A Conversation with Jenny Chan, Country HR Lead, Applied Materials
SSIA: How does receiving this award reflect your company’s commitment to workforce transformation within the semiconductor industry, particularly in the Singaporean context?
Jenny: Applied Materials Southeast Asia (AMSEA) established its presence in Singapore in 1991, has grown from a sales and service office to a strategic hub in the region.
Our workforce has also increased both in number and diversity, supporting different business units, R&D, Regional headquarters and manufacturing, with our Singapore Operations Center (SOC) being Applied’s largest manufacturing facility outside of the United States
We believe to drive innovation and enable future growth; we need to scale our talent. One key initiative is providing opportunities and encouraging employees to learn skills for their current role and new skills for to be future ready and adapting to rapidly changing market demands. Receiving this award further validates our workforce transformation efforts, our successful ecosystem partnerships (educational institutes, SSIA, SEMI SEA , SGLN), and outcomes.
SSIA: What does the Workforce Transformation Award (WTA) mean to you personally, and how do you see it influencing your future contributions to the semiconductor industry?
Jenny: It is a great honor to receive this award on behalf of AMSEA. The award represents the hard work and dedication of our teams, as well as the collaborative and innovative culture of Applied.
The Workforce Transformation Award (WTA) by WSG, reinforces the need to build a skilled and competitive workforce in a rapidly changing labor market. We have the tremendous opportunity at AMSEA to create a future-ready workforce where employees can grow their skills, perform their best work, and enjoy the opportunity to succeed and thrive in diverse roles in R&D, Field Services, Manufacturing and corporate functions.
Through our ecosystem partnerships, Applied helps to enable a future-ready workforce for Singapore’s semiconductor equipment industry through enhanced training and advanced education programs. This includes an initiative with the Singapore Institute of Technology where Applied employees gain access to tailored learning modules in areas including AI and machine learning, smart manufacturing, robotics and automation, data science, and more.
We are committed to helping Singapore cultivate the workforce of tomorrow, and I am looking forward to achieving more for our employees, organization, and the semiconductor industry
SSIA: How has your company adapted its workforce development strategies to align with both local and global trends in the semiconductor sector?
Jenny: With Continued growth in Semiconductor demand ( $1 Trillion by 2030) and major economies (including Singapore) are having decreased fertility rate and increased aging population, resulting in talent shortage.
Increased complexity of semiconductors is driving digitalization manufacturing, implementation of Smart Manufacturing, AI, ML, Data analytics and Automation & Robotics, requiring new skillsets. Technology Innovation such as AI, 5G, automotive (Electric & Autonomous) and IoT are driving frequent shifts in semiconductor manufacturing priorities, shortening overall cycle time between innovation and high-volume manufacturing (steeper ramps), shorter learning curve, requiring a ready workforce.
One key workforce development strategy is Enabling a Culture of lifelong learning and Upskilling through partnership with education institutes to mitigate semiconductor sector trends. We also collaborate closely with educational institutions on employee upskilling programs, such as partnering with Temasek Polytechnic on a Specialist Diploma in Robotics and Automation program; and with National University of Singapore (NUS) on Industrial Post-Graduate Program (IPP) for MSc and PhDs in R&D. Also, with Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) on Advanced and Postgraduate Certificate and more recently, the recently launched Undergraduate Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) Programme with specialization in semiconductor.
Beyond academic programs, we also collaborate with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to offer tailored learning Broad-based programs (training boot camps and short courses) for our employees, focusing on future new technology capabilities programs, such as the Internet of Things, smart factory, digital supply chain, and blockchain technology, data engineering, machine learning and artificial intelligence. To date, over 400 employees have completed our introductory boot camps, another 30 engineers have signed up for deep skilling through the long courses and post-graduation diploma modules (i.e., Data Engineering and Smart Factory).
We are working to partner with education institutions on education integration with industries, aligning academic curriculum and skills training to semiconductor needs. Enabling students to acquire relevant, practical skills that prepare them for employment, shortening the time to contribution when they start their employment.
Young STEM Talent – AMSEA also works with SSIA to encourage STEM studies through the annual Electronics Day event by providing speakers and setting up booths to engage the students. We also provide 20-30 internships each year to undergraduate students and support underprivileged students with bursaries to pursue further studies at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Temasek Polytechnic (TP).
SSIA: Can you provide examples of how your workforce initiatives have made your organization more agile and future-ready, especially in Singapore’s competitive landscape?
Jenny: We just completed an inaugural 10-week course with SIT on an Advanced Certification Program on Data Analytics in Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning for Semiconductor.
The course curriculum was custom curated by both Applied and SIT, equipping our employees with Data pre-processing, visualization, classification methodologies, as well as Artificial intelligent methods for process performance prediction competencies.
As part of our Digital Transformation and Job Redesign program, the course has helped support our Field Service Engineers transit into a newly established AIx Field Service Engineering Organization, where new competencies as change agents, project management, data statistical skills, programming, increased Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning are required.
The collaboration with SIT has enabled workforce agility where we supported our Field Service Engineers transition into a new role, applying new skills in AI algorithms, Data science and Machine learning to support our field operations.
Beyond supporting Applied employees, the course will subsequently be released for open enrolment in Feb 2025, enabling more learners to benefit from the course.
SSIA: How do you view SSIA’s role in driving unity and transformation within the semiconductor sector as we approach 2025 and beyond?
Jenny: SSIA has played a crucial role in driving unity and transformation in the semiconductor sector. It has played a significant role in unifying and fostering collaborations with government and industry players. SSIA’s role in Talent Development and education integration with the semiconductor industry will be crucial in addressing the skills gap ensuring a scalable, future ready workforce for the sector, as well as supporting Singapore’s position as a Talent hub for semiconductor manufacturing and innovation.
SSIA: What message would you like to share with other industry professionals regarding the importance of workforce transformation in the semiconductor sector?
Jenny: Amidst rapid technologies advancements (AI, Quantum computing, Industry 5.0, 5G, advanced semiconductor manufacturing), talent shortage, global competition, complex and volitive global market, Workforce transformation is crucial to remain competitive, relevant and driving Innovation.
