS and EPLAN, as well as enhancing the exis ng strategic alliances with Microso , and PTC. The collabora ve approach of the Digital Partner Program enables clients to more effec vely leverage the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and drive measurable growth outcomes for their businesses. Through the programme, businesses can consult with industry advisors to create roadmaps for their digital initiatives and learn how industrial IoT concepts like the digital twin, the factory of the future and a connected workforce can improve their uptime and efficiency.

Joe Sousa, President, Asia Pacific, Rockwell Automa on, said, “Expanding human possibility is the driving force of Rockwell Automa on, and that is reflected in the investments we make and the partners we collaborate with. We have unrivalled rela onships with our partners and are always exploring opportuni es to expand our work together, as well as add new partners to our ecosystem. Unlocking poten al and produc vity through automated and connected innova on is what we do, but by combining the technology and exper se of mul ple stakeholders, we can accelerate this process for our customers. “Par cularly in a region as diverse as Asia Pacific, our partners are integral to our ability to create the most efficient and produc ve solu ons for our customers. While we have partnered with MESTECH for a long me, our recent acquisi on of the business further expands our capabili es. We have ambi ous plans for 2020 in Asia Pacific and the acquisi on of MESTECH brings new exper se to the table, reaching even more customers and bringing solu ons to life even faster”, he added. The Digital Partner Program is part of the Rockwell Automa on PartnerNetwork programme.

During implementa on, businesses will have access to integrated hardware, so ware and turnkey systems from industry leaders, that improve business performance leveraging their exis ng assets. “Seamlessly connec ng all levels of a business and turning raw data into powerful insights happen when devices are integrated and data is standardised”, said Blake Moret, CEO and Chairman of Rockwell Automa on. “No one vendor can do this alone. Instead, companies need an ecosystem of proven partners with the right mix of exper se and technologies to expand what is humanly possible. We are proud to expand our work with exis ng strategic alliance partners like Microso and PTC, and add new partners like Accenture, ANSYS, and EPLAN in this effort”, he added. The event also celebrated record-breaking a endance from industry stakeholders, coming together to collaborate, network and learn about the latest innova ons in industry automa on. Over the two-day event, over 19,000 makers, builders and innovators came together from across the globe to hear about the latest technological developments and discuss industry trends impac ng today’s manufacturing climate such as digi sa on, cybersecurity, the skills gap, and STEM. In addi on, to launching the Digital Partner Program, Rockwell Automa on reflected on a string of recent announcements, including the acquisi on of Indian integrator, MESTECH. 14

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

Automa on Fair 2019, hosted by Rockwell Automa on jointly with members of its PartnerNetwork, a racted over 19,000 a endees who came together, over the two days, to collaborate, network and learn about the latest innova ons in industry automa on.


INDUSTRY NEWS

HIMA PRESENTS SOLUTION

FOR RELIABLE REMOTE MAINTENANCE HIMA, together with its strategic partner, genua GmbH, a specialist in IT security, are presen ng a solu on for remote maintenance in the industrial environment. This remote maintenance solu on fulfils the high standards for safety and security, without any restric ons on scalability. “When it comes to the question of remote maintenance, a lot of companies still face a tough choice. On the one hand, they can see the potential of substantial cost advantages if remote maintenance of process systems is carried out via public networks. On the other hand, though, there are substantial security risks to be reckoned with as well. If a company has not established effective protection mechanisms, it only takes one weak spot to jeopardise the entire production process”, said Heiko Schween, Head of Automation Security, HIMA.

There are no restrictions on the secure integration of automation solutions from third-party suppliers. And that means users do not encounter any limitations due to a proprietary solution. A central management system means that HIMA remote maintenance is easily scalable for large environments, too. From the single solution, via the complete solution, and on to the incorporation of an individual critical system, all the requirements can be fulfilled, on the foundation of high availability.

High demands on a secure remote maintenance solu on If safety and security are put at risk, this can result in financial loss due to interrup ons in produc on. In the worst case scenario, this can even lead to far-reaching damage to personnel and to the environment. All this means it is essen al to weigh the benefits against the risks. The German Federal Office for Informa on Security (BSI), in its recommenda ons regarding cybersecurity (BSI-CS 108 | Version 2.0 | 07.2018), provides an overview of the general requirements for remote maintenance in industrial environments.

The new HIMA solu on fulfils all requirements for secure remote maintenance in the industrial environment and conforms to the recommenda ons of the German Federal Office for Informa on Security.

Secure protocols and top quality encoding The HIMA remote maintenance solu on makes use of secure protocols such as SSH, IPsec and SSL / TLS. With a symmetrical encoding process such as AES256, for example, top quality encoding comes into use as well. In addi on to the password, authen ca on of a user can also be established by a unique iden fier word generated with a Yubikey token in combina on with RSA encoding.

All from one source and fully scalable This means that existing HIMA clients and new customers alike can easily implement a secure remote maintenance system which conforms to BSI requirements - with hardware, software, and support, all from one source. Complexity is perceptibly reduced. Investment security is assured by way of optionally extendible and complete IPv6 support and ongoing product upkeep. “This means that HIMA have a complete unitary solu on to offer, which meets BSI requirements regarding safety and security”, said Heiko Schween.

With the Rendezvous Server, a dedicated server is installed as the central remote maintenance gateway in a predetermined demilitarised zone (DMZ). This solu on means that there can be no authorisa on for unilateral interven ons by the remote maintenance service to client networks. Users thus retain full control of maintenance accesses to the networks.

Images by HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

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EVENTS

DRIVING SUCCESS STORIES WITH INDUSTRY 4.0 ACTION INSIGHTS

Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 - a HANNOVER MESSE event featured the displays of 350 exhibitors from 30 countries and a racted over 18,000 industry visitors from 77 countries.

The second edi on of Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 - a HANNOVER MESSE event, held from 22 to 24 October 2019, at the Singapore EXPO & MAX Atria, attracted over 18,000 industry prac oners from 77 countries, 27% of whom were C-Level a endees. The number of visitors represents a 20% increase from last year. A total of 350 exhibitors from 30 countries presented their products and solu ons at the event, which represents an increase of 32% from last year. Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 also played host to eight na onal pavilions - a 60% increase from 2018. With 13 landmark MoUs signed, Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 proved to be Asia Pacific’s pre-eminent pla orm once again, bringing thought-leaders, industry partners and policy makers together to generate ideas - enabling a growing ecosystem of Industry 4.0 (i4.0) prac oners to overcome challenges and future-proof their businesses. Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 - a HANNOVER MESSE event was organised by SingEx Exhibi ons and interna onal partner, Deutsche Messe.

A showcase of ac onable i4.0 solu ons One hundred more exhibitors were featured this year taking the total to 350 exhibitors across five exhibi on segments - Addi ve Manufacturing, Digital Factory, 16

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

A demonstra on at the Robo cs Experimental Zone.

Integrated Energy, Industrial Automa on, and Smart Logis cs. Integrated Energy, a new segment, featured 18 exhibitors who showcased innova ve sustainable soluons to improve energy efficiency in factories. Sunil Wahi, Senior Sales Director, Head of Supply Chain Applica ons, Asia Pacific, Oracle, said, “The exchange and dialogue that Oracle have had with the ecosystem at this event have been phenomenal. Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 has allowed us to have meaningful conversa ons with CXOs on where to start on their i4.0 journey and how they could leverage the cloud applica ons that Oracle has to offer”.


EVENTS

Cra Health, a startup using 3D prin ng technology to simplify the way people take their medica on, was one of the companies showcased as part of The Na onal Addi ve Manufacturing Innova on Cluster (NAMIC), led by NTUi ve. Co-Founder and CEO, Goh Wei Jiang, said, “Many startups and SMEs tend to work in silos, so having an annual pla orm like Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC allows everyone from different industries to discover a diverse range of digital automa on ideas. Some may be relevant to us now, some later, and some will be in adjacent fields for us to consider. From that perspec ve, being at the event has been valuable for us in terms of exposure”.

Fuelling high-level interna onal engagements There were more interna onal representa ons this year with 3,255 unique foreign a endees (represen ng 18% of the total number of a endees in 2019 and a 67% increase from last year), 200 hosted buyers from the region (a 67% increase from last year), 47 regional delega ons and eight na onal pavillions. The Russian Federa on presented an impressive pavillion, showcasing i4.0 solu ons from 70 high-tech companies and electronic products across several sectors - Industrial Automa on, Digital Factory, Medical Technologies, Integrated Energy, Aerospace, Ar ficial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Electronics. The displays were complemented by close to 700 mee ngs with poten al partners from Asia Pacific. Vladimir Dozhdev, Head of Digital Technologies Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federa on said, “Singapore is definitely one of the global technological leaders and represents a good example for i4.0, Smart Ci es, Digitalisa on of Public Administra on etc. We strongly believe that Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 has provided a great impetus to establishing business contacts and coopera on between Russia and countries in Asia Pacific. We intend to maintain and fully develop the agreements made at this show”.

A learning journey with customisable i4.0 solu ons This year saw 2,700 guided tour par cipants (a 29% increase from last year) who ac vely learnt more about old

The Russian Federa on presented an impressive pavillion, showcasing i4.0 solu ons from 70 high-tech companies and electronic products across several sectors.

versus new technologies. The show’s signature Learning Journey approach included the highly an cipated new space, Collabora on Lab, a co-crea on and demonstraon area for solu on providers and manufacturers to discuss test-bedding and retrofi ng solu ons for a stepped approach towards progressive adop on of i4.0 solu ons. Together with other curated pla orms that enhanced the intersec on of industries to exchange and explore new ideas, the show facilitated 1,100 business matchings (a 41% increase from last year) and saw the launch of 30 new products and the signing of 13 MoUs between industry players. Naguib Mohd Nor, President, Malaysia Aerospace Industry Associa on said, “I represent 85 member companies which include large and small businesses. This year, the quality of content was very comprehensive, covering a very broad scope of new technologies and how they are being implemented across industries like aerospace”. He added, “I would like to congratulate SingEx because this show needs very good content which was evident in terms of the exhibitor mix, the speakers and current topics addressed at the sandboxes, conferences and workshops. In order for delegates like me to start implemen ng i4.0 solu ons across industries, it is important to provide a complete learning journey with opportuni es for collabora on and exchanging of ideas. Of all the shows I have been to, this is one of the best curated shows. Dr Danilo Lachica, President, Semiconductor & Electronics Industries in the Philippines said, “I was at Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 as a buyer represen ng 350 member companies. i4.0 is already here. We need to adopt automa on but, more importantly, also understand that we need to adapt - not just to technology changes but also to the training and change management that comes with i4.0. This show has enabled me to share my experience, benchmark the best prac ces and establish mutually symbio c rela onships with a broad range of interna onal exhibitors. I look forward to next year’s show”.

The organisers The organisers of Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC - a HANNOVER MESSE event won the ‘Best Exhibi on Organiser’ award at the 2018 edi on of the Singapore Tourism Awards. James Boey, Execu ve Director, SingEx Exhibi ons said, “We set out last year to curate a pla orm that would inspire learning, deepen understanding of i4.0 solu ons and spark collabora ons among industry giants, SMEs and startups. This year, with the introduc on of new content and more opportuni es for business matching and collabora ons, the event exceeded our expecta ons. With 67% more regional delega ons, 13 MoUs sealed and 30 new product launches, it is evident that Asia Pacific is already undergoing change, and Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC is central to this transforma on where prac oners gain knowledge, make valuable connec ons and adopt best prac ces for be er implementa on of i4.0 solu ons. The strong a endance of ASEAN delega ons from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

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At the event, 13 landmark MoUs were signed.

and the Philippines was testament to the significance of the show in mee ng current market demands”. He con nued, “We are grateful for the support from the Steering Commi ee - the Economic Development Board of Singapore, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Enterprise Singapore, JTC Corpora on, SkillsFuture SG and the Singapore Tourism Board, and dis nguished members of the Interna onal Advisory Committee, the Singapore Manufacturer’s Federa on and the Na onal Addi ve Manufacturing Innova on Cluster. We look forward to deeper engagements with our stakeholders for the third edi on of the show, and we will con nue to deliver even be er content and solu ons that address industry-specific needs and enable our a endees to be future ready and future smart”.

Na onal Addi ve Manufacturing Innova on Cluster (NAMIC) and Siemens

SingEx Exhibi ons owns, develops and manages a series of new-to-market trade exhibi ons and conferences in Singapore and key emerging markets. The events span across various industries.

