YCH Group Move Towards Setting Up Knowledge Research Hub to Push Innovation In ASEAN
Oct 1, 2019 12:00:00 AM
The ASEAN Applied Research Centre is a joint initiative together with National University of Singapore, and supported by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council.
Singapore, 1 October 2019 – YCH Group, Asia Pacific's leading integrated end-to-end supply chain management and logistics partner launched the ASEAN Applied Research Centre (AARC) yesterday under the witness of Minister Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry, at Digitized ASEAN 2019.
Supported by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), the AARC is a joint collaboration by YCH as an industry partner and National University of Singapore (NUS) as a knowledge partner to bring together researchers in ASEAN to develop innovative and practical solutions, in a collective effort to resolve real world challenges faced by ASEAN businesses today.
(From left) Professor Andrew Lim, Head of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management Department, NUS; Dr Robert Yap, Executive Chairman of YCH Group; Minister Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry, with Mr Arin Jira, Chairman of ASEAN Business Advisory Council
Through this partnership with NUS, the top university in Asia, researchers from all over ASEAN will leverage Supply Chain City® (SCC), YCH's state-of-the-art flagship facility, as the sandbox to validate their solutions prior to implementation. With the aim to be a think-tank to develop solutions through extensive research and testings to resolve day-to-day business challenges in managing supply chain, the AARC will promote knowledge sharing, accelerate the growth of the ASEAN industries and further the cooperation among the ten member ASEAN states.
This partnership is in tandem of YCH's trajectory in its emphasis in innovation research and development. Earlier in the year, YCH also signed an MoU with Nanyang Technological University's EcoLabs Centre of Innovation for energy to look at innovations that can be implemented in the supply chain and logistics with SCC as a testbed for small, medium enterprises and start-ups looking to implement sustainable solutions not only for conventional logistics but also in other areas like energy efficiency and electric mobility from a supply chain perspective.
Moving forward, AARC looks to continue to work with other institutions of higher learning, as well as industry associations, to expand and develop more research works for the respective industries.
"Through our hard-earned experience in driving connectivity in this region, YCH has risen over the last few decades to be the leading integrated end-to-end supply chain management and logistics partner - with our latest efforts towards improving the ASEAN-China connectivity. It is important for us to grow as a pack, to share our best practices and to innovate together so that we can capture the great opportunities generated in ASEAN economy and Asia Pacific as a whole," said Dr Robert Yap, Executive Chairman of YCH Group.
About YCH Group
YCH Group is a leading homegrown, end-to-end supply chain solutions partner to some of the world's largest companies and favourite brands across the Asia Pacific region. YCH works across five distinct industries, from electronics and chemicals to consumer goods, always customizing solutions to suit its clients' products. Due to the versatility, YCH is able to provide sophisticated management of its clients' assets.
Connectivity Network
From establishing regional connectivity to setting up greenfield operations in emerging markets or expanding product scope, YCH's robust distribution networks and innovative solutions offer compelling value to companies that desire to grow and scale across Asia and beyond. With deep-rooted understanding of local terrains and in-depth presence, YCH's regional connectivity complements its wider range of specialised services. Its DistriParks and supply chain hubs are strategically located in more than 100 key cities across countries such as Greater China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and South Korea.
YCH is also working with partners in Vietnam and Philippines, to establish Smart Growth Centres as part of SGConnect™ (Smart Growth Connect), ASEAN Business Advisory Council's (ASEAN-BAC) fifth Legacy Project. The Smart Growth Centres in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi aims to be the supply chain hub for urban cities, that will distribute and manage a range of different products for the city population while reducing socio-economic burden such as pollution, congestion and noise by leveraging of technologies to maximise distribution efficiencies and quality.
YCH's footprint is also strengthened with distribution development such as the China-ASEAN Regular Shuttle Service. This Chongqing to Singapore cross-border cargo transportation service was borne from the strategic partnership with Chongqing ASEAN International Logistics Co. Ltd (CAIL) and Chongqing Banan District Government, which started back in 2016, strengthening YCH's expansive connectivity between the two countries.
By jointly developing a southward trade route and logistics passage connecting China and ASEAN as part of the CCI (Chongqing Connectivity Initiative), the successful completion of the China-ASEAN Regular Shuttle Service, is open to new opportunities to further promote trade between China and ASEAN region by allowing regional businesses to enjoy an avenue of fast and on-demand cargo transportation service, with Singapore and Chongqing playing the role of mutual hubs in ASEAN and Western China respectively.
With its mantra of "innovate to survive", YCH launched Supply Chain City® in 22 September 2017. Headquarters for YCH and located at heart of Jurong Innovation District in Singapore, the 2 million square-foot equivalent state-of-the-art facility serves as Asia's supply chain nerve centre that aims to accelerate industry best practices, support Singapore growth as a leading logistics hub and set new industry standards in Asia Pacific. Through the unique LEARN™ ecosystem, YCH synergises various business activities and entities to create a dynamic and vibrant community, where ideas can be exchanged freely, and businesses, including YCH, are able to leverage one another's strengths to innovate and grow.
Supply Chain City also features the world's first patented FusionARIS® - a seamless fusion of an Automated Storage Retrieval System (ASRS) and ramp-up warehouse integrated solution - along with inventory-counting drones and advanced robotics such as AGVs (automated guided vehicles). The ASRS is the largest in the region, and the tallest at 50m in height.
Technology and innovation have always been embedded in the DNA of YCH's business. From moving people to moving cargo, giving existing facilities new leases of life, introducing IT into our supply chain operations, and creating an ecosystem to enhance the supply chain industry – all these are landmarks in YCH's vision to transform supply chain and logistic in the region.
Yvonne Wong (Ms)
Email : yvonne.wong@ych.com