As we bid farewell to 2023, we reflect on a year marked by significant growth, resilience, and fruitful partnerships. The achievements we celebrate today are the direct result of the steadfast commitment of our dedicated team, coupled with the invaluable support generously extended by our valued customers and trusted partners.
In the face of dynamic shifts within the manufacturing industry, INCIT has remained at the forefront of innovation and adaptation, staying committed to supporting organisations worldwide in navigating the transformative landscapes of modern manufacturing.
Join us as we revisit 2023 in our year-in-review—a period of new milestones, exploration, and meaningful collaborations.
New Product Launches
In 2023, we introduced three new offerings aimed at boosting sustainability, knowledge sharing, and data analytics in the manufacturing industry to new and greater heights.
Consumer Sustainability Industry Readiness Index (COSIRI)
In response to the evolving business landscape driven by climate change, we recognise the urgency for organisations, particularly manufacturers, to proactively embrace sustainability initiatives. Despite this, many manufacturers still grapple with addressing sustainability challenges effectively—struggling to pinpoint areas needing attention and lacking clear, step-by-step guidance and solutions.
To address this, we collaborated with McKinsey & Company to develop COSIRI, a key prioritisation index equipped with comprehensive frameworks and tools. COSIRI has already found resonance within the industry, with companies such as Rockwell Automation, Yokogawa, and more adopting it. Launched in February 2023, COSIRI guides manufacturers in starting, scaling, and sustaining their sustainable transformation initiatives as well as enhancing ESG efforts.
Global Executive Industry Talks (GETIT)
In the ever-changing business environment, staying well-informed is crucial. Therefore, we created GETIT—a free-to-access thought leadership platform featuring various industry leaders and start-ups as they share key knowledge, expertise, and the latest industry insights.
Some featured leaders include Mr. Hongbum Jung, CEO of Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore; Dr. Nick Miesen, Global Head of Digital Operations for Henkel Adhesive Technologies; and many more. Launched in August 2023, GETIT serves as a comprehensive knowledge hub for the manufacturing sector.
XIRI-Analytics
As we recognise the critical role that data analytics play in improving organisational decision-making and business operations, we collaborated with Celebal Technologies in a global strategic partnership to develop XIRI-Analytics. This transformative platform integrates AI elements, providing tailored solutions for manufacturers across all industries. Introduced in November 2023, XIRI-Analytics empowers stakeholders to make well-informed, data-driven decisions, increasing operational efficiency and enhancing strategic foresight.
Expanding our horizons: Fostering collaborative success worldwide
Over the past year, our strategic partnerships have played a crucial role in enhancing our global presence, fostering innovation, and enriching our service portfolio. In this section, we highlight key partnerships that fueled our journey last year.
Henkel Adhesive Technologies
Welcoming Henkel Adhesive Technologies Operations & Supply Chain (AO) into our partner network in January marked a significant milestone, as AO became the first company to join our membership programme. This has enabled Henkel to accelerate its digital transformation initiatives across its enterprises by gaining access to and utilising our frameworks, tools, and platforms; including the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI), ManuVate, and more. Read more
Academia Fellow
In March, Professor Yee Fook Cheong of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) was officially appointed as an Academia Fellow for INCIT to help drive Industry X.0 capabilities and sustainability in manufacturing. This was yet another exciting milestone as Professor Yee is the first individual to join our network of partners and collaborators in this capacity. Read more
Beyond these, our global outreach continuously expanded as we partnered with organisations worldwide to establish Training and Examination Centres in various countries, including Malaysia, China, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and more.
Selangor Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC)
We formally partnered with SHRDC to establish a COSIRI Training and Examination Centre in Malaysia to further our commitment and drive progress in transforming the country’s manufacturing sector by addressing sustainability and talent development. Read more
Suzhou Industrial Park
The first-ever Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) Training and Examination Centre was launched in Suzhou Industrial Park, China—a momentous achievement for INCIT and our longstanding training partner, TÜV SÜD. This initiative is one that significantly contributes to China’s industrial policy, aligning with their strategic efforts to enhance manufacturing capabilities and propel the manufacturing base to greater heights on the value chain.
Innovation Management and TRIZ Institute
We formalised a shared commitment with the Innovation Management and TRIZ Institute to establish a SIRI Training and Examination Centre in Azerbaijan. Maintaining a strong pipeline of future-ready manufacturing facilities is crucial for countries to harness the full potential of Industry 4.0.
Swiss Smart Factory
We collaborated with Swiss Smart Factory to establish a customised manufacturing facility in Switzerland, named the ‘Smart Sustainable Manufacturing Transformation Centre (SSMTC)’. This innovative collaboration marks a significant step forward in advancing the principles of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing. Read more
KalDer
We partnered with KalDer to set up SIRI and COSIRI Training and Examination Centres in Türkiye. KalDer is one of Türkiye’s largest leading NGO and a representative of EFQM. This partnership reflects our commitment to excellence in training and examinations, and is poised to accelerate the uptake of Industry 4.0 sustainability and digitalisation initiatives among manufacturers in the country.
TÜV SÜD
We once again joined hands with our longstanding partner, TÜV SÜD, to officially establish a COSIRI Training and Examination Centre in Singapore. This new initiative will not only spread the reach of COSIRI globally, but it also underscores our commitment to fostering a more sustainable and resilient future for businesses and individuals worldwide.