OPC Hub ASEAN and Singapore Polytechnic

Deutsche Messe, based in Hannover, Germany, stages an array of events at venues in Germany and around the globe. The company’s por olio includes HANNOVER MESSE, the world’s leading trade show for industrial technology. With the lead theme Industrial Transformaon, HANNOVER MESSE spotlights all of the latest trends in industry, including Industry 4.0, Ar ficial Intelligence, 5G and Smart Logis cs. The display categories are Future Hub, Automa on, Mo on & Drives, Digital Ecosystems, Energy Solu ons, Logis cs, and Engineered Parts & Soluons. More than 80 conferences and forums complete 18

TUM Asia and Festo

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

The NUS Centre for Addi ve Manufacturing and TÜV SÜD PSB TÜV SÜD and thyssenkrupp Innova ons iSAMS Consor um iSMART Consor um Singapore Industrial Automa on Associa on, The Na onal Robo cs R&D Programme Office (NR2PO) & ROS Beckhoff and OPC Founda on OPC Hub ASEAN and Ngee Ann Polytechnic Beckhoff and Singapore Polytechnic Singapore Manufacturing Federa on and Kazakhstan YCH Group and AeroLion Technologie Signatories of the MoUs

the programme. The next edi on, HANNOVER MESSE 2020, runs from 20 to 24 April 2020 in Hannover, Germany, with Indonesia as the Partner Country. Next year’s Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC will be held from 20 to 22 October 2020, at Singapore EXPO & MAX Atria. More informa on can be obtained from h ps://www.industrial-transforma on.com/


EVENTS

DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS ON CENTRE STAGE

AT HANNOVER MESSE 2020 HANNOVER MESSE 2020 will be staged from 20 to 24 April 2020 in Hannover, Germany, with Indonesia as its official Partner Country. HANNOVER MESSE is the world’s leading trade show for industrial technology. Under the lead theme of ‘Industrial Transforma on’, the 2020 show will spotlight all the latest trends and topics, such as Industry 4.0, Ar ficial Intelligence, 5G and Smart Logiscs. The display categories to be featured are ‘Future Hub’, ‘Automa on, Mo on & Drives’, ‘Digital Ecosystems’, ‘Energy Solu ons’, ‘Logis cs’, and ‘Engineered Parts & Solu ons’. The programme will be rounded off by more than 80 conferences and forums. HANNOVER MESSE has a revamped layout, making it even quicker for visitors to zero in on the key industrial transforma on technologies of greatest interest to them. The focal point of the show’s industrial transforma on message is the Digital Ecosystems showcase covering the full range of so ware for every link in the industrial value chain. The display is strategically located at the heart of the venue where it enjoys thema c synergies with various other themes in the neighboring halls. At HANNOVER MESSE 2020, processes and technologies that, un l recently, were regarded as separate and dis nct, will be showcased together in an integrated overview of process flows and solu ons.

“In the current age of Industry 4.0, the focus is on flexible manufacturing, stand-alone yet integrated machines and systems, and autonomous exchanges of process informaon”, said Hubertus von Monschaw, Global Director Digital Ecosystems at Deutsche Messe, organisers of the event. “And the key to it all is the so ware that maps and manages these processes. At HANNOVER MESSE, all theme areas relevant to this will be clustered in the Digital Ecosystems display”, he added. Among the exhibitors in this part of the show will be big-name regulars like Autodesk, Atos, Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Dassault, EPLAN, HUAWEI, Kaspersky, MPDV, Microso , PSI, SAP, Siemens PLM, So ware AG and Telekom. There will also be a number of prominent newcomers such as Google, proAlpha, McAfee and Knapp. Their displays will span a range of themes, including predic ve maintenance, machine learning, MES (manufacturing execu on systems), logis cs (WMS and TMS), data analy cs, CAD (computer-aided design), PLM (product lifecycle management), business pla orms, ERP (enterprise resource planning) for real- me monitoring, virtual/augmented reality and industrial security. At HANNOVER MESSE 2019, these themes a racted over 100,000 visitors. One key aspect common to all of them

An exhibit on the Digital Factory at HANNOVER MESSE 2019. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

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is increasing convergence of applica ons and technologies. MES and data analy cs are a case in point. Manufacturing execu on systems (also known as produc on control systems) are able to func on reliably only if their future performance can be predic vely modelled and analysed using appropriate data analy cs such that improvements and checks can be undertaken as appropriate. Monschaw explains, “Today’s MES systems are about more than just fault analyses of individual machines. They involve aggrega ng data in order to iden fy scope for op misa on and even develop en rely new business models”. The convergence of once separate areas of technology is also very clear from CAD, PLM and business pla orms. Whereas only a few years ago, CAD so ware was primarily about designing individual work-pieces and machine parts, there are now companies providing so ware pla orms that model and manage en re value chains from design and parts procurement right through to final quality control. Dassault Systèmes is such a company. Its solu ons enable collabora on across internal users and external suppliers and partners. ERP (enterprise resource planning) is another exci ng example of so ware convergence. At HANNOVER MESSE 2020, providers will present examples and use cases demonstra ng how mechanical engineering and other firms can now leverage ERP tools in completely new ways. Predicve ERP, for example, is sparking more and more interest. It enables manufacturers to predict possible events and ini ate the necessary measures and counter-measures. Integrated with the appropriate process models, predic ve ERP systems can facilitate be er decision-making by running simula ons of even the most complex scenarios. Virtual and Augmented Reality are likewise being more commonly used in industrial applica ons. Take the design of powertrains, for example. It used to take engineers days to calculate all the parameters of a given design, but now, with the aid of algorithms, they can generate as many as 2,000 designs in the same meframe. The designs can then be 20

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

imported as 3D models into a VR lab, where everything, right down to the very last bolt and washer, can be disassembled, analysed, adjusted and re-assembled. Industrial Security is an extremely important and relevant sec on of the Digital Ecosystems showcase, par cularly in today’s interconnected industrial world, with Emotet and its ilk lurking in the digital undergrowth. Modern industry, where the digital integra on of devices and produc on machinery has grown massively and will con nue to do so, is exposed to a more or less constant risk of cyber-a ack. No one is immune to these risks, as today’s con nual stream of reports of targeted a acks on businesses and government agencies shows. The upcoming HANNOVER MESSE will therefore present the best available solu ons for organisa ons to safeguard themselves against cybera acks.

An exhibit in the ‘Automa on, Mo on & Drives’ display category at HANNOVER MESSE 2019.

One of the subjects covered at last year’s event was ‘5G’.


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Research and development at HANNOVER MESSE 2020 With the lead theme ‘Industrial Transforma on’, HANNOVER MESSE 2020 will emphasise the importance of innova on in industrial environments. Because every new technology - from Industry 4.0 solu ons and Ar ficial Intelligence to Robo c Exoskeletons and CO2-neutral produc on - begins with research and development. Research and development is the backbone of industrial transforma on. From 20 to 24 April 2020, HANNOVER MESSE will spotlight this decisive role with a new exhibit area, ‘Future Hub’, where the focus will be on the building blocks of industry applied research, technology transfer, startups, innova on culture, and the future of work. Strong partners will form the founda on of Future Hub. The exhibitors include the German Federal Ministry of Educa on and Research, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the German Research Center for Ar ficial Intelligence, and the Karlsruhe Ins tute of Technology, as well as technical universi es, government-sponsored group exhibits and industrial startups. “Innova on stems, above all, from people working together in different disciplines and across industry sectors. Therefore, coopera on is the focal point of Future Hub at HANNOVER MESSE. Future Hub is the world’s only cross-industry pla orm for research and development”, says Olaf Daebler, Global Director Future Hub at Deutsche Messe. “Researchers and scien sts, as well as young companies and entrepreneurs, will show potenal investors and business partners from all over the world their latest concepts and projects in all branches of industry. Future Hub bundles all topics of HANNOVER MESSE”, he added. Innova on, crea vity and tempo are three characteris cs that make startups popular with large companies and investors. On the other hand, financial resources, management experience and business connec ons are three things startups seek from large companies and investors. HANNOVER MESSE’s startup centre - Young Tech Enterprises fulfills the needs of both sides with a combina on of exhibi on, forum, match-making and networking events, and daily pitching sessions. Startups can choose from a variety of cost-effec ve par cipa on op ons. “As a startup, par cipa ng in Young Tech Enterprises was a real breakthrough for us. Every day, we made countless valuable contacts with industry representa ves. Among the visitors were many technology scouts from established companies

as well as investors and engineers, so we reached exactly the right audience of early adopters”, said André Wilmes, Managing Director of Rafinex. Roughly 150 startups exhibit at Young Tech Enterprises annually. The digital age is transforming not only industry, but also the way we work. Under the mo o ‘Future of Work’, HANNOVER MESSE bundles the future of work with related topics such as recrui ng and further educa on. The workshops, coaching sessions, consul ng lounges and lectures focus primarily on STEM careers. The Associa on of German Engineers (VDI) organises the Job Hub which brings job seekers together with poten al employers.

Framework for networking and lead genera on At Future Hub, exhibitors and visitors will benefit from a range of opportuni es for exchange, networking and new business - for example, at the new Transforma on Stage. With its mix of keynote speeches, panel discussions, interviews, kitchen talks, partner sessions and networking events, the Transforma on Stage will address topics such as Industry 4.0, Ar ficial Intelligence, Mobility, Sustainability, Decarbonisa on, and Future of Work. Company execu ves, company founders, scien sts, industry-associa on representa ves and poli cians, as well as influencers and bloggers would be suitable as speakers. The Forum Tech Transfer will promote innova on management and technology transfer. At the Forum Industrial Startups, par cipants from the startup scene exchange ideas. The new Pioneers Lounge will offer addi onal space for exchange, counselling and networking. The evening programme will round out Future Hub with four events - Night of Innova ons, Pioneers Night, Startup Night, and Young Engineers Night.

Research and development is the backbone of industrial transforma on.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

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SPONSORED FEATURE

EMPOWERING LEARNING FOR LIFE In a world shaped by constant disruption, lifelong learning is pivotal in nurturing innovative and adaptive workers, enhancing economic competitiveness and quality of life. Besides equipping its students with industryrelevant expertise, the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) also strives to support its alumni who have joined the workforce, to continually gain and apply new skills SITLEARN Professional Development – for Working Adults This led SIT to launch SITLEARN Professional Development (SITLEARN PD) in 2017, to cater to the growing development needs of working adults across various industry sectors. In line with SIT’s emphasis on applied learning, SITLEARN PD’s courses integrate case studies and evidence-based research with real-world applications, that are delivered by SIT faculty and industry experts. In addition, courses delivered by SITLEARN PD are developed in consultation with subject experts in the industry to achieve high industry relevance. The support of SIT’s partners, including trade associations, agencies and societies in providing insights about their evolving needs, has made this possible. SITLEARN Professional Development supports the needs of Engineers At the National Engineers Day 2019 held at the Devan Nair Institute of Employment and Employability (E2i), Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education, emphasized in his opening remarks that IES can play a big role in lifelong learning. Supporting the SkillsFuture movement and IES mandate, SITLEARN PD offers many engineering courses for working professionals, supporting its engineering alumni who have joined the workforce to continually acquire new skills that enables them to stay adaptable, relevant and nimble. 22

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

SITizens Learning Credits – Enabling SIT Alumni to Pursue Mastery in their Selected Domains With the aim to facilitate learning beyond graduation, SIT launched the SITizens Learning Credits in 2019. Under this scheme, SIT alumni will each receive $2,000 worth of credits upon graduation to reskill or up-skill. Besides standalone courses offered by SITLEARN PD, SIT alumni can also use these credits to offset eligible courses funded by SkillsFuture Singapore. The SITizens Learning Credits offer alumni the autonomy to return to SIT and continue their learning – which is a part of SIT’s DNA to encourage students to learn, unlearn and relearn. Success Story Since its launch, the scheme has received positive response. One such SITizen is Tng Shun Li, who graduated with a Bachelor in Engineering (Honours) in Chemical Engineering in 2016 from Newcastle University, offered through SIT. In fact, Shun Li is the first alumnus to have fully utilised his credits, putting them to good use to advance his role as a process engineer at Croda Singapore. His responsibilities in process safety; safety, health and environment; and plant upgrading amongst others, require him to constantly acquire new knowledge and competence in these fields. “I decided to sign up for a workshop at SIT. While applying, I discovered that as an SIT alumnus, I am eligible to use my SITizens Learning Credits. So, I proceeded to sign up for a series of workshops structured towards process safety essentials of a chemical plant,” said Shun Li. Process safety is one of SITLEARN PD’s wide array of domain-specific courses across various industries, from building services, cybersecurity, hospitality business to design innovation.


SPONSORED FEATURE

SITLEARN PD also offers essential soft skills, such as communication skills and people management, traits important in the workplace setting, to complement their professional skills. Like many others, Shun Li was initially uncertain about how applicable the courses would be. He later realised that his worry was unfounded.

Shun Li is just one of many success stories that have demonstrated the difference lifelong learning can make to a professional career. In Shun Li’s words, “Never forget the SIT-DNA of Able to Learn, Unlearn and Relearn. The world is ever-evolving and we have to be adaptable to changes to stay on top. Don’t stop learning, and start taking up courses to deepen your knowledge to stay competent.”

“The Process Safety workshop covered both theoretical and practical aspects, providing me with important fundamentals to review and carry out tasks related to each module. Furthermore, I am now able to better understand discussions during process safety meetings and share my knowledge with fellow engineers and operators,” he shared.

Come 2023, SIT will move to the Punggol Digital District that incorporates a business park. The proximity will open up greater opportunities for SIT to collaborate with the industry and pave the way for working professionals to stay adaptive, relevant and nimble – through lifelong learning.

“Besides the course content, I also had the opportunity to learn from fellow course mates who have vast experience in process safety and exchange knowledge on industrial insights with them,” he added.

Visit sitlearn.singaporetech.edu.sg to learn more about the wide array of courses at SITLEARN Professional Development.

