SINGAPORE - Young professionals and tertiary students can now try their hand at running a manufacturing company via a new web-based business simulation game that was launched on Thursday.
In the game The Fresh Connection, participants will have to form teams of four to make strategic decisions in managing a fruit juice manufacturing firm.
This includes taking on the functional roles of sales, purchasing, supply chain and operation, and dealing with aspects of the business such as picking the right suppliers, deciding on the warehouse capacity, making investment decisions, managing inventories and forecasting demands.
The initiative is aimed at helping participants "discover how supply chains work as they confront various real-life, real-time dilemmas and learning, said Mr Paul Lim, founder and president of organiser Supply Chain Asia, a community for logistics and supply-chain professionals in Asia.
"Cross-functional understanding and collaboration are key components, as teams work together to turn challenges into opportunities."
Mr Lim added that by organising such an activity, SCA hopes to promote "greater awareness and interest among the young to build solid careers in the supply chain management industry".
The competition is supported by both the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
"The burgeoning logistics and supply chain management industry in Singapore has created exciting job opportunities, making training and retaining young talent critical for the development of the industry," said EDB's director of logistics Lee Eng Keat.
Added Mr Ang Chai Soon, director of the manufacturing division at WDA: "It is important to raise awareness and ensure a healthy flow of local talent into this industry to support the evolving needs and growth of companies."
This year, Singapore was ranked the top logistics hub in Asia by the World Bank in the Logistics Performance Index. It is also home to the operations of 20 of the top 25 logistics players in the world.
The finals for the competition will be held on Jan 15 next year. Winners can expect to network with the movers and shakers of the supply chain industry here in Singapore.
