SINGAPORE: As part of a drive to improve efficiency, SMRT has trialled a Japanese-inspired “continuous improvement” drive over the past month at its Tuas Depot, the transport operator said on Tuesday (Feb 27) during a media visit to the depot.

The move to improve workplace efficiency uses Kaizen principles – a Japanese term signifying continuous improvements in workflow over time – that are employed at companies like Toyota, and aims to have small improvements that lead up to big changes on the ground.

Overall workplace efficiency has improved and the target now is to make efficiency gains of 50 per cent over the next few years, said SMRT. 

The transport operator is looking to roll out the method at Bishan, Ulu Pandan and Changi depots next month. It currently has four employees trained in Kaizen principles at Tuas Depot and is looking to expand this pool.

As part of efforts to continually improve, SMRT encourages teams to raise issues, which will be looked at by the engineering maintenance manager and resolved within the week, it added.

An example of how the Kaizen concept is used at SMRT’s train depot in Tuas West are changes in how tools used by engineering staff are arranged and stored. 

Under the new method, each piece of equipment has an assigned place, reducing the time workers need to search for tools and to identify if any are missing.

Workstations are also labelled with staff members’ names to strengthen a sense of ownership.

At City Hall’s passenger service centre, passengers could also soon see a lower counter to cater to children and wheelchair-bound commuters. Other ideas being explored include full-height digital screens to broadcast service information.

When asked if the new method could help resolve any of the “deep-seated cultural issues” brought up last year by SMRT’s Chief Executive Officer Desmond Kuek, Chief Corporate Officer at SMRT Gerard Koh, who drives the operator’s continuous improvement initiative, said that it helps to “improve the sense of accountability and ownership of our workers”.

“Importantly, it empowers them to make changes in the areas that they feel they are proud to do their work well,” he said. “It’s actually the management’s effort to say: ‘Hey how can I support you to do your work better and improve the work flow so that it’s easier for you to achieve what you’re supposed to do’.”

He added that the aim of the method is to serve customers well while also caring for staff. 

“One of the immediate benefits we are seeing is our teams are enjoying a deeper sense of ownership and pride over their work,” he said. “Discipline is also improved as work processes are simplified and staff find it easier to carry out the work instructions.” 

The Kaizen-inspired efforts have yielded improvements, said Assistant Engineer Aqeel Kaskhy who leads the team at SMRT’s Wheelset Unit.

“There’s a lot more communication among the management and the staff,” he said. “Previously there was some red tape for us to go through in order to see changes made. So now with the Kaizen team we have removed all the red tape and it’s a lot easier for us.”

“We suggest they make the change and we can actually see the change quite quickly.” 

SINGAPORE: Former City Harvest Church leader Chew Eng Han allegedly paid a Malaysian man thousands of dollars to help him flee Singapore.

The Malaysian, Khoo Kea Leng, and Chew are said to have met in a car park near Block 75 Marine Drive.

Inside a car, the two discussed arrangements for Chew to flee Singapore, and Chew allegedly gave Khoo at least a few thousand dollars for his help in facilitating his escape.

Chew, 57, was arrested last Wednesday (Feb 21) for attempting to flee the country from Pulau Ubin in a motorised sampan piloted by boatman and fish farm owner Tan Poh Teck.

The former City Harvest Church fund manager was due to surrender himself the next day to start serving a jail term of three years and four months for his role in the misappropriation of S$50 million of church funds.

Tan has been charged with abetting Chew’s illegal departure.

Khoo was arrested in Malaysia on Monday and then handed over to the Singapore Police Force. He will be charged in court on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, he was taken back to the scene of the crime at Marine Drive by police.

Dressed in orange patterned shorts and a black T-shirt, and in arm and leg restraints, Khoo pointed to the spot where the alleged transaction took place and described what happened to officers.

At an urgent hearing on Tuesday morning, the Court of Appeal ordered that Chew Eng Han is to start serving his jail term for the misappropriation of church funds on Mar 1, once Chew’s one-week remand period expires. 

SINGAPORE: A Cabinet reshuffle, which is set to take place after Parliament takes a mid-term break, will give younger ministers more exposure and responsibility, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday (Feb 27).

“This way, my successor will be supported by a stronger and more experienced team, committed to leading Singapore to a better and brighter future,” Mr Lee said in a Facebook post.

Parliament will prorogue after the Budget debate, which started on Tuesday, and after the Committee of Supply debates on each ministry’s expenditure, which are expected to end on Mar 9.

In January, Mr Lee said that the Cabinet reshuffle will be “a significant step in exposing and building the new team of leaders”, although he does not plan to appoint new deputy prime ministers.

Mr Lee also said in his Facebook post on Tuesday that he has asked the fourth-generation ministers to draft the Government’s agenda for the President’s Address when the new parliamentary session opens in May.

“It will give Singaporeans a better sense of them and their thoughts,” he said.

Mr Lee said earlier that the Government’s agenda will “bear the imprint” of the fourth-generation leaders, who are taking on greater responsibilities and putting forth their ideas for Singapore.