These are just glimpses of the many connections we fostered throughout the past year.
We also cultivated meaningful collaborations with academic institutions, such as Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore, to drive the adoption of COSIRI. Additionally, we onboarded MidasDX.com in the United Kingdom as a Training and Examination provider for SIRI, among others.
Explore further details about our extensive partner network here.
Innovation in Action
This segment captures the vibrant energy of our participation in conferences, events, and trade shows throughout the year— highlighting some of the key occasions that have propelled our progress.
Open Innovation Day
In July, we were invited to the first Open Innovation Day in Vietnam, where we took the stage to engage in insightful discussions, share strategies, and highlight the types of solutions and resources that companies, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), can leverage to overcome digital and sustainability transformation hurdles and drive progress. Read more
In October, we were invited for the second Open Innovation Day in Vietnam. Serving as panel speakers once again, we immersed ourselves in a transformative experience alongside like-minded experts and industry leaders. Read more
Lean Six Sigma Day
The trajectory toward operational efficiency is increasingly moving towards digitalisation. Compelling forecasts have suggested that lean principles and digital transformation will converge and intertwine as organisations progress on their transformation journeys.
During the ‘Lean Six Sigma Day’ conference hosted by SOCAR Türkiye, INCIT served as part of the panel speakers, delving into various topics during the “Digital Transformation and Lean: Enhancing Efficiency in Business Processes” session. Read more
Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP) 2023
A key highlight last year was our participation at the global trade show, ITAP 2023, as a silver partner exhibitor. With a focus on practical solutions and meaningful engagements, our journey through ITAP was marked by valuable interactions, new connections, and insightful dialogues.
As our team adeptly navigated challenges and celebrated the successes of ITAP 2023, the event left a memorable mark on us, further strengthening the bonds within our team. Collaborative problem-solving enhanced a sense of unity, a shared purpose, and significantly contributed to cultivating a more vibrant and cohesive work culture among the team.
Lighthouses paving the way to sustainable manufacturing
The World Economic Forum hosted this 2-day event in Suzhou Industrial Park, China last month, an event we had the privilege to attend. This event uniquely emphasised both the Chinese and global contexts, delving into how advanced manufacturing technologies can catalyse a new era of sustainability — a necessity to achieve decarbonisation targets. The event also highlighted the crucial role that COSIRI plays in this transformative process. Learn more
Government Engagement Highlights
This segment provides a concise overview of some impactful sessions and meetings we had with government entities from various countries last year. These interactions serve as a reminder of our commitment to cultivating productive dialogues with governmental bodies, emphasising our dedication to effective communication and collaboration.
Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan
In August, we hosted a delegation from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan at our Singapore headquarters. During the two-hour session, we explored how SIRI and COSIRI could be incorporated into academic institutions to provide essential education and learning, equipping the current and future workforce with resourceful knowledge and skills.
Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
The Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, accompanied by esteemed delegates, visited our exhibition at the ITAP 2023 trade show. We engaged in discussions with Dr. Ir. Wahyu Otomo, MS, Deputy Minister for Regional Development and Spatial Planning Coordination, focusing on the global transformative impact of SIRI, COSIRI, and XIRI-Analytics.
Department of Trade and Industry Philippines
We also welcomed ministers from the Department of Trade and Industry Philippines to our Singapore headquarters—an enriching event that facilitated the fostering of connections and meaningful dialogues.
Looking Ahead
It has been an eventful year marked by significant growth, unwavering dedication, and enriching collaborations. From spearheading sustainability initiatives and making progress with COSIRI to launching the knowledge-sharing platform GETIT and introducing the transformative data analytics platform XIRI-Analytics, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and transformation.
Our strategic partnerships, spanning the globe from Henkel Adhesive Technologies to collaborations with academic institutions like Temasek Polytechnic, have not only enhanced our global presence but also reinforced our commitment to driving positive change in the manufacturing landscape. Government engagements, participation in exhibitions, and events such as ITAP 2023 have further solidified our position as a driving force in empowering the international manufacturing community.
Looking ahead, our vision for the upcoming year revolves around continuous innovation, sustainability, and growth. We aim to strengthen our position within the manufacturing industry, deepening customer engagement to accelerate the growth of the global manufacturing sector. Strengthening partnerships and cultivating new collaborations are key to our journey ahead.
In 2024, anticipate new features and enhanced capabilities for SIRI, COSIRI, XIRI-Analytics, ManuVate, and the launch of our new platform, InnoSphere, as we continue to push the boundaries of innovation.
Thank You
Wrapping up a year of challenges and victories, our heartfelt gratitude goes to our exceptional team, valued customers, and trusted partners. Your support continues to motivate us, and we look forward to the continued journey together.
As we conclude this retrospective journey, we invite you to actively participate in our future endeavors. Whether a team member, customer, or potential partner, your involvement is crucial to our success. Connect with us on social media, share your thoughts, and let’s make the upcoming year one of collaboration, growth, and shared achievements.
About INCIT
The International Centre for Industrial Transformation (INCIT) is an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) institution which champions manufacturing transformation. As an independent non-profit entity, INCIT (pronounced as “insight”) collaborates with both public and private sector manufacturing-related organisations to support industrial transformation, enabling global manufacturing to become more resilient, productive, and better positioned for future success.