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COVER STORY

AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS TO DRIVE INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION The benefits offered include higher produc vity and energy-efficiency as well as sustainability. Delta Group (Delta), a global provider of power and thermal management solu ons, showcased its ecosystem of intelligent and energy-efficient solu ons for Industry 4.0 (i4.0) manufacturing, connec vity and green smart city living, at Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC 2019 a HANNOVER MESSE event, held from 22 to 24 October 2019, at Singapore EXPO & MAX Atria. Delta’s showcase highlighted the benefits to customers who leverage its DIACloud pla orm cloud-based Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for remote connec vity, energy management and control solu ons, for smart factory opera ons. Delta’s sustainable solu ons also help customers have more energy-efficient and producve businesses while enjoying safer, more connected lifestyles. Visitors to Delta’s booth experienced smart manufacturing through exploring an interac ve display of Delta’s broad por olio of industrial automa on products integrated as the DIA smart factory IoT solu on. The product panel included routers, machine vision systems, drives and controls used for automated produc on and building opera ons. Visitors could also enjoy a cup of coffee prepared by Delta’s 6-axis ar culated robot arm barista and a Crown Coffee machine. At the smart city zone, Delta presented its IoT-based Building Management Pla orm that enables green buildings with smart and eco-friendly HVAC, ligh ng, elevators and surveillance equipment. This comprehensive system leverages the technologies of the Delta subsidiaries LOYTEC and Delta Controls, which boast compa bility with all building control open protocols including BACNet, DALI, KNX, Modbus, EnOcean, OPC and LonMark. In addion, Delta’s Vivitek projectors and Novotouch display products combine to make work and home life more efficient, comfortable and enjoyable. Delta also showcased its energy infrastructure solu ons that support the global mega-trends of Electric Vehicles (EV) and energy storage. The small footprint and high power of Delta’s 7.36 kW AC Mini Plus EV Charger make it a good choice for charging at home and work. The Li-ion ba ery energy storage system with Delta’s own power condi oning system and Modulon DPH500 Series uninterrup ble power supply (UPS) is a backup for mission-cri cal commercial and industrial applica ons such as data centres, factories and hospitals. Another key highlight at the show was an MoU that was signed between Delta and JTC Corpora on (JTC). The MoU will further Delta’s collabora on with JTC to accelerate i4.0 adop on among SMEs and JTC custom24

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ers, while developing world-class industrial automa on training in the country.

Delta Founded in 1971, Delta is a global provider of switching power supplies and thermal management products, with a por olio of smart energy-saving systems and solu ons in the fields of industrial automa on, building automa on, telecom power, data centre infrastructure, EV charging, renewable energy, energy storage, and projec on and display, to nurture the development of smart manufacturing and sustainable ci es. Delta leverages its core competence in high-efficiency power electronics and its Corporate Social Responsibility-embedded business model to address key environmental issues, such as climate change. Delta serves customers through its sales offices, R&D centres and manufacturing facili es spread over close to 200 loca ons across five con nents. Throughout its history, Delta has received various global awards and recogni ons for its business achievements, innova ve technologies and dedica on to Corporate Social Responsibility. Since 2011, Delta has been listed on the DJSI World Index, within the family of Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, for nine consecu ve years. In 2017, Delta was selected by CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) for its Climate Change Leadership Level, for the second consecu ve year.

Delta solutions address the needs of global mega trends and address the key issues of security, liveability and efficiency that we expect in the smart city. We are also leveraging Delta Smart Manufacturing to help manufacturers across the region seize opportunities to boost their performance and meet increasing demands from their global customers - Mr Jackie Chang, Vice President of Delta Electronics Southeast Asia and India.


COVER STORY

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DELTA GROUP EXHIBIT AT INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION ASIAPACIFIC 2019 SMART MANUFACTURING Smart Factory Solu ons combine Delta’s so ware systems based on IIoT and the cloud pla orm to facilitate a 360° monitoring view of manufacturing and factory opera ons. The systems highlighted include the DIAView SCADA system for produc on equipment and factory facility opera on data monitoring; and the DIAEnergie Energy Management System for overall factory energy usage management.

The HVAC System Solu on fully integrates Delta’s AC motor drives to control mul ple fans and pumps, enhancing efficiency. It uses programmable logic controllers and human machine interfaces for system opera on control and has power meters for energy consump on data monitoring and collec on to create a highly efficient, energy-saving total solu on for HVAC systems. The Robo c Arm Coffee Machine Demo showcased Delta’s fully automated six-axis robot, housed on a cart, that works with a coffee machine from Crown Coffee, to make coffee five mes faster than any human barista and with consistently high quality. With Delta’s robot helping to make coffee, baristas can focus their energy on engaging and enhancing customers’ experiences. Robo cs, IoT, and AI work hand-in-hand to migrate human resources from mundane tasks to services with a human touch. This demo offered a glimpse of the future landscape where robots and humans co-exist and complement each other to create quality customer experiences.

SMART CITY

Factory Digitalisa on Solu on Ver cals include the Delta Energy Management System and IoT Smart Factory Solu ons.

Building Automa on Solu ons Room AutomaƟon System Delta Controls O3 series, including room controllers and sensors, is a human-centric, intelligent sensing and control solu on. The O3 Room Controller combines modular I/O with room-level integra on and is a complete solu on that combines HVAC, access and lighting control, in a modular system. The O3 Sensor Hub provides an all-in-one sensor solu on for HVAC, access, ligh ng, sound and mo on, to deliver an enhanced occupant experience. Smart Street LighƟng In addi on to providing bright, low energy ligh ng, Delta Smart Street Ligh ng Solu ons combine an environment sensor, a surveillance camera, an electric vehicle (EV) charger and a display screen, all on one pole. This mul faceted solu on is an asset to any private or public space. It can measure the air quality, provide the assurance of security surveillance and act as a power supply for EVs. It also shares informa on and data about air quality and an EV’s charging status via its display screen.

The HVAC System Solu on fully integrates Delta’s AC motor drives to control mul ple fans and pumps, enhancing efficiency.

A Delta ar culated robot teamed up with a coffee machine from Crown Coffee, to make coffee.

Smart Surveillance VIVOTEK’s Fisheye Camera boasts CMOS light sensor technology and 12-megapixel resolu on to provide op mum video imaging quality, with either 180° or 360°, depending on the installa on parameters. This makes it ideal for large-crowd venues requiring high security standards such as airports, shopping malls and office complexes. Power Supplies Medical and Industrial Power Supply The MEG-A configurable power supply series is designed for use in both medical and industrial applica ons and supports up to four isolated outputs for maximum 1.2 kW. The MEG2K1A6 can accommodate six isolated outputs for maximum 2.1 kW. These products can be configured for output voltages ranging from 2 V DC to 60 V DC. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

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COVER STORY

The CliQ VA DIN rail power supply series This power supply has an LCD display for output current, output voltage, peak hold current, life me expectancy and ambient temperature data. This high power density product is designed according to major industrial safety standards. Delta PJU open frame power supply series The PJU models will switch to ba ery opera on (ba eries not included) without any interrup on in the event of power disrup on or unexpected loss of AC input power. Communica on & Informa on Solu ons UninterrupƟble Power Supply The Uninterrup ble Power Supply (UPS) DPH 500 is a modular three-phase UPS system which provides the ulmate MW power protec on with fully rated power and industry-leading power density of 50 kW in a 3U module. Lithium-ion BaƩery The UBR series of lithium-ion ba ery is offered for UPS with DC connec on, output power up to 450 kW and capacity up to 62.1 kWh. With double the life and simpler maintenance compared to tradi onal ba eries, Delta’s lithium-ion ba ery offers users good total cost of ownership (TCO) and ba ery management. Energy Infrastructure AC Mini Plus EV Charger The AC Mini Plus EV Charger is an installa on-friendly EV charger with a small, simple and smart design that offers Type-1 and Type-2 charging interfaces. The charger’s IP55

and IK08 casing can adapt to indoor and outdoor environments and integrates with the backend system, making it suitable for residen al and workplace applica ons. PV Inverter The M20A PV inverter has up to 20 kW capacity for commercial applica ons and boasts leading energy efficiency of up to 98.3%, making it suitable for both roo op and ground-mounted PV systems. Power CondiƟoning System A backbone of a microgrid, the Power Condi oning System is a bi-direc onal energy storage inverter for grided and off-grid applica ons including power backup, peak shaving, load shi ing, PV self-consump on and PV smoothing. It demonstrates industry leading power performance with high power efficiency and low standby power loss. Energy Storage System The Energy Storage System leverages Delta’s lithium-ion ba ery technology and integrates Delta’s own power and thermal management solu ons for high energy efficiency and reliability. The containerised solu on offers MWh-level large-scale yet modular energy storage to enhance and smoothen the balance between the electricity grid and renewable energy sources. Projec on and Display Vivitek Projectors Vivitek, a Delta company, offers a broad range of projecon solu ons to fulfill a wide range of personal, educaonal and professional applica ons. From pocket size projectors to large venue projectors, Vivitek’s por olio offers robust features and innova ons such as 3D technology, and includes a range of short-throw and ultrashort-throw projectors. NovoTouch Touchscreen The NovoTouch Touchscreen is an interac ve flat panel display solu on that stretches from wireless collaboraon and touch interac on to digital signage and easy management features for offices and classrooms. With a complete range of display sizes including 86”, 75” and 65” Ultra HD 4K (3,840 x 2,160) resolu on, NovoTouch offers users high quality visuals and details. Its LED backlit technology enables brighter pictures, longer life and lower energy costs.

Delta presented a range of products for green smart city living, including the Smart LED Streetlight, PV Inverter, and EV Charger. 26

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Vivitek, a Delta company, offers a range of short-throw and ultrashort-throw projectors.


COVER STORY

Delta Electronics and JTC sign MoU At Industrial Transforma on ASIA-PACIFIC 2019, Delta Electronics Interna onal (Singapore) and JTC Corpora on (JTC) signed an MoU for collabora on as strategic partners to drive adop on of Industry 4.0 (i4.0) technology. Delta will set up an i4.0 Solu ons and Training Centre to support JTC customers, upskill SME partners and provide advanced automa on solu ons to tackle problem statements in Singapore’s manufacturing industry. Mr Jackie Chang, Vice President, Southeast Asia and India, Delta Electronics Inc, said, At the signing of the MoU between Delta Electronics and JTC are, from le to right, Mr Jackie Chang, Vice President, Southeast Asia and India, Delta “Delta is greatly looking forward to collaboElectronics Inc; Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Trade and ra ng with JTC to support its customers with Industry (who witnessed the signing of the MoU); and Mr Ng Lang, Chief our deep domain knowledge in electronExecu ve Officer, JTC. ics. We focus specifically on execu on and address the immediate challenges in connecproduc on line. This includes both hardware such vity and automa on that Singapore’s SMEs face. as sensors for data collec on and the ManufacturAt the same me, Delta is enhancing advanced ing Management Pla orm (MMP) for produc on, automa on diagnosis, training and consulta on to equipment, alarms and quality management for foster the next genera on of talents”. data visualisa on. Mr Ng Lang, Chief Execu ve Officer, JTC, said “With more businesses in our estates looking to transform their business through digitalisa on, we see value in cura ng a spectrum of partners to help them start, scale and sustain their Industry 4.0 journey and capture new opportuni es in the region. Specialising in industrial automa on and smart city solu ons, Delta can lend their exper se and best prac ces to support more businesses on their Industry 4.0 transforma on”. As a global smart manufacturing and energy-efficient solu ons provider, Delta helps customers implement complete automated systems based on its rich experiences. For efficient i4.0 opera ons, Delta’s PLC smart produc on demo line leveraged Delta smart manufacturing solu ons and smart machines to enhance its produc on capacity by around 70%, reduce produc on space by around 35% and increase direct human per capita output value by three to five mes. To help JTC’s customers realise the benefits of adop ng i4.0 technology in business opera ons, Delta will set up a i4.0 Solu ons and Training Centre to support the following key elements of the JTC-Delta Industry Transforma on Ini a ve (JTC-Delta ITI): *i4.0 Connec vity and Digitalisa on Package: Delta will iden fy the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) readiness of JTC customers and recommend suitable solu ons for the digitalisa on of the

*Proof of Concepts (POC): Delta will work with the enterprises and provide a pla orm and ecosystem, to come up with POCs to test-bed relevant advanced manufacturing solu ons on industry problem statements. Using these POCs, Delta will train and support the enterprises to see through implementa on of advanced manufacturing solu ons. *i4.0 Training Centre: Delta will set up an i4.0 Training Centre to co-develop and co-deliver training content in leading Advanced Manufacturing technologies and incorporate industry problems as part of training, to achieve strong manpower outcomes including, but not limited to, industry placements, job re-deployment and job expansion. *Delta Advanced Automa on Cup: Delta will work with JTC customers to provide problem statements to propose and consider as Delta Cup themes. Delta will assist top Singapore technical universi es to form teams to compete on a global pla orm and propose solu ons to tackle problem statements on Advanced Manufacturing. Delta joins JTC’s network of i4.0 Partners to support JTC customers’ transforma on journey in the four broad categories - Diagnos cs and Advisory, Enabling Technologies, Training and Capability Development, and Funding Support and Financing. JTC and Delta will also cooperate to promote and increase awareness of the JTC-Delta ITI, and Delta will join JTC’s i4.0-related events and provide prac cal training and technical advice to JTC customers.

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ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

A*STAR LAUNCHES INDUSTRY INITIATIVE FOR HYPER PERSONALISED MANUFACTURING Next-genera on produc on and delivery line unveiled for fast-moving consumer goods sector. In the days of mass produc on, there was no varia on within a product. Then the model evolved into mass customisa on - for instance, a slightly different product in the form of a limited edi on or a varia on of the product for a par cular segment of the market. Manufacturers then steered produc on to yet another level known as personalisa on, where certain features of the product could be selected. Today, trends point towards hyper-personalisa on “Write your own recipe and design your own unique product. Can the minimum order quan ty (MOQ) be reduced to one?” The challenge is for manufacturers to bring this to customers at compe ve prices. Against this backdrop, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) kicked off a new SGD 38 million industry ini a ve on 22 October 2019, at Industrial Transforma on ASIA PACIFIC 2019, to develop advanced manufacturing technologies for companies to digitally transform their processes in order to bring hyper-personalisa on to customers.

