The manufacturing industry has received praise for its part in contributing to Singapore’s economic growth in the second quarter this year. Two Panasonic employees tell us more about their careers in the dynamic industry.

By Nabilah Husna A. Rahman

When you think of “Panasonic”, the various appliances and gadgets scattered around your house might come to mind. But behind the brand equity and its strong market positioning lies a team of hardworking individuals who do their best to unleash only quality products into the market.

Unsurprisingly, diligence is a noteworthy ingredient of Panasonic’s long-standing accomplishments in the industry. It is a valued attitude appropriate for a successful career in manufacturing, as Chew Hung Rhen and Chan Yi Yan both proclaim.

Both employees and their teams play crucial roles in the development of Panasonic as a quality brand and service.

Down to the nitty-gritty
Hung Rhen, a Senior R&D Engineer from Panasonic Refrigeration Devices Singapore was attracted to Panasonic because of its stead as a Japanese company. “First of all, it’s a big organisation with a lot of products,” he says. “It’s very prestigious and since it’s a Japanese company, I have a good impression of the product quality and services.”

The repute of an organisation is an integral point of consideration when searching for a meaningful working experience. However, this Mechanical Engineering graduate from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) also decided to join the Panasonic team due to the relevance of his educational background.

“A lot of what I learnt in university can be applied quite easily in my job scope,” reveals the engineer. “In terms of design, like structural design and heat exchange, we make use of this knowledge to improve our products.”

Hung Rhen’s daily work sees him researching and handling the products on a first-hand basis, from operations to production, and even to design.

“My job scope is more on research and improving on existing mechanical components,” he elaborates. “I also work on products that are more cost-saving, efficient and more ‘green’ or environmentally friendly.”

His team also brainstorms for more ideas on how a Panasonic product can be improved further, or accentuated in terms of design.

“We work in a way to serve the public, by improving and servicing good products. Recently, people are getting more and more environmentally-conscious, so we also make sure that our products are more eco-friendly,” Hung Rhen notes.

The biggest reward, he shares, is “being able to see a product which (he) designed actually being marketed and being enjoyed by people”. That in itself is a major cause for job satisfaction for Hung Rhen.

On his most outstanding achievement, Hung Rhen reminisces, “Developing the first compressor which I made was memorable. It went through a lot of stages because it’s something new. It’s important to keep trying even after you’ve failed.”

With this mindset, he oversees the work of the R&D Department, constantly upgrading the products of Panasonic to meet the needs of the market.

From cradle to grave
While Hung Rhen administers the precise components of product-making and development, his fellow colleague Yi Yan has a bird’s eye view on the structure of Panasonic and its people.

As a Manager in the Circuit Component Business Group, Panasonic Electronic Devices Singapore, Yi Yan’s holistic view of the organisation enables him to complement manufacturing operations with people management. “Basically the mission of Panasonic is to work towards the progress and development of society as well as the well-being of the people, thereby improving the quality of life,” Yi Yan shares.

“To translate this to action, I focus a lot on people management. My role is on how to train somebody and how to develop them so they’re equal to the task or position that they’re assigned to,” he adds.

He also highlights how Panasonic allows fresh graduates to be exposed to different aspects of engineering even while their careers are at the infant stage.

“In our company, when we start out with the job, we are able to see from the development until the production phase, and even until the product’s end-of-life – from ‘cradle to grave’. We are fortunate enough to see the whole product life cycle,” Yi Yan shares.

The NTU graduate also finds that his job gives him a hand in mentoring some of the younger employees in the company. “We are able to see fresh staff coming in and growing to take up higher positions. We spend a lot of time on them to guide them properly,” he says.

Yi Yan also notes his own development since joining the company. “You have to really interact with all levels, from operators to directors. It makes you more daring because you need to talk to people more. It also makes you more firm in your decisions. Along the way, some parts of my character have changed. Now I’m more firm and mature,” he says.

And even at the worst of times, you can expect the entire Panasonic team to work together to tackle a problem.

“We had one crisis where we had a shortage of manpower,” Yi Yan cites. “During that time, everybody really rolled up their sleeves, from the managers and supervisors all the way to engineers, technicians and operators. We really did everything together, hands-on, to get the product out in time. I was quite moved by everyone’s efforts.”

The right attitude
Initiative, diligence and self-learning abilities are only a few of the qualities that you should inherently possess to have a great experience at Panasonic.

As Hung Rhen reveals, “It’s a fun, friendly and helpful environment. We need to produce results. You have to keep in mind the short deadlines and you must have the drive to achieve results.”

Before you foray into a large manufacturing organisation, also consider Yi Yan’s advice: “If the candidate genuinely wants to seek a career in manufacturing, they must be mentally prepared for the long working hours. This is a place where we really put in a lot of hard work. If the candidate justifies these attributes, I would recommend him a career with Panasonic!”

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