Koh Kock Leong Enterprise - In Plain Words

#SMETowkay: Forging Ahead with Technology

When Koh Zhi Li joined his family’s earthworks business, Koh Kock Leong Enterprise, two years ago as a project manager, he was surprised at the high overhead expenses that the company incurred daily. He knew that in the earth excavation business, efficient resource allocation — from manpower to the specific deployment of excavators and trucks — is key to being able to deliver projects on time. Earth excavation usually happens before other engineering projects, such as the construction of a MRT station. “The longer we take to complete a job, the more it costs us,” explains Koh.

Labour costs was also especially challenging when managing over 300 workmen spread across various projects. “There are more than 50 work sites at a time; I can’t go down to every work site to check on their progress,” he says. “Everything was hindsight tracking in the past, but it is now important to be able to track (their progress) live.”

To better manage overheads, Koh suggested the company leverage on technology that kept a close eye on critical financial numbers such as labour costs and inventory. This came in the form of a workforce tracking system from digital solutions provider, Hubble. With Hubble’s solution, the company can instantly get an overview of projects’ accumulated labour hours and costs. The software also alerts supervisors if an ongoing project was close to exceeding its budget so that supervisors can then take the necessary steps to speed up the progress at the worksite.

“We needed to know how much we are spending to know whether we can afford to mobilise more manpower, excavators and trucks to expedite the process,” he explains. “But how would we be able to make that instant decision if we don’t have instant tracking?”

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You can click here to read the rest of the article, as well as more stories from the Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore.

Text by In Plain Words. 

6 President’s Design Award Winners in Your Neighbourhood - In Plain Words

They are stellar works from our city-state: winners of the President’s Design Award, Singapore’s most prestigious design accolade. Every year, an appointed panel of expert jurors from Singapore and overseas select these designs that are of national significance and creative value to the country. 

Since 2006, this award has been conferred to 39 designers and 99 designs. Many of these works—ranging from visual communications to industrial design, fashion and all the way to urban design—are a part of Singaporeans’ everyday lives. Here are 6 award-winning designs in the heartlands that may just be around your home or office.

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You can click here to read the rest of the article, as well as more stories from the Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore.

Text by In Plain Words. 

Block 71 - Singapore’s Silicon Valley - In Plain Words

With men in their early 20s dressed in T-shirts and bermudas, a pet dog strutting through the grounds, drawing “oohs” and “ahhs” from more casually dressed people hanging out at the corridors with their laptops and smartphones, JTC LaunchPad @ one-north feels more like a college dormitory than an office space.

But here is Singapore’s answer to Silicon Valley. Housed across three non-descript industrial buildings are some 700 startups, incubators, accelerators, and venture capitalists that have their own definition of “corporate image”. Since 2011, the “world’s most tightly packed entrepreneurial ecosystem” (according to The Economist) has grown in this space at one-north, and it has even spawned a similar model in San Francisco, the original mecca for startups.

We recently checked in with four startups at Block 71 — the building that started it all — to find out what makes “71”, as they affectionately call it, their place for entrepreneurship in Singapore.

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You can click here to read the rest of the article, as well as more stories from the Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore.

Text by In Plain Words. 

Preparing For Your Portrait

Portraits for professional use shouldn't be difficult. However, we have met many professionals who come unprepared or jittery on the day of the shoot. Here are some quick and useful tips for you to look great – and create a strong impression with your portraits.

• Please have enough rest and water the day before. Avoid oily or spicy food a few days before too. This gives you an added natural 'glow' to how you look on the day of the shoot.

• Wear what you feel most comfortable in and that reflects who you are.

For Men

• Consider bringing two blazers/jackets that you use for work.

• Your pants/trousers should fit you well. Wear comfortable shoes.

• For your well-cut shirts, keep it simple – just one colour will do. Avoid dots or stripes. We prefer earthy colours like blue, brown or dark green. Avoid loud colours like shocking pink, purple or red.

• Here are some examples of business and smart casual attire respectively.

For Women

• A simple and basic amount of make-up always helps. A minimal use of photoshop helps keep the portrait authentic.

• If you can get your hair done before the shoot, that will be ideal. Alternatively, consider using hair spray or gel to prevent loose strands of hair on the face.

• Consider a well-fitted business suit with white shirt. Bring an additional jacket to have an alternative look. A scarf or shawl can provide for a different look.

• Avoid dots or stripes. Avoid dots or stripes. We prefer earthy colours like blue, brown or dark green. Avoid loud colours like shocking pink, purple or red.

• Here are additional ideas for your inspiration.

Singapore Theatre Festival 2018 - W!LD RICE

After a whirlwind of shoots, we are delighted to share these images promoting the Singapore Theatre Festival 2018, presented by W!LD RICE. The Singapore Theatre Festival is an event dedicated to celebrating contemporary Singaporean theatre through the development and presentation of new and original local writing. 

Working closely with art director Ching Kai, it was a memorable experience imagining these plays come alive through photographs. 

Please lend your support and watch these riveting plays before tickets are sold out.