SPRING sets up enterprise development centres for SMEs

EDCs to conduct workshops to educate SMEs on productivity and to tap available government assistance schemes.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) interested in raising their productivity will be able to get help from any one of the five Enterprise Development Centres (EDCs) under a new Productivity Management Programme (PMP).

For a start, the PMP will be offered by the EDCs at the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation and the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The EDCs at the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will come onboard the programme on 1 November 2010, accordinng to a SPRING Singaore report.

The industry-led PMP is the latest programme to be launched under the SME Productivity Action Roadmap (SME-PRO), a joint initiative of SPRING Singapore and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. It follows after the Productivity@Work website, which was set up in June to provide businesses with productivity information and resources. SME-PRO is a three-step approach for SMEs to 1) Be Aware, 2) Get Trained and 3) Take Action to improve productivity.

Under PMP, the EDCs will
a)    Organise and conduct workshops to educate SMEs on productivity;
b)    Conduct clinic sessions using SPRING’s Integrated Management of Productivity Activities (IMPACT) tool to help SMEs identify specific productivity issues and advise the SMEs on productivity improvement plans and implementation;
c)    Assist SMEs to tap available government assistance schemes for productivity improvements; and
d)    Link SMEs up with certified consultants to implement productivity projects.

With funding support from SPRING, each EDC will have two Productivity Managers to assist SMEs. SMEs will benefit from the basic diagnostic and needs analysis that staff of the EDCs will conduct.

The PMP will be available to SMEs for three years.  In the first year, it is expected that about 900 SMEs will be trained in productivity through the training workshops and clinic sessions organised by the EDCs. About 1,000 SMEs are expected to be provided with productivity advisory services.

“PMP is a promising platform which SMEs can leverage on to jumpstart their productivity and innovation journey. Productivity experts from EDC@SMa will assist SMEs to diagnose the areas for productivity improvements and customise an implementation roadmap. In the long run, this effective engagement will translate into opportunities for SMEs to develop new competitive advantages,” said Ms Doris Chow, Director, EDC@SMa.

"SME entrepreneurs are often involved in the frontline of their business and may lose sight of elements that lead to better growth of their company. One such core element is productivity – understanding the concept, framework and putting it to practice. Under PMP, EDC@ASME will help to enrich SMEs on the fundamentals and measurement of productivity. This will benefit SMEs with a better understanding of productivity and how it can improve their bottom line," said Mr Eugene The, General Manager, EDC@ASME.

“SMEs need to improve their productivity levels to remain competitive. But they face many challenges in doing so, one of which is the lack of know-how. Through the PMP, the Productivity Managers at the EDCs can help bridge this gap and provide SMEs with the necessary assistance to improve efficiency and innovate,” said Mr Png Cheong Boon, Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore.

The EDCs are a joint effort by SPRING and key business chambers and associations to provide SMEs with business advisory services. The EDCs are a part of the EnterpriseOne initiative which also comprises a highly-comprehensive, interactive web portal. This multi-agency initiative managed by SPRING is supported by over 35 agencies from both the public and private sectors.