ON THE JOB : TECH SAVVY

Employees on-site at the HP Indigo plant in Singapore .

HP is educating and training a future-ready workforce that will lead the charge in the company ’ s transformation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution .

by sandhya mahadevan

TECHNICAL SPECIALIST Yumi Chui began her journey at HP ’ s Inkjet and Ink Supplies Operations ( ISIO ) in Singapore as an inspector in the Advanced Materials & Test Centre ( AMTC ) in 2006 , and over the subsequent decade , moved up to various roles .

“ My bosses have always encouraged me to upskill . They would also take note of my expertise and skill sets and try to match me with different roles accordingly ,” says Chui . In 2017 , she earned a degree in InfoComm Technology at PSB Academy through an HP program that assists employees in pursuing further education , and her career took on a whole new dimension . Her case is not an isolated one , but rather an example of HP building a work culture that embraces a growth mindset .

HP ’ s approach to work in the context of the radical technological disruption brought

photographs by lauryn ishak

about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution , from artificial intelligence to automation , is to ensure employees understand these new technologies that foster a company ’ s adaptability and resilience and ultimately drive economic growth . The ability to adapt to technological changes is crucial in today ’ s fast-paced world .

“ Our vision is to create the most efficient , flexible , and sustainable manufacturing ecosystem at the frontier of the next industrial revolution ,” says Albert Chan , Global Head of Inkjet and Ink Supplies Operations . “ While we can adopt the latest and greatest technologies , we recognize that the linchpin to our success is our people . That ’ s why we prioritize upskilling and reskilling initiatives .”

This is especially relevant in rapidly growing Asian economies such as Singapore , where the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the urgent threat of skill gaps to organizational growth when some workers from Malaysia and neighboring countries were unable to enter Singapore . It prompted the government to further invest in the culture of lifelong learning it had initiated through programs such as SkillsFuture Singapore , formed in 2015 under the Ministry of Education to strategically shape the country ’ s workforce to be in tune with its own long-term ambitions .

People come first HP Singapore is one of two main locations for the manufacture of Original HP inkjet supplies , including HP Indigo . Today , 35 % of HP ’ s technical workforce in its Inkjet Supplies and Ink Operations have had the opportunity to take on new roles as needs evolve , thanks to internal and external training and reskilling .

While a proliferation of technology has long been a key advantage in Asia , there has been a certain lag in combining tech with learned skill sets and helping workers apply that knowledge to future roles . PwC ’ s 2022 Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey found that a majority of companies have not made upskilling a key workforce strategy — among the surveyed employees , only 40 % said their companies were upskilling

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