New Sembcorp system for operations

It lets firm monitor overseas power, water and steam plants from Singapore in real time

Ms Low with (from left) Sembcorp Industries' Mr Neil McGregor, non-executive and non-independent director and chief executive-designate; Mr Ang Kong Hua, chairman; Mr Tang Kin Fei, group president and CEO; and Mr Ng Meng Poh, executive vice-president
Ms Low with (from left) Sembcorp Industries' Mr Neil McGregor, non-executive and non-independent director and chief executive-designate; Mr Ang Kong Hua, chairman; Mr Tang Kin Fei, group president and CEO; and Mr Ng Meng Poh, executive vice-president and head of group asset management, utilities, at the launch of the Global Asset Management System in Sembcorp Technology and Innovation Centre on Jurong Island yesterday. ST PHOTO: JONATHAN CHOO

Sembcorp Industries officially launched a new system yesterday that will help it better manage its global operations.

The system, which has been operational for about four months, allows the firm to monitor its overseas power, water and steam plants from Singapore in real time.

It provides a live feed of data transmitted from Sembcorp's plants in India, Britain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore to the group's operating centre on Jurong Island. This data will include factors such as the power output, equipment temperature and equipment vibration rates.

Consolidating this data lets Sembcorp compare and calibrate the performances of the plants to maximise productivity.

Sembcorp also expects the Global Asset Management System will help it save up to $100 million in the next seven to eight years by detecting problems and failures early.

"The data will alert us to any deviations from the norm for our equipment. This will allow us to avoid unplanned downtime, which can be quite costly. The foresight it provides allows us to investigate and solve the problems before they happen," said Mr Lim Yeow Keong, Sembcorp's senior vice- president for group asset management (utilities).

Sembcorp has invested $6 million in the system and expects to pump in an additional $8 million in the coming years to expand it to operations in other countries.

The firm is also spending $75 million over the next five years on local research and development initiatives to maintain its market relevance and increase its efficiency.

Parliamentary Secretary (Education and Trade and Industry) Low Yen Ling said at the launch ceremony yesterday that more companies should follow Sembcorp's lead in engaging digital technology to transform their operations.

"While the Government can put in place the supporting initiatives and measures, companies that prepare themselves and build up the required capabilities to adopt digital technology will stand to benefit and be well-positioned for the near future," she said.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 01, 2017, with the headline New Sembcorp system for operations. Subscribe