The hyper-personalisa on line is enabled by digital technologies such as IIoT, Big Data, Robo cs and Automa on, Ar ficial Intelligence and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). The line boasts real- me connec vity, speed, accuracy, flexibility and agility. It is also modular, so manufacturers can choose specific technologies they want to adopt. Designed by ARTC with the goal of achieving a batch size of one, the line pulls digital capabilities from across A*STAR, some in collaboration with industry partners. One of ARTC’s consortium members, local SME M8M, played a key role in that it integrated the various elements of the line. For instance, M8M enabled the different parts of the line to communicate with each other to fulfill production orders. Traditionally, a system integrator in the logistics sector, M8M is now applying its expertise in a smart manufacturing environment. This is also M8M’s first foray into the FMCG sector.

Led by A*STAR’s Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC), the ini a ve will develop new capabili es for companies to reach an MOQ of one in manufacturing, and will provide a pla orm for companies to test-bed these solu ons before implemen ng them in their factories. In partnership with industry players, ARTC will build a smart, scalable, flexible, modular and digitally integrated line powered by automa on and end-to-end connec vity. This is part of A*STAR’s Model Factory Ini a ve for companies across industries and across the value chain to learn, co-develop and test-bed advanced manufacturing technologies to stay compe ve. Through open innovation, ARTC is currently working with 10 companies to develop solutions, including multinational companies that would be end-users, such as Procter & Gamble (P&G), and local SMEs that are system integrators or technology providers such as M8M and Arcstone. The combined R&D investment of the public-private partnership is SGD 38 million. As part of this ini a ve, A*STAR unveiled its nextgenera on hyper-personalisa on line enabled by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. While the line resides in ARTC, a demo version was presented at Industrial Transforma on ASIA PACIFIC 2019. 28

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ASTAR’s hyper-personalisa on line at Industrial Transforma on ASIA PACIFIC 2019.


ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

HIGHLIGHTS OF A*STAR’S HYPER-PERSONALISATION LINE AT INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION ASIA PACIFIC 2019 Playing the role of a customer, a visitor could do the following: • Place an order on a tablet, choosing items from a selec on offered • Watch as the customised order is fulfilled - A robot picks the selected items from a ‘warehouse’ and places them in a bag. - The bag moves along the conveyor belt. Along the way, the customer’s name is printed on it. - An AGV transfers the bag from the conveyor belt to the collec on point. - At any point in me, the status of the order can be checked on an interac ve screen. • Collect the goods To play the role of a manufacturer, the visitor could explore the following nine technologies working behind the scenes, powered by IIoT, to enable automa on and end-to-end connec vity: • Manufacturing execu on system A manufacturing execu on system (MES) will dispatch each order and command each machine on the factory floor to fulfill it. The line uses an MES developed by Arcstone, that was test-bedded in the Manufacturing Intelligence Control Room at the Model Factory @ ARTC. • Overall equipment effec veness monitoring The line uses the overall equipment effec veness (OEE) monitoring system from A*STAR’s Singapore Ins tute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) to provide real- me visibility of machine opera ons to aid decision-making for higher produc vity. This is one of the technologies offered at A*STAR’s Model Factory @ SIMTech. • Robo cs ARTC’s pick-and-place robo c solu on coupled with image analy cs is used pick the items required for each order. • Automated Guided Vehicles To automate processes, the line uses Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) programmed by M8M to transfer goods from one point to another. This eliminates the need for manual labour. • Digital twin The line uses the enhanced digital twin from A*STAR’s Ins tute of High Performance Compu ng (IHPC) to op mise the design of the line. By designing the line in a virtual world before implemen ng it, manufacturers can, for instance, preempt failure due to wear and tear and increase inventory levels for relevant parts accordingly. • Plug-and-play IIoT analy cs A plug-and-play IIoT analy cs module using technology from A*STAR’s Ins tute for Infocomm Research (I2R) enables real- me predic ve diagnos cs by capturing and processing manufacturing data.

• Self-diagnos c and self-healing sensor network Technology from A*STAR’s Na onal Metrology Centre (NMC) is used to detect and correct sensor dri through the use of machine learning. Together with the autonomous monitoring of sensor performance, this ensures the reliability of the sensor network and cuts the need for maintenance and regular calibra on. • Li-Fi A part of the line demonstrates real- me video streaming from a camera using Li-Fi technology developed by A*STAR’s Ins tute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE). This is especially useful in cases where Wi-Fi is not an op on due to conges on, restric on or interference. • Last mile delivery The line uses advanced op misa on technologies from SIMTech’s Manufacturing Control Tower (MCT) to achieve an op mal alloca on of resources for last mile delivery of customers’ orders. This is one of the technologies offered at A*STAR’s Model Factory @ SIMTech.

A*STAR and SPETA launch Digital Ecosystem of Model Factories Ini a ve A*STAR’s Singapore Ins tute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) and the Singapore Precision Engineering and Technology Associa on (SPETA) launched the Digital Ecosystem of Model Factories Ini a ve on 24 October 2019, at Industrial Transforma on ASIA PACIFIC 2019. The ini a ve aims to digitally connect smart factories so that companies across industries can learn Industry 4.0 best prac ces. SIMTech will drive the digital connec on of smart factories of par cipa ng organisa ons to create this learning pla orm. This includes A*STAR’s own Model Factory @ SIMTech and Model Factory @ ARTC. Thirteen organisa ons signed Memoranda of Understanding with SIMTech and SPETA to join the Digital Ecosystem of Model Factories Ini a ve. They are ABB, Alcon Manufacturing and Logis cs, ARTC, Commune Lifestyle, Fong’s Engineering and Manufacturing, Makino Asia, Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Sanwa Plas c Industry, Schneider Electric, Siemens, SMT Technology and Temasek Polytechnic. Given that the approach to manufacturing o en differs from industry to industry, this pla orm provides an opportunity for companies to discover new approaches to digital manufacturing and explore how they might be applied in their own factories for higher produc vity. It also encourages SMEs to learn from MNCs and vice versa.

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PERSONALISED MANUFACTURING Customers today expect customisable products. A hyper-personalisation line is designed to help companies transform their processes for personalised manufacturing, tailoring production for each customer’s specific, real-time demand. It is flexible, integrated and scalable, using advanced Internet-of-Things (IoT) and machine learning for higher productivity, reduced costs and shorter time to market. F G

H Logistics System

Improves Time to Delivery

H

The last mile delivery logistics system optimises logistics planning, provides route optimisation and real-time vehicle tracking.

G Predictive Maintenance

Prevents Downtime A plug-and-play IoT analytics module processes key manufacturing data for predictive diagnostics. Prevent downtime by identifying necessary maintenance before the machine malfunctions.

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F

Robotics Optimise Efficiency Pick-and-place robotics with image analytics select the items required for each order. Automated guided vehicles transfer goods from point to point.


A

Planning Software for Seamless Shop Floor Operations

B

An enterprise resource planning and manufacturing execution system control all activities on the shop floor, optimising operational efficiency and dispatching orders to each machine on the factory floor.

Digital Twin for Better Design of Factory Line An enhanced digital twin helps to optimise the line design. By virtually designing the line first, manufacturers can predict potential problems before building the actual line.

B A

C

C

Real-Time Visibility of Machine Productivity An overall equipment effectiveness monitoring system provides real-time visibility of machine operations to improve equipment effectiveness.

D

E

H D

Fast, Secure Connectivity Using Light Light can be used instead for data transmission where Wi-Fi is hampered. Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) offers secure high bandwidth and low latency communications for IoT devices.

E

Sensor Network Maintains Reliable Production Line A self-diagnostic and self-healing sensor network accurately monitors the production line’s system conditions, detecting and correcting sensor drift by machine learning. Autonomous monitoring of sensor performance ensures sensor network reliability and reduces the need for maintenance and regular calibration.

To collaborate on Future of Manufacturing initiatives, contact us at: bit.ly/ASTARFOM Copyright © 2019 by Agency for Science, Technology and Research. All rights reserved.

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PROJECT APPLICATION

VIETNAMESE COMPANY PRODUCES CARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE The deployment of integrated so ware and hardware has contributed to the successful results. VinFast, Vietnam’s first volume car manufacturer, has successfully produced its first cars ahead of schedule, using Siemens’ portfolio of integrated software and hardware. By deploying its portfolio, Siemens helped VinFast achieve its automotive production timeline for building the factory, car design and start of the production in only 21 months, well ahead of an already ambitious schedule. This is half of the average time to build such a manufacturing plant. The VinFast plant in Hai Phong went live in June 2019 and has a total design capacity of 250,000 cars per year. The first vehicles have been e-Scooters, compact cars, sedans, and SUVs. These will be followed by battery electric passenger cars as well as electric buses. The entire value chain has been integrated and digitalised with Siemens’ Digital Enterprise portfolio, which includes the Xcelerator portfolio of software and Totally Integrated Automation (TIA). Xcelerator enables creation of a highly accurate digital twin, melding model-based simulations with test data and real performance analytics with intelligent edge control. VinFast is using Teamcenter software as the backbone of collaboration for product lifecycle management and NX software, a leading integrated solution for computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering (CAD/ CAM/CAE), to develop the digital twins of cars and production. Teamcenter connects the digital twin with a consistent digital thread, which is helping VinFast increase speed and flexibility in development, optimise manufacturing processes and use the insights gained from product and plant operations to improve future performance.

press shop through to the final assembly. Simatic HMIs are widely used in the factory, allowing VinFast to operate and observe the status of machines and entire systems, for the production staff. Using Siemens’ Industrial Identification products, VinFast can track and trace parts and optimise the entire flow of materials. In addition, Sinumerik controls guarantee high efficiency and quality in their powertrain machinery. Further portfolios provided by Siemens feature network components, power supplies, control products, low voltage distribution and switchgears, an energy distribution system, as well as motors and drives. The comprehensive automation components from Siemens enable VinFast to build up the factory with high quality global standards. “VinFast and their new production site are a great example of how the automotive industry is driving the digital transformation of manufacturing. We are proud that we contributed with our offerings to create the virtual and real production lines including the technology for continuous optimisations along the entire lifecycle of the equipment and, of course, all had to happen in record speed”, said Bernd Mangler, Senior Vice President Automotive Solutions, Siemens Digital Industries. VinFast belongs to Vingroup, the largest private enterprise and one of the leading technology, industry and service groups in Vietnam.

VinFast has also implemented Siemens Opcenter software (formerly Simatic IT Unified Architecture) to increase production speed and quality. This MES solution supports closed-loop manufacturing by driving real-time production data to the digital twin of product and enables innovation of product design and production operations. Automation is realised by Totally Integrated Automation (TIA), the modular and flexible automation concept, that controls and drives all productions. VinFast deployed Siemens’ automation equipment for its manufacturing lines in all shops - press, paint, body, assembly, sub-assembly and engine. Simatic Controllers enable VinFast to automate factory operations such as robots or conveyor lines, as well as the safety functionality. VinFast uses TIA Portal, the engineering framework, to program automation tasks from the 32

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VinFast, Vietnam’s first volume car manufacturer, has successfully produced its first cars ahead of schedule, using Siemens’ por olio of integrated so ware and hardware. Image by VinFast.


PROJECT APPLICATION

IMPROVING QUALITY OF PARTS AND PRODUCTION

EFFICIENCY IN THE AEROSPACE SECTOR The advanced features of plasma cu ng systems were successfully exploited. Muhibbah Airline Support Industries Sdn Bhd (MASI) was formed following the acquisi on of Airline Support Industries of Australia Pty Ltd by Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd. Headquartered in Selangor, Malaysia, MASI manufactures a variety of products for the aviation services sector, including maintenance docking systems, aerobridges, and aircraft parking guidance systems. The company has successfully completed many projects in the region.

Quality produc on MASI’s strength lies in the design and construc on of a full range of aircra maintenance docking systems. These systems are specialised pla orms posi oned around the aircra to allow maintenance personnel to access all areas of an aircra , providing an efficient and safe working environment. An effec ve aircra maintenance docking system enables the maintenance team to perform their jobs be er. The team at MASI had a good grasp of the avia on industry’s needs, and its innova ve systems feature advanced func ons. The company found the need to invest in cu ng technology that is capable of producing high-quality parts at high speeds, yet requiring li le or no post-produc on processes. The company decided on Hypertherm’s X-defini on plasma cu ng system, the XPR300, which would allow it to boost produc on processes significantly without compromising on quality. The XPR300 features the latest X-Defini on plasma technology which improves its ability to tackle high-precision applica ons, surpassing the expecta ons of modern plasma cu ng systems to produce high-quality cuts, in a cost-efficient manner, on a myriad of metal types and thicknesses. In addi on, the system boasts Hypertherm’s True Hole technology that provides MASI with the ability to easily fabricate bolt-ready holes down to a diameter-to-thickness ra o of 1:1. These advanced features of the XPR300 system addressed MASI’s requirements for a cu ng solu on that could handle a variety of plate thickness (ranging from 4 mm to 40 mm) and various shapes and types of holes, leading to improved life of consumables and reduc on in produc on mes and wastage of materials. This has allowed MASI to register between 10% to 20% in cost-savings, depending on material thickness.

Apart from the cu ng-edge features of the XPR300, MASI was also won over by Hypertherm’s high service standards. From the early stages of decision-making through to a er-sales assistance, the Hypertherm team offered mely responses and full support to address MASI’s every concern. Mr Edward Wong, Technical Manager at MASI, shared, “The XPR300 system has proven to be stable and reliable so far - allowing us to improve our produc vity and quality, and we expect that it will also eventually help us to reduce the manpower required in the produc on of parts for the various systems and equipment”. On MASI’s plans to further improve their processes, Mr Edward Wong added that the company is looking to purchase more cu ng machines and also plans to explore more advanced solu ons, such as robo c plasma beam cu ng lines. “Judging from the results we have seen so far, we are op mis c that Hypertherm’s advanced cu ng soluons will support our endeavor to improve the agility and profitability of our business. We also look forward to sa sfying our customers with consistent and quality products that will allow their maintenance teams to perform their tasks well and ensure safe func oning of aircra s”, said Mr Wong.

