Find out how two local SMEs turned to IPI’s innovation advisors to improve production methods and market strategy.
Traditional kueh and cleaning supplies may not be the first industries one thinks of when it comes to innovation, but in the competitive landscape of Singapore’s business ecosystem, consistent innovation and improvement are key to staying ahead.
Two local SMEs, Lek Lim Nonya Cake Trading and Million Century, have embraced innovation and external expertise to transform their traditional businesses into forward-thinking enterprises.
Both companies initially participated in the Partners for Business Growth (PBG) programme that is run by the SME Centre, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, supported by EnterpriseSG. This programme serves as a one-stop business advisory centre, providing differentiated assistance to promising SMEs.
Under the PBG programme, Lek Lim Nonya Kueh, a third-generation family business specialising in traditional local kueh, wished to improve work processes and address gaps in production. Meanwhile, Million Century, which started as a distributor of cleaning chemicals and equipment, aimed to refine their market strategy and improve sales of their chemical washing solutions.
At the same time, the two companies were referred to IPI to embark on targeted Innovation Advisory projects. These projects were designed to address the unique challenges each company faced in their innovation journey.
Embracing Digital Transformation
Lek Lim Nonya Kueh worked with two Innovation Advisors through IPI: Dr Rebecca Lian and Dr Ong Mei Horng. The team intended to address the production gaps identified during the PBG programme.
IPI Innovation Advisory Principal Manager, Faith Teng, collaborated closely with the team to ensure their gaps were addressed. She explained that although SME resources can be lean, by identifying significant pain points, these resources can be allocated effectively to solve problems and encourage growth.
“We help them prioritise their problems and advise them on which they should solve first,” she said. “Next, we ascertain if they have the right resources to embark on the project to solve the identified problem.”
To this end, Dr Lian worked with them to reformulate their product to make production easier and alleviate their production capacity constraints.
With Dr Lian, the Lek Lim Nonya Kueh team were able to move from traditional dough mixing—a method used by the original owners over 40 years ago—to a simple machine process that allows for forming and freezing their products. “This reduced labour intensiveness and made forming the product easier—increasing the output drastically,” explained Dr Lian.
She also noted that during the project, the Lek Lim team was open-minded and receptive to the proposals. They followed up on proposals and accepted feedback quickly.
She shared that it is important for entrepreneurs to be “willing to listen and willing to work together as a team to follow through the process”. Dr Lian stressed that IAs are more equipped to help when they are invited to be present throughout the trials to witness successes or failures and address existing challenges.
Dr Ong focused on identifying the right manufacturing software to improve traceability. Throughout the process, the team learnt how to translate their business needs to technical requirements and gained insights into selecting the best solution for their specific challenges.
"We still gained an understanding of the software during the proof-of-concept that it will be suitable for us when we reach the next phase of growth,” said Gavan Sing, managing director of Lek Lim Nonya Kueh.
Throughout the process, Dr Ong encouraged extensive discussion and exchanging ideas and options. With Dr Ong’s expertise, the team explored innovative technologies while mitigating risks.
“It is important to ‘do the right thing right’,” shared Dr Ong. “I aimed to validate and deepen their knowledge as well as provide options and contacts to test their ideas and processes. They were able to come to a decision on the right and realistic solution to implement.”
Redefining Strategy
Million Century’s journey with IPI began with a clear goal—to pivot from being a distributor to becoming a product owner with a focus on eco-friendly formulations. This aligned with their PBG programme objective of improving sales of chemical washing solutions.
IPI introduced the company to Harish Methil, an experienced Innovation Advisor. Methil's approach was comprehensive, focusing not just on product innovation but also on fundamental business management principles.
“Harish was the second advisor that was introduced to me and had the 'golden eye' that was able to see through all my challenges and know what help I needed. He is very knowledgeable and has relevant experiences and insight into my problem,” said Wynne Sor, Business Development Director at Million Century.
Dr Grace Wee, Innovation Advisory Principal Manager took the time to ensure that Methil was a good fit for Million Century. She recognised Sor as a young, energetic and ambitious second-generation owner and knew it was important to her to build rapport with their innovation advisor.
“Besides identifying the suitable innovation advisor,” shared Dr Wee. “My role is also to ensure communication between company and IA goes well during the project—collecting and communicating feedback from both parties so that everyone is aligned with the project milestones.”
Methil worked closely with Million Century to develop a new cleaning product using eco-friendly ingredients while also helping the company improve its overall business strategy and financial management. This holistic approach was essential to setting the company on a path to sustainable growth.
Methil emphasised the importance of breaking down goals and taking a step-by-step approach. “As you embark on a step-by-step approach to problem-solving, you can build your own confidence that your analysis and corrective actions are clearly giving you the progress that you desired, and this is very critical,” he said.
Moving Forward with Innovation
The role of IPI's Innovation Advisors, as well as the entire Innovation Advisory team, extended beyond providing technical expertise; they acted as mentors, guiding these SMEs through the complex process of innovation and business transformation.
This approach has set both companies up for exciting developments. Lek Lim Nonya Kueh is implementing new software and expanding its overseas market for frozen ready-to-eat soon kueh, while Million Century continues to develop new chemical formulations and more efficient cleaning products suited to younger generations.
For SMEs looking to scale, innovate, and compete on a global stage, the journeys of Lek Lim Nonya Cake Trading and Million Century serve as inspiring examples. They highlight the critical role that programs like PBG and organisations like IPI play in connecting businesses with the resources and knowledge they need to thrive in an ever-evolving economic landscape.
“Most of us think that we know everything and what we do is the best. While we may be right, there is no harm in using an external sounding board to test your hypotheses, discuss and debate your strategy, and gain a different perspective,” Methil shared.
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