Hypertherm Hypertherm designs and manufactures industrial cu ng products for use in a variety of industries such as shipbuilding, manufacturing, and automo ve repair. Its product line includes cu ng systems, in addi on to CNC mo on and height controls, CAM nes ng so ware, robo c so ware and consumables.

At the MASi facility in Malaysia, metal cu ng being performed using Hypertherm’s plasma cu ng system which has been integrated with Avant Thermal’s CNC table. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

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CYBERSECURITY

LEADING PLAYER OPENS

GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS IN SINGAPORE The decision underscores the commitment to, and the importance of, the Asia Pacific region.

Ensign Infosecurity recently opened its global headquarters and Security Opera ons Centre in Singapore.

Ensign InfoSecurity (Ensign), one of the largest pureplay cybersecurity companies in Asia Pacific, officially launched its global headquarters and its new Security Operations Centre (SOC), in Singapore, recently. Singapore’s Senior Minister and Coordina ng Minister for Na onal Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean, was the Guest-ofHonour at the event held to mark the official launch. The opening of Ensign’s global headquarters in Singapore is a testament to the company’s commitment to building its presence in Asia Pacific. Ensign currently has offices in Hong Kong and Malaysia, and customer footprints in Brunei, Myanmar and Thailand. It also has plans to expand its presence in Korea in 2020. Additionally, Ensign will continue to deepen its capabilities, such as advanced threat hunting and cyber threat intelligence, through its Singapore-based research laboratory and global partner ecosystem. The company currently has about 500 highly qualified professionals across the region, and is planning to expand by 100 to 600 staff by 2020.

MEETING THE CYBERSECURITY NEEDS OF ORGANISATIONS Parallel to the official opening of its global headquarters, Ensign also unveiled its new Security Operations Centre (SOC). This facility strengthens the cyber resilience of Ensign’s customers by enhancing the accuracy, and shortening the time, needed to detect and respond to cyber threats. It also seeks to improve the efficiency and efficacy of its cybersecurity analytics through three key features - proprietary Singapore-centric and global cyber threat intelligence, advanced cyber threat analysis and data enrichment, and automation. 34

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Singapore’s Senior Minister and Coordina ng Minister for Na onal Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean, giving a speech at the official opening of Ensign’s global headquarters.

Proprietary Singapore-centric cyber threat intelligence The SOC taps on Ensign’s newly unveiled Cyber Threat Detection & Analytics engine which leverages big data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to generate most relevant, local insights on emerging and imminent cyber threats. Ensign is said to be the only cybersecurity company in Singapore that provides this deep Singapore-centric, sectoral threat intelligence. These Singapore-centric insights are also correlated and corroborated with global threat intelligence to produce highly contextualised and actionable cyber threat intelligence.

Advanced cyber threat analysis and data enrichment The SOC also features Network Traffic Analy cs (NTA) capabili es which use advanced analy cs, AI and machine learning techniques to iden fy anomalous network traffic behaviour associated with advanced threats.


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Additional context is added to this analysis through internal enrichment, such as the continuous vulnerability management process with which vulnerabilities are perpetually identified and remediated.

Automa on

In addition, Ensign can get full spectrum visibility of an organisation’s entire digital environment by augmenting NTA with its proprietary Singapore-centric cyber threat intelligence, together with advanced detection and response capabilities for endpoint devices.

By heavily automating its SOC processes, Ensign is able to improve the centre’s accuracy, consistency and efficiency in handling security alerts and incident investigation. This minimises human errors and ensures a high level of consistency while reducing the time that cybersecurity analysts spend on false positives. This allows Ensign to focus its resources on higher-value objectives, such as incident response and proactive threat hunting.

This allows Ensign to shorten the mean time to detect cyber threats, and accelerate response time for cybersecurity teams. It also minimises the window of opportunity for cyber threat actors.

This intelligent partnership between technology and humans enables Ensign to implement an automated and intelligent workflow that improves the overall performance of the SOC.

Ensign unveils Cyber Threat Detec on & Analy cs engine Presented in conjunc on with the official launch of its global headquarters and new Security Opera ons Centre, Ensign’s proprietary Cyber Threat Detec on & Analy cs engine is capable of providing localised cyber threat intelligence, by analysing Singapore-centric network data which is then correlated and corroborated with global cyber threat intelligence. This provides organisa ons with highly contextualised and ac onable informa on to preempt and defend against emerging threats.

Leveraging local insights and global sources Ensign’s Cyber Threat Detec on & Analy cs engine leverages big data analy cs and advanced AI to detect suspicious ac vi es, and iden fy threats found in the networks of locally-based organisa ons. One of the engine’s key capabili es is real- me behavioural profiling of network data. This funcon allows Ensign to stay ahead of threat actors’ fast evolving Tac cs, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs), by examining anomalies in an organisa on’s network, such as malicious behaviours or pa erns associated with different types of cyber threats. Ensign also collaborates with its cybersecurity partners in gathering global threat intelligence to complement its local threat data sources. The combina on of local and global intelligence enables the Ensign Cyber Threat Detec on & Analy cs engine to provide real- me, highly contextualised, Singapore-centric threat insights that focus on a acks targe ng local networks. It can also iden fy threats that are unique to different sectors. This empowers cri cal informa on infrastructure providers, government ins tu ons and enterprises with ac onable, sector-specific informa on, giving

them the ability to iden fy, detect and protect against emerging threats, such as Emotet, with higher confidence and greater accuracy.

Key emerging threat in Singapore Emotet is one of the key cyber threats that Ensign has iden fied through its Cyber Threat Detec on & Analy cs engine. First detected by cybersecurity researchers in 2014, Emotet was created as a Trojan virus to steal financial data for illicit monetary gain. Today, Emotet is becoming a significant threat as cyber threat actors have modified the malware to download and deliver other malicious variants. Between 1 January 2019 to 31 June 2019, Ensign found that Emotet ac vi es in Singapore have increased by more than 300% compared to the same period last year. It has also detected ac vi es from this malware in 50% of local organisa ons’ networks. Tradi onally used to target the financial services sector, Emotet has been modified to target other industries. In Singapore, Ensign uncovered that the top five sectors with the highest regularity of observed Emotet ac vi es in the first half of 2019 were: Ranking

Sector

1

Manufacturing

2

Financial Services

3

Media

4

Avia on

5

Healthcare

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THE NEW NORM

SECURITY PREDICTIONS FOR 2020 In a recently released report, Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cybersecurity solu ons, analyses the increasing cyber risks at all layers of the corporate network, and offers sugges ons to address them. The year 2020 marks the transi on to a new decade, and recent notable events and trends signify a similar changeover in the threat landscape. Cybersecurity in 2020 and beyond will have to be viewed through many lenses - from differing a acker mo va ons and cybercriminal arsenal to advancing technological developments and global threat intelligence - only so defenders can keep up with and an cipate cybercrime mainstays, game changers, and new players. The old paradigm, where networks are isolated behind a company firewall, is behind us. Gone are the days of using a limited stack of enterprise applica ons. The current paradigm demands a wide variety of apps, services, and pla orms that will all require protec on. Layered security that is applied to various implementa on efforts and keeps up with ecosystem shi s will be crucial in tackling the broad range of threats. Tried-and-tested methods - extor on, obfusca on, phishing - remain successful in a acks we see today, but new risks will inevitably emerge. The increased migra on to the cloud, for instance, exacerbates human error - misconfigura ons contribute to the possibility of exponenal compromise. The sheer number of connected assets and infrastructures further creates a slew of issues that opens doors to threats. Enterprise threats will be no less complex, mixing tradi onal risks with new technologies like ar ficial intelligence (AI) in business frauds. Trend Micro’s security predic ons for 2020 reflect the opinions and insights of its experts on current and emerging threats and technologies. The scenarios and developments described are of the possible future, where technological advances and evolved threats will be key drivers for landscape changes. This report intends to empower enterprises in making informed decisions in specific security focus areas that will present challenges and opportuni es in 2020 and the coming decades.

THE FUTURE IS COMPLEX The way the threat landscape has evolved over the years proves that threat actors remain undeterred from compromising systems for their own gain. They shi and adapt in their choice of a ack vectors and tac cs - promp ng the need for users and enterprises to stay ahead.

A ackers will outpace incomplete and hurried patches System administrators will need to be vigilant when it comes to not only the meliness of patch deployments 36

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but also the quality of the patches they deploy. Applying a patch of poor quality to cri cal systems could break important func onali es or lead to failure due to patch defects. Delaying the applica on of a patch, on the other hand, puts systems at risk of compromise due to an a ack on a known vulnerability. Patch-related issues leave open windows of exposure that a ackers will use as points of entry. We an cipate more cases of patch bypass when the patch released is insufficient. For example, an a acker can trigger an exploit by changing a couple of lines to the fix’s code. Last year, a patch for a then zero-day vulnerability in the Microso Jet Database Engine was found to be ‘incomplete’, that is, the flaw was only limited and not eliminated [1]. This year, hackers exploited vulnerabili es in Cisco routers that were later found to have incomplete fixes [2]. A ackers will count on users of open-source libraries to overlook fixes released by the library maintainers. They will also take advantage of patch gapping, wherein a vulnerability is exploited before the actual patch is shipped to the users of the downstream product that uses the vulnerable library [3]. In cases where the patch does not eliminate the vulnerability or a gap exists in patch implementa on, virtual patching can help by providing immediate protec on and shielding from known and unknown vulnerabili es.

Cybercriminals will turn to blockchain pla orms for their transac ons in the underground The underground ecosystem will con nue to evolve as cybercrime ac vi es further proliferate. Trust will play a more critical role in underground markets, as evidenced by the implementation of vetting and escrow payments in high-risk transactions [4]. Blockchain will be seen as a new means to establish a distributed trust system among buyers and sellers; smart contracts will enable cybercriminals to formalise cryptocurrency payments and record them on the blockchain. To maintain anonymity and reduce the risk of exit scams, cybercriminals will turn to blockchain marketplaces that offer a decentralised way to facilitate transactions [5]. Commodity malware like ransomware and the crimeas-a-service business model will still be perennial options for cybercriminals looking to easily profit from attacks.


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Trend Micro predicts escala ng cloud and supply chain risk Trend Micro Incorporated has released its 2020 predic ons report which states that organisa ons will face a growing risk from their cloud and the supply chain. The growing popularity of cloud and DevOps environments will con nue to drive business agility while exposing organisa ons, from enterprises to manufacturers, to third-party risk. “As we enter a new decade, organisa ons of all industries and sizes will increasingly rely on third party so ware, open-source, and modern working prac ces to drive the digital innova on and growth they crave”, said Mr Nilesh Jain, Vice President, Southeast Asia and India, Trend Micro. “Our threat experts predict that this fast growth and change will bring new risks of supply chain a acks. From the cloud layer all the way down to the home network, IT security leaders will need to reassess their cyber risk and protec on strategy in 2020”, he added. A ackers will increasingly go a er corporate data stored in the cloud via code injec on a acks such as deserialisa on bugs, cross-site scrip ng and SQL injecon. They will either target cloud providers directly or compromise third-party libraries to do this. In fact, the increasing use of third-party code by organisa ons employing a DevOps culture will increase business risk in 2020 and beyond. Compromised container components and libraries used in serverless and microservices architectures will further broaden the enterprise a ack surface, as tradi onal security prac ces struggle to keep up. Managed service providers (MSPs) will be targeted in 2020 as an avenue for compromising mul ple organisa ons via a single target. A ackers will not only be looking to steal valuable corporate and customer data, but also install malware to sabotage smart factories and extort money via ransomware. The new year will also see a rela vely new kind of supply chain risk, as remote workers introduce threats to the corporate network via weak Wi-Fi security. Addi onally, vulnerabili es in connected home devices can serve as a point of entry into the corporate network. Amidst this ever-vola le threat landscape, Trend Micro recommends that organisa ons adopt the following course of ac on: • Improve due diligence of cloud providers and MSPs.

• Conduct regular vulnerability and risk assessments on third par es. • Invest in security tools to scan for vulnerabili es and malware in third-party components. • Consider Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) tools to help minimise the risk of misconfigura ons.

Mr Nilesh Jain

• Revisit security policies regarding home and remote workers. The full report ‘The New Norm: Trend Micro Security Predic ons for 2020’ can be accessed at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/ research-and-analysis/predic ons/2020.

Trend Micro Trend Micro Incorporated helps to make the world safe for exchanging digital informa on. The company’s solu ons provide consumers, businesses, and governments with layered security for data centres, cloud environments, networks, and end-points. All the products from the company work together to seamlessly share threat intelligence and provide a connected threat defence with centralised visibility and control, enabling be er and faster protec on. Trend Micro has more than 6,000 employees in over 50 countries and one of the world’s most advanced global threat intelligence. Trend Micro Research is powered by experts who are passionate about discovering new threats, sharing key insights with the public, and supporting efforts to stop cybercriminals. The global team at Trend Micro Research helps to iden fy millions of threats daily, leads the industry in vulnerability disclosures, and publishes innova ve research on targeted a acks, ar ficial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), cybercriminals, and more. Trend Micro Research con nually works to an cipate the next wave of threats and deliver thought-provoking research that can shape strategic industry direc on. More informa on can be obtained from www. trendmicro.com.

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Banking systems will be in the crosshairs with open banking and ATM malware

Managed service providers will be compromised for malware distribu on and supply chain a acks

Operators of mobile malware dedicated to a acking online banking and payment systems will be prolific in 2020. Online payments in Europe will see more ac vity as more banks confirm their support for mobile payments [6]. With the Revised Payment Service Direc ve (PSD2) now in effect in the European Union (EU), and other countries following suit with their own regula ons [7], ‘open banking’ is not far from wider adop on. However, this also means several more security implica ons will affect the banking paradigm, from flaws in banking APIs to new schemes for phishing campaigns [8]. Industry players, old and new, must employ measures ranging from developing so ware that is secure by design to conduc ng regular security audits.

Companies are increasingly relying on outsourcing for their day-to-day ac vi es and needs. With that come apprehensions that a acks via the supply chain will bypass and jeopardise business processes [17] and security measures. The risk lies in pu ng unfe ered trust in third par es like managed service providers (MSPs).

The commodi sa on of ATM crimeware will further gain ground. Variants of Cutlet Maker, Hello World, and WinPot have already been found being adver sed for sale. We expect these ATM malware families to compete for dominance in the underground [9].

Deepfakes will be the next fron er for enterprise fraud For years, email-based scams with evolved techniques [10] have been largely perpetrated by fraudsters in West Africa [11] - and we do not expect this to change. We do foresee fraud advancing in 2020 with new technologies, specifically ar ficial intelligence (AI). AI technology is being used to create highly believable counterfeits (image, video, or audio format) that depict individuals saying or doing things that did not occur - commonly referred to as ‘deepfakes’ [12]. The rise of deepfakes raises concern. It inevitably moves from crea ng fake celebrity pornographic videos to manipula ng company employees and procedures. News of cybercriminals using an AI-generated voice in social engineering surfaced in 2019. An energy company was reportedly defrauded of USD 243,000 by scammers who used AI to mimic the voice of the firm’s chief execuve officer (CEO) [13]. More a empts will take advantage of the technology, using deepfakes of decision-makers to deceive an employee into transferring funds or making cri cal decisions. There will be a shi from tradi onal business email compromise (BEC) [14] and technical support scams. Malicious actors will no longer rely solely on spoofing email addresses and will take advantage of the audiovisual element of deepfakes to lend more credence to their schemes. C-level execu ves will be prime targets for this kind of fraud since they are o en in calls, conferences, media appearances, and online videos [15]. Google has already released a vast dataset of deepfake videos to aid researchers in detec ng forgeries [16]. While ‘deepfake scams’ may be in their nascent stages, employees will have to learn to iden fy telltale signs of deepfakes, such as a different intona on, slow speech, and ar ficial-looking skin in videos. Addi onal verifica on steps in finance-related processes will also be crucial. 38

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Supply chain a acks over the years have taken many forms, including hijacking a so ware update and compromising third-party services to get malicious code to target companies [18]. The la er is what we foresee will most affect small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in 2020. If SMBs outsource parts of their infrastructure or opera ons, these third par es can become springboards for compromise. Compromise in an MSP’s supply chain can spread to other par es downstream. Malicious actors will target third-party service providers and load malicious code into their sites with the aim of harves ng customers’ sensi ve data, among others. A ackers will find distributors or suppliers with weak security postures to spread malware to customer organisa ons. For instance, a breach in a so ware provider’s infrastructure allowed hackers to deploy ransomware on hundreds of dental offices’ systems [19]. This trend will con nue, if not pick up pace. To prevent being hit by such malware a acks, enterprises should perform regular vulnerability and risk assessments and implement preven ve measures, including thorough checks on providers and employees who have system access.

A ackers will capitalise on ‘wormable’ flaws and deserialisa on bugs In May, Microso released a fix for a cri cal remote code execu on (RCE) vulnerability designated as CVE2019-0708 and nicknamed BlueKeep. Since then, the company has rolled out similar updates for vulnerabili es that affect Remote Desktop Services in Windows. As the flaws are ‘wormable’ [20], any malware that exploits them can spread as quickly as WannaCry, which rapidly leapfrogged across the world and took down hundreds of thousands of computer systems in its wake in 2017. Developing an exploit to take advantage of BlueKeep, however, is complex and requires a high level of technical know-how. For instance, a Metasploit module that exploits the vulnerability was released but proved to be unwieldy, unlike the EternalBlue exploit [21]. We will hear more of BlueKeep, and exploita on attempts on other known high-severity vulnerabili es will be forthcoming. Widely used protocols, such as Server Message Block (SMB) and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), will be in the spotlight for a ackers seeking to exploit unprotected systems. The SMB protocol was notably the vehicle for the infamous WannaCry and NotPetya a acks. RDP is no stranger to security issues as well. Aside from being accessed by BlueKeep to run, it is also a common entry vector for ransomware [22] a ackers


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behind the SamSam ransomware scan for devices with exposed RDP connec ons [23]. Other flaws that we expect to become a major concern for enterprises are deserialisa on bugs. Flaws involving deserialisa on of untrusted data are a highly cri cal class of vulnerabili es that, when exploited against enterprise applica ons, can modify data assumed safe from modifica on and allow the possible execu on of a acker-controlled code [24]. Serialisa on is a technique that many programming languages use to translate an object into a format that can be stored or transmi ed. Deserialisa on is the reverse of that process. One of the risks lies in how applica ons that accept serialised objects do not validate untrusted input before deserialising it. Skilled a ackers will con nue to take advantage of this by inser ng a malicious object into a data stream and execu ng it on the app server. Rather than finding several flaws to chain together for code execu on, a ackers can exploit deserialisa on bugs instead to easily gain complete remote control and execute code automa cally even in complex environments. Serialisa on and deserialisa on are important concepts in Java applica ons and are common to many web applica ons and middleware products. Enterprises that use pla orms suppor ng these mechanisms should prac se immediate patching and virtual patching [25] as well as have awareness of system or so ware exploitability.

THE FUTURE IS EXPOSED The converged future ushers in old and new a acks and techniques that expose informa on technology (IT) and opera onal technology (OT) assets.

Cybercriminals will home in on IoT devices for espionage and extor on We foresee cybercriminals and threat actors using machine learning and AI to listen in on connected devices in enterprise se ngs, such as smart TVs and speakers. They can u lise language recogni on and object iden fica on to snoop on personal and business conversa ons. From there, they can iden fy a set of targets for extor on or gain a foothold for corporate espionage. As for other forms of mone sa on for a acks against the internet of things (IoT), cybercriminals have yet to find a scalable business model that takes advantage of the wide a ack surface the IoT affords, not to men on landscape changes like 5G networks. IoT a ack mone sa on, while s ll in its infancy, will be tested in different ways by cybercriminals. Digital extor on [26] is the likeliest of these methods. In underground communi es, cybercriminals have been discussing how to compromise various types of connected devices for their moneymaking schemes. These schemes will be tried on consumer devices at first, with connected industrial machinery as the next logical target. We have already seen related discussions on vital programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that are used to control large-scale manufacturing equipment [27].

IoT devices like routers will be mone sed through botnets, which can be used subsequently as a distributed network for services offered to cybercriminals. It is not far-fetched that router hacking will also come in the form of botnets used for Domain Name Server (DNS) hijacking, peddled as either crimeware or a service, primarily for phishing. Other offerings in the underground include access to webcams’ video streams and smart meters with modified firmware. Such exposed devices will further put conversa ons on IoT security front and centre - par cularly how not all IoT devices have built-in security and are equipped to be properly protected against various a acks.

5G adopters will grapple with the security implica ons of moving to so ware-defined networks As 5G rollout gains momentum in 2020, we expect a variety of vulnerabili es simply on account of the newness of the technology, including its codes and dynamic switching between environments. Even with automa on, the technology will s ll pose challenges not only because of inevitable code defects - vendors are also ill-equipped to address threats related to the technology. Given that the 5G environment is a so ware-defined network that enables high-bandwidth and low-latency connec vity for users and connected devices, it is expected that the networks will service a wide range of applica ons and ver cals. Threats related to 5G networks will stem from vulnerable so ware opera ons (ie the 5G network is managed by a poten ally vulnerable so ware or supplier) and the distributed topology they afford (ie wider avenues for a acks, a large number of connected IoT devices). A ackers will seek to gain control of the so ware managing 5G networks to control the network itself. Addi onally, upgrades involving 5G will be much like the so ware updates to smartphones and will entail vulnerabili es [28]. Researchers have already demonstrated how 5G vulnerabili es can be exploited in different ways using lowcost hardware and so ware platforms [29] and it is safe to assume that cybercriminals are not far behind. Lack of security in 5G networks will also aggravate poten al threats related to confiden ality (eg spying on data/traffic), integrity (eg modifica on of data transmi ed), and availability (eg network disrup on affec ng interdependent sectors) [30]. The current measure of success for countries and vendors appears to be who gets to build 5G first, sacrificing security for speed. Pu ng 5G security as an a erthought, due to hasty migra on and poor configura ons, will pose challenges especially as more services become dependent on the technology. Applying security to 5G-enabled infrastructures post-deployment will be more complex than incorpora ng security from the start [31]. Mi ga ng consequences of inadequate protec ons will necessitate security professionals capable of iden fying problems specific to so ware-defined networks [32]. If the network func ons allow for dynamic shi ing, then security must also be dynamic. For instance, in dynamic deployment of network services via network func on THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

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virtualisa on (NFV) and applica on virtualisa on, security must also be able to keep up with rapid applica on deployment.

for snooping by other users in the same network [36]. Remote devices can be infected with malware that can get into the corporate network and make off with valuable informa on.

Cri cal infrastructures will be plagued by more a acks and produc on down mes

Today’s mobile workforce is no longer tethered to a computer in a tradi onal office se ng. Unlike in a bringyour-own-device (BYOD) setup, employees working from home can move between mul ple connected devices to access cloud-based apps and communica on so ware. Connected home devices serving as a gateway for enterprise a acks is an unavoidable development considering how employees may find these devices (eg smart TVs, speakers, and assistants) convenient for work use as well. Enterprises will have to decide on what informa on security policies to implement to deal with such scenarios.

U li es and other cri cal infrastructures (CIs) will s ll be viable targets for extor onists in 2020. Extor on through ransomware will s ll be cybercriminals’ weapon of choice as the risk for companies is high. Prolonged produc on down me translates to he y monetary losses; produc on lines can be debilitated for weeks, depending on how long system restora on takes. A ackers can also assemble a botnet to mount a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) a ack against opera onal technology (OT) networks. Manufacturing companies that employ cloud service providers will be at risk of supply chain a acks; unsecure providers could serve as jumping-off points for threat actors to a ack and immobilise produc on. Cybera acks jeopardise availability, which is the top priority in these infrastructures, and the pressure to ghten cybersecurity for companies employing the industrial internet of things (IIoT) will only increase [33]. Over the past years, different threat actors have targeted several energy facili es across the world in reconnaissance campaigns [34]. These ac vi es for targeted ransomware a acks focus on ge ng access to credenals for industrial control systems (ICSs) and supervisory control and data acquisi on (SCADA) systems and gathering informa on on how the facili es operate. The impact of these compromises will propagate not only within the affected CI system but also across its interdependencies, with widespread consequences (eg disrup ng local power plants and affec ng energy supplies [35]). This is not to say that system failure due to a acks will affect only the u li es industry. Food produc on, transporta on, and manufacturing facili es will also be at risk as they increasingly use IoT applica ons and human-machine interfaces (HMIs) as their main hub for managing diagnos c and controller modules. Public CIs and government IT infrastructures will find themselves open to a acks for longer than private industrial environments, as these areas of the public sector tend to be underfunded. Informa on gathered in reconnaissance campaigns will give threat actors opportuni es for more coordinated a ack a empts to disrupt not just infrastructures but also public services and poli cal processes.

Home offices and other remote-working setups will redefine supply chain a acks Organisa ons will have to be wary of risks introduced by work-from-home arrangements and internetconnected home devices that blur the lines in enterprise security. A er all, working in home environments is not as secure as being in the corporate network. Furthermore, weak Wi-Fi security compounds risks in remote work arrangements like shared or public workspaces. An open network leaves sensi ve files and informa on exposed 40

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Using the troves of personal informa on they have already amassed, cybercriminals will design enterprise a acks using home and public networks by impersonating employees. These increasingly sophis cated a acks will extend business email and process compromise well past simple redirec on of funds or malware infec on. The employee’s home environment will become a launch point for supply chain a acks.

THE FUTURE IS MISCONFIGURED Cloud and DevOps migra ons present risks as well as rewards to adopters, underscoring the need for security throughout the deployment pipeline.

Vulnerabili es in container components will be top security concerns for DevOps teams The container [37] space is fast-paced. Releases are quick, architectures are con nually integrated, and so ware versions are regularly pushed. Tradi onal security prac ces will not be able to keep up. This highlights the importance of DevSecOps principles for DevOps teams as containers upend more conven ons and shoulder more roles that are cri cal to organisa ons. Rapid development cycles may leave only li le room for security and vulnerability tes ng. An applica on may now require an organisa on to secure hundreds of containers spread across mul ple virtual machines in different cloud service pla orms. Organisa ons will have their hands full with issues in different components of the container architecture, including vulnerabili es in run mes (eg Docker, CRI-O, Containerd, and runC [38]), orchestrators (eg Kubernetes), and build environments (eg Jenkins). A ackers will find ways to take advantage of any weak link to compromise the DevOps pipeline. Vulnerabili es in widely used container images have a detrimental effect on the enterprise pipeline if they are subsequently downloaded. Patching containers will be par cularly tricky if organisa ons rely on a third party for the image fix, trus ng that it is secure. Vulnerabilies in containerised applica ons will affect not only the container code or engine but also many other elements across the stack, which malicious actors can move in on for access and control.


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Serverless pla orms will introduce an a ack surface for misconfigura on and vulnerable codes More enterprises are embracing serverless pla orms to integrate cloud applica ons and reduce costs. Gartner projects that more than 20% of global enterprises will have serverless compu ng technologies deployed by 2020 [39]. Serverless pla orms offer ‘func on as a service’, allowing developers to execute codes without the organisa on having to pay for en re servers or containers [40]. However, going serverless does not mean immunity from security problems. We expect outdated libraries, misconfigura ons, and known and unknown vulnerabili es to be threat entry points to serverless applica ons. A ackers can take advantage of these to gather sensi ve informa on or penetrate enterprise networks [41]. Serverless pla orms also include containers, serverless func ons, and other dependencies, further underscoring the complexity of where a threat may originate from. Since serverless compu ng renders func ons, especially those that are open-source, as stateless, monitoring permissions and storing sensi ve data will addi onally be top concerns in 2020. Besides increasing network visibility, improving processes and documen ng workflows will be essen al to running serverless applica ons. As it is in container-based applica ons, DevSecOps should also be at the forefront of the serverless deployment. Serverless environments will also benefit from the con nuous integra on and ease of use that DevSecOps aspires to [42]. Security tools that tackle serverless infrastructures, including open-source applica on dependencies and vulnerabili es, will be important in serverless adop on and deploying specific func ons.

User misconfigura ons and unsecure thirdparty involvement will compound risks in cloud pla orms An organisa on can s ll be at risk despite regularly upda ng systems and pu ng up appropriate measures if there are misconfigured applica ons and authen ca on issues in the deployment. Basic security controls that are not implemented properly will be a huge security threat to organisa ons’ data. We foresee more incidents of compromised networks due to cloud services’ weak points. Misconfigurations in cloud storages that cause data leakage will still be a common security issue for organisations in 2020. Insufficient access restrictions, mismanaged permission controls, negligence in logging activities, and publicly exposed assets are only a few of the missteps companies will make as they set up their cloud networks. Mistakes and failures involving cloud services will expose a significant number of company records and even lead to incursion of fines and penalties. These risks can be curbed by improving the overall cloud security posture (ie properly configuring and deploying infrastructures) and ensuring that best prac ces and industry standards are upheld.

As more companies and produc ons (eg, manufacturing facili es) [43] move to the cloud, third-party service providers will be increasingly involved. However, there also lies the risk that these vendors may not be experienced with the cloud (ie used to tradi onal processes and systems) and equipped to protect the infrastructure. A ackers will be mo vated to perform DDoS a acks against service providers via botnets to disrupt cloud services.

Cloud pla orms will fall prey to code injec on a acks via third-party libraries More compromises in cloud pla orms will happen in 2020 by way of code injec on a acks, either directly to the code or through a third-party library. Malware injec on can be done in an a empt to eavesdrop or take control of a user’s files and informa on on the cloud. Common forms of such a acks in cloud services’ web applica ons are cross-site scrip ng a acks and SQL injecon a acks. Successful a acks allow hackers to remotely retrieve sensi ve data and manipulate database content. On the other hand, a ackers can go in a different route with third-party libraries that, when downloaded by users, execute injected malicious code [44]. Meanwhile, we foresee more a ackers following data to the cloud. Cloud breaches will be expected as so ware-, infrastructure-, and pla orm-as-a-service cloud computing models are being widely adopted. The more corporate data resides in the cloud, the more malicious actors get interested. Preven ng cloud compromises will require due diligence from developers, careful considera on of providers and the pla orms offered, and improvements in cloud security posture management.

THE FUTURE IS DEFENSIBLE The cybersecurity skills gap and poor security hygiene foment failure in protec on; risk management and comprehensive threat intelligence are vital in crea ng a secure environment.

Predic ve and behavioural detec on will be crucial against persistent and fileless threats Threats that ‘live off the land’ will con nue to evade tradi onal blacklis ng techniques [45]. Enterprises will have to consider solu ons with behavioural indicators, sandboxing, and traffic monitoring. Given that these threats are planted in the registry, reside in a system’s memory, or abuse normally whitelisted tools like PowerShell and Windows Management Instrumenta on (WMI), tracking non-file-based indicators such as specific execu on events or behaviours will be important for detec on. Fileless techniques will also con nue to be notable for other forms of a acks that deploy banking Trojans [46], cryptocurrency-mining malware [47], and ransomware [48]. Aside from Linux threats that focus on infec ng IoT devices to make them part of a DDoS botnet [49], THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

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Linux-based malware will also experience a sustained upsurge as the open-source system becomes an important, if not the primary [50], component in enterprise pla orms. In addi on, malware variants with informa on-stealing capabili es will increase, as these are reliable for gathering informa on that can be used to penetrate more deeply into networks. We expect these threats to persist in enterprise systems through various means - including fileless techniques - ready to respawn their processes for further a acks.

The MITRE ATT&CK Framework will play a bigger role in how enterprises assess security The MITRE ATT&CK Framework provides a comprehensive matrix for security evalua on. Its public knowledge base uses known a acks to classify and explain adversary tac cs and techniques [51]. We expect more enterprises to assess threat models, security products, and organisa onal risks through the lens of the framework. Aside from threat hunters ge ng a be er grip on a acks and pa erns, defenders will also benefit from gauging the effec veness of mi ga ons and security tools. The MITRE ATT&CK knowledge base can act as a common resource for security managers and cybersecurity providers, streamlining how intelligence on a acker techniques and defensive measures is shared.

Threat intelligence will need to be augmented with security analy cs exper se for protec on across security layers We anticipate attacks in 2020 and beyond to be more thoroughly planned, spread out, and varied in terms of tactics. Threat intelligence and security analyses will help organisations to defend their environments proactively by identifying security gaps, eliminating weak links, and understanding attacker strategies. Comprehensive threat intelligence infused into security and respective risk management processes will be invaluable to organisations looking to mitigate risks before any attacks occur. Compromise through advanced threats, persistent malware, common phishing, poten al zero-days, and other a acks can be prevented if insights and protec on are readily available. Having complete environment visibility enables organisa ons to have an effec ve preven on methodology for detec ng threats and deflec ng a acks in real me. This means having be er context beyond the endpoint, encompassing email, server, cloud workloads, and networks as well. Organisa ons will acknowledge that the cybersecurity skills gap and poor security hygiene are s ll significant factors in the 2020 threat landscape. Decision-makers and IT managers will recognise the need for a bigger picture of what is happening in their enterprise environments. Security experts like security opera ons centre (SOC) analysts will help get that consolidated point of view and correlate findings with global threat intelligence. 42

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

CYBERSECURITY IN 2020 Collabora ng with security experts will be essen al in mi ga ng risks in all areas of the enterprise cyber infrastructure. This will allow defenders and developers to gain further visibility and control over their connected devices and address their weak points. Real- me and zero-hour detec on will also be crucial in proac vely iden fying known and unknown threats. The ever-shi ing landscape will require a cross-genera onal blend of mul layered and connected defence powered by security mechanisms such as: • Complete visibility. Provides priori sed and op mised examina on of threats with tools and exper se that mi gate impact and remediate risks. • Threat preven on with effec ve mi ga on. Automatically mi gates threats once visualised and iden fied, alongside an malware, machine learning and AI, applica on control, web reputa on, and an spam techniques. • Managed detec on and response. Provides security exper se that can correlate alerts and detec ons for threat hun ng, comprehensive analysis, and immediate remedia on using op mised threat intelligence tools. • Behaviour monitoring. Blocks advanced malware and techniques proac vely and detects anomalous behaviours and rou nes associated with malware. • Endpoint security. Protects users through sandboxing, breach detec on, and endpoint sensor capabili es that prevent a acks and secure data. • Intrusion detec on and preven on. Deters suspicious traffic like command-and-control (C&C) communica on and data exfiltra on. REFERENCES [1] Catalin Cimpanu. (13 October 2018). ZDNet. ‘Microso JET vulnerability s ll open to a acks, despite recent patch’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://www.zdnet.com/ar cle/ microso -jet-vulnerability-s ll-open-to-a acks-despiterecent-patch/. [2] Ionut Arghire. (29 March 2019). Security Week. ‘Cisco Improperly Patched Exploited Router Vulnerabili es’. Last accessed on 30 October 2019 at h ps://www.securityweek.com/ cisco-improperly-patched-exploited-router-vulnerabili es. [3] Catalin Cimpanu. (9 September 2019). ZDNet. ‘Security researchers expose another instance of Chrome patch gapping’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://www.zdnet.com/ ar cle/security-researchers-expose-another-instance-ofchrome-patch-gapping/. [4] Vladimir Kropotov, Fyodor Yarochkin, and Michael Ofiaza. (7 January 2019). Trend Micro Security News. ‘Your Word is Your Bond: Trust and Ethics in Underground Forums’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/ vinfo/us/security/news/cybercrime-and-digitalthreats/yourword-is-your-bond-trust-and-ethics-in-underground-forums. [5] Europol. (9 October 2019). Europol. ‘Cybercrime Is Becoming Bolder With Data At The Centre Of The Crime Scene’. Last


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accessed on 11 October 2019 at h ps://www.europol.europa. eu/newsroom/news/cybercrime-becoming-bolder-datacentre-of-crime-scene. [6] Apple. (1 October 2019). Apple. ‘Apple Pay par cipa ng banks in Europe and the Middle East’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206637.

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[20] Simon Pope. (13 August 2019). Microso Security Response Center. ‘Patch new wormable vulnerabili es in Remote Desktop Services (CVE-2019-1181/1182)’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://msrc-blog.microso .com/2019/08/13/ patch-new-wormable-vulnerabili es-in-remote-desktopservices-cve-2019-1181-1182/.

[9] Numaan Huq, Vladimir Kropotov, Mayra Rosario, David Sancho, and Fyodor Yarochkin. (28 June 2019). Trend Micro Security News. ‘Crimeware for Sale: The Commodi za on of ATM Malware in the Cybercriminal Underground’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro. com/vinfo/us/ security/news/cybercrime-and-digital-threats/crimeware-forsale-the-commodi za on-of-atm-malware-in-thecybercriminal-underground.

[21] Dan Goodin. (7 September 2019). Ars Technica. ‘Exploit for wormable BlueKeep Windows bug released into the wild’. Last accessed on 24 October 2019 at h ps://arstechnica.com/informa on-technology/2019/09/exploit-for-wormable-bluekeepwindows-bug-released-into-the-wild/.

[10] Europol. (2018). Europol. ‘Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment 2018’. Last accessed on 16 October 2019 at h ps:// www.europol.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/iocta2018.pdf. [11] The United States Department of Jus ce. (10 September 2019). US Department of Jus ce. ‘281 Arrested Worldwide in Coordinated Interna onal Enforcement Opera on Targeting Hundreds of Individuals in Business Email Compromise Schemes’. Last accessed on 16 October 2019 at h ps://www. jus ce.gov/opa/pr/281-arrested-worldwide-coordinatedinterna onal-enforcement-opera on-targe ng-hundreds. [12] J.M. Porup. (10 April 2019). CSO Online. ‘How and why deepfake videos work - and what is at risk’. Last accessed on 11 October 2019 at h ps://www.csoonline.com/ar cle/ 3293002/deepfake-videos-how-and-why-they-work.html. [13] Catherine Stupp. (30 August 2019). The Wall Street Journal. ‘Fraudsters Used AI to Mimic CEO’s Voice in Unusual Cybercrime Case’. Last accessed on 11 October 2019 at h ps:// www.wsj.com/ar cles/fraudsters-use-ai-to-mimic-ceos-voicein-unusual-cybercrime-case-11567157402. [14] Trend Micro. (n.d.). Trend Micro. ‘Business Email Compromise (BEC)’. Last accessed on 11 October 2019 at h ps:// www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/defini on/business-email-compromise-(bec). [15] Liam Tung. (4 September 2019). ZDNet. ‘Forget email: Scammers use CEO voice ‘deepfakes’ to con workers into wiring cash’. Last accessed on 16 October 2019 at h ps://www.zdnet. com/ar cle/forget-email-scammers-use-ceo-voice-deepfakesto-con-workers-into-wiring-cash/.

[22] Jay Yaneza. (9 February 2017). Trend Micro Security Intelligence Blog. ‘Brute Force RDP A acks Plant CRYSIS Ransomware’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://blog. trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/brute-forcerdp-a acks-plant-crysis-ransomware/. [23] Trend Micro. (23 March 2018). Trend Micro Security News. ‘SAMSAM Ransomware Suspected in Atlanta Cyberattack’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at https:// www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cybercrimeand-digital-threats/samsam-ransomware-suspected-inatlanta-cyberattack. [24] MITRE. (19 September 2019). Common Weakness Enumera on. ‘CWE-502: Deserializa on of Untrusted Data’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://cwe.mitre.org/data/ defini ons/502.html. [25] Trend Micro. (25 October 2018). Trend Micro Security News. ‘Virtual Patching: Patch Those Vulnerabili es before They Can Be Exploited’. Last accessed on 24 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/ vulnerabili es-and-exploits/virtual-patching-patch-thosevulnerabili es-before-they-can-be-exploited. [26] Trend Micro. (n d). Trend Micro. ‘Digital Extor on’. Last accessed on 7 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/ vinfo/us/security/defini on/digital-extor on. [27] Stephen Hilt, Vladimir Kropotov, Fernando Mercês, Mayra Rosario, and David Sancho. (10 September 2019). Trend Micro Security News. ‘Uncovering IoT Threats in the Cybercrime Underground’. Last accessed on 7 October 2019 at h ps:// www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cybercrime-anddigital-threats/the-internet-of-things-in-the-cybercrimeunderground.

[16] Nick Dufour and Andrew Gully. (24 September 2019). Google AI Blog. ‘Contribu ng Data to Deepfake Detec on Research’. Last accessed on 23 October 2019 at h ps://ai.googleblog. com/2019/09/contribu ng-data-to-deepfake-detec on.html.

[28] Tom Wheeler and David Simpson. (3 September 2019). The Brookings Ins tu on. ‘Why 5G requires new approaches to cybersecurity’. Last accessed on 16 October 2019 at h ps://www.brookings.edu/research/why-5g-requires-newapproaches-to-cybersecurity/.

[17] Trend Micro. (n d). Trend Micro. ‘Business Process Compromise (BPC)’. Last accessed on 11 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/defini on/ business-process-compromise.

[29] Altaf Shaik and Ravishankar Borgaonkar. (2019). Black Hat. ‘New Vulnerabili es in 5G Networks’. Last accessed on 16 October 2019 at h ps://i.blackhat.com/USA-19/Wednesday/ us-19-Shaik-New-Vulnerabili es-In-5G-Networks-wp.pdf. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

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[30] Trend Micro. (14 October 2019). Trend Micro Security News. ‘EU Report Highlights Cybersecurity Risks in 5G Networks’. Last accessed on 17 October 2019 at h ps://www. trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/internet-of-things/ eu-report-highlights-cybersecurity-risks-in-5g-networks. [31] Tom Wheeler and David Simpson. (3 September 2019). The Brookings Ins tu on. ‘Why 5G requires new approaches to cybersecurity’. Last accessed on 6 November 2019 at h ps:// www.brookings.edu/research/why-5g-requires-newapproaches-to-cybersecurity/. [32] Craig Gibson, Vladimir Kropotov, Philippe Lin, Rainer Vosseler, and Fyodor Yarochkin. (4 April 2019). Trend Micro Security News. ‘Securing Enterprises for 5G Connec vity’. Last accessed on 16 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/ vinfo/us/security/news/internet-of-things/securing-enterprises-for-5g-connec vity. [33] Trend Micro. (15 August 2019). Trend Micro Security News. ‘Securing the Industrial Internet of Things: Protec ng Energy, Water and Oil Infrastructures’. Last accessed on 30 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/ internet-of-things/securing-the-industrialinternet-of-things-protec ng-energy-water-and-oil-infrastructures. [34] Trend Micro. (11 April 2019). Trend Micro Security News. ‘New Critical Infrastructure Facility Hit by Group Behind TRITON’. Last accessed on 24 October 2019 at https:// www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cyber-attacks/ new-critical-infrastructure-facility-hit-by-group-behindtriton. [35] Trend Micro. (22 December 2017). Trend Micro Security News. ‘TRITON Wielding Its Trident – New Malware Tampering with Industrial Safety Systems’. Last accessed on 7 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/ cyber-a acks/triton-wielding-its-trident-newmalwaretampering-with-industrial-safety-systems/. [36] Alfred Ng. (19 September 2019). CNET. ‘WeWork’s weak Wi-Fi security leaves sensi ve documents exposed’. Last accessed on 31 October 2019 at h ps://www.cnet.com/news/ weworks-weak-wi-fi-security-leaves-sensi ve-documentsexposed/. [37] Trend Micro. (n d). Trend Micro. ‘Container’. Last accessed on 10 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/ security/defini on/container. [38] Trend Micro. (28 February 2019). Trend Micro Security News. ‘CVE-2019-5736: RunC Container Escape Vulnerability Provides Root Access to the Target Machine’. Last accessed on 10 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/ us/security/news/vulnerabili es-and-exploits/cve-2019-5736runc-container-escape-vulnerability-provides-root-access-tothe-target-machine.

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stale func ons’. Last accessed on 10 October 2019 at h ps:// www.theregister.co.uk/2018/05/15/stale_serverless_funcons/. [42] Trend Micro. (13 April 2018). Trend Micro Security News. ‘Serverless Applica ons: What They Mean in DevOps’. Last accessed on 10 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/ vinfo/us/security/news/virtualiza on-and-cloud/serverlessapplica ons-what-they-mean-in-devops. [43] Willem Sundblad. (18 July 2019). Forbes. ‘Smart Manufacturing: Crea ng a Hybrid Cloud-Edge Strategy’. Last accessed on 10 October 2019 at h ps://www.forbes.com/sites/willemsundbladeurope/2019/07/18/smart-manufacturing-crea ng-ahybrid-cloud-edge-strategy/#77fc5816af5a. [44] Trend Micro. (29 November 2018). Trend Micro Security News. ‘Hacker Infects Node.js Package to Steal from Bitcoin Wallets’. Last accessed on 10 October 2019 at h ps://www. trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cybercrime-anddigital-threats/hacker-infects-node-js-package-to-steal-frombitcoin-wallets. [45] Trend Micro. (29 July 2019). Trend Micro Security News. ‘Risks Under the Radar: Understanding Fileless Threats’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://www.trendmicro.com/ vinfo/us/security/news/security-technology/risks-under-theradar-understanding-fileless-threats. [46] Henry Alarcon Jr. and Raphael Centeno. (4 March 2019). Trend Micro Security Intelligence Blog. ‘Fileless Banking Trojan Targe ng Brazilian Banks Downloads Possible Botnet Capability, Info Stealers’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://blog. trendmicro.com/trendlabs-securityintelligence/fileless-banking-trojan-targe ng-brazilian-banks-downloads-possiblebotnet-capability-info-stealers/. [47] Augusto Remillano II and Arvin Macaraeg. (12 April 2019). Trend Micro Security Intelligence Blog. ‘Miner Malware Spreads Beyond China, Uses Mul ple Propaga on Methods Including EternalBlue, Powershell Abuse’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabssecurity-intelligence/miner-malware-spreads-beyond-chinauses-mul ple-propaga on-methods-including-eternalbluepowershell-abuse/. [48] Erika Mendoza, Jay Yaneza, Gilbert Sison, Anjali Pa l, Julie Cabuhat, and Joelson Soares. (29 March 2019). Trend Micro Security Intelligence Blog. ‘Emotet-Distributed Ransomware Loader for Nozelesn Found via Managed Detec on and Response’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://blog. trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/emotetdistributed-ransomware-loader-for-nozelesn-found-viamanaged-detec on-and-response/.

[39] Gartner Inc (4 December 2018). Gartner. ‘Gartner Iden fies the Top 10 Trends Impac ng Infrastructure and Opera ons for 2019’. Last accessed on 24 October 2019 at h ps://www. gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2018-12-04-gartneriden fies-the-top-10-trends-impac ng-infras.

[49] Mark Vicente, Byron Galera, and Augusto Remillano II. (3 April 2019). Trend Micro Security Intelligence Blog. ‘Bashlite IoT Malware Updated with Mining and Backdoor Commands, Targets WeMo Devices’. Last accessed on 8 October 2019 at h ps://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-securityintelligence/ bashlite-iot-malware-updated-with-mining-and-backdoorcommands-targets-wemo-devices/.

[40] Sco Fulton III. (9 April 2019). ZDNet. ‘What serverless compu ng really means, and everything else you need to know’. Last accessed on 24 October 2019 at h ps://www.zdnet. com/ar cle/what-serverless-compu ng-really-means-andeverything-else-you-need-to-know/.

[50] Steven Vaughan-Nichols. (1 July 2019). ZDNet. ‘Microso developer reveals Linux is now more used on Azure than Windows Server’. Last accessed on 30 October 2019 at h ps:// www.zdnet.com/ar cle/microso -developer-reveals-linux-isnow-more-used-on-azure-than-windowsserver.

[41] Guy Podjarny. (15 May 2018). The Register. ‘Hey cool, you went serverless. Now you just have to worry about all those

[51] The MITRE Corpora on. (n.d.). MITRE. ‘ATT&CK’. Last accessed on 11 October 2019 at h ps://a ack.mitre.org/.

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PROJECT APPLICATION

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IES-INCA HOLDS NETWORKING NIGHT TO BUILD STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY

The IES Incubator and Accelerator (IES-INCA) held its inaugural networking night on 20 November 2019 at NTU Alumni House @ one-north. The nearly 70-strong turnout included members, IES-INCA incubatees, mentors, investors, industry partners, as well as representa ves from various start-ups. Opening the evening’s ac vi es a er the networking dinner was Er. Edwin Khew, Chairman of IES-INCA. He spoke about the role of the IES-INCA Board, and shared snippets from his technopreneurial journey, which began in 1980 when he was 28 years old. In those days, there was no government support, mentors were few and far between, and the concepts of incubators, accelerators, and angels were non-existent. Entrepreneurs had to source for funding independently, and build up their business and market through friends or contacts encountered in their previous line of work. In response to the government’s Research, Innova on & Enterprise (RIE) 2020 ini a ve, Er. Khew encouraged like-minded technopreneurs such as Adjunct Associate Professor Foo Kim Peng and Mr Andy Wee to set up IES-INCA. This was to provide a new pathway for IES members and young engineers to innovate and start up new deep-tech companies, mentored by veteran engineers from the IES College of Fellows (headed by Er. Chong Kee Sen) and senior members who have many years of business experience. Other Board members were also carefully selected: Mr Teo Ser Luck, with his extensive network of contacts, would be able to help link startups to interested venture capitalists and private equity fund owners; Dr Ricky Souw would be able to assist with prototyping and design for 46

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

Er. Khew, Chairman of IES-INCA, detailed his past experiences with technopreneurship and explained the ra onale behind the se ng-up of the incubator here.

manufacture support; and Dr Alex Lin, with his experience in running similar incubator/accelerators, would be able to help ensure that IES-INCA is operated successfully. Through its links with the ASEAN Federa on of Engineering Organisa ons (AFEO), IES-INCA is able to help deeptech start-ups commercialise and scale up to regional markets. An MOU was also signed with the Ins tute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) to provide mentors to help start-ups value their technology and business, and provide advice on the financial aspects of business management to maintain sustainable growth. Next, Mr Andy Wee, General Manager of IES-INCA, gave an introduc on about IES, its structure, as well as its historical background and achievements. He gave a endees an insight into the selec on criteria for incubatees as well as the resources that were available to support technopreneurs. As a thought exercise, the audience was invited to recommend suitable teams for incuba on, before being introduced to IES-INCA’s incubatees – Smart DB, Solustar, C2Me and E-Smart Marine


IES UPDATE Solu ons. These three startups were given two minutes to introduce themselves. Ms Lim Seow Hui, Director of Startup Development in Enterprise Singapore (ESG), was up next to update a endees about developments in the Singapore startup ecosystem and ESG’s avenues of support. One such area in which IES-INCA is working in concert with ESG is the Startup Accelerator Program (h ps://www.startupsg.net/)

As the talks ended, the audience resumed networking for the next hour or so. Overall, it was a frui ul evening of lively engagement amongst the a endees.

For more informa on about IES-INCA, please follow these links: • Email : incubate@ies-ina.com • Website : h p://ies-inca.com • LinkedIn : h p://linkedin.com/company/ies-inca • Facebook : h ps://www.facebook.com/iesinca

The last speaker for the day was Mr Christopher Ang, Centre Head, Singapore Manufacturing Federa on (SMF), who spoke about Business Model Transforma on trends toward Industry 4.0. He advised business owners to be aware of and adapt their businesses to tap on new opportuni es for growth.

IES YOUNG ENGINEERS COMMITTEE

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 2019 With the objec ves of networking, broadening perspec ves and sharing amongst engineers, the inaugural IES-YEC Mentorship Program was launched The program ran from April to September 2019, and brought together engineers from a variety of disciplines, industries, and age groups. A rather uncommon aspect of the program was that par cipants were both mentor and mentee. By carefully matching mentors and mentees based on their exper se and interests, the IES-YEC Mentorship

Program served as conducive pla orm for its par cipants to share their knowledge and have meaningful conversa ons and exchange life experiences. The closing ceremony was held on 28 September 2019 and graced by IES President Professor Yeoh Lean Weng. The Young Engineers Commi ee would like to express its gra tude to all par cipants for their effort throughout the Program. See you back for the next itera on!

A unique part of the program was that every par cipant was both a mentor and a mentee, able to share their knowledge and learn from others at the same me.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER December 2019

47


IES UPDATE

IES WISER COMMITTEE ORGANISES

TECHNICAL VISIT TO TRANSITLINK On 27 September 2019, a group of seven IES members went on an exclusive Technical Visit to Transitlinl, organised by the IES Women in Science, Engineering and Research (WiSER) Commi ee.

Next, the par cipants toured the TransitLink Card Personalisa on Centre, where they learnt about the electronics, so ware and hardware engineering behind CEPAS card produc on.

The par cipants were first briefed on the history of Transitlink and its pivotal role in Singapore’s transport system as a cri cal interface between commuters and the transit system.

Last but not least, they were given the opportunity to view the daily operations and technologies used at the TransitLink Call Centre. This arm of Transitlink manages various customer issues related to ticket services, general information and feedback on public transport matters.

Transitlink’s roles and responsibili es include being a transit acquirer, a master load agent, an agent for card issuers and a partner for na onal ini a ve public transport projects, such as the 11 concession card schemes for various segments of the popula on, from students to senior ci zens, and the Pioneer and Merdeka Genera ons.

It was indeed an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes glimpse of the engineering behind one of the key support systems in public transport.

Technical visit par cipants and Transitlink representa ves come together for a group photo.

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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

IES Membership –––––––––––––––––– Inside Back Cover

Building and Construc on Authority ––––––––––– Page 01

IES Railway Systems Handbook ––––––––––––––– Page 45

Cementaid (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd –––––––––––––––––––– Page 05

Mul Nine Corpora on Pte Ltd ––––––– Outside Back Cover

IES Chartered Engineer –––––––––––– Inside Front Cover

Singapore Ins tute of Technology –––––––– Page 22 & 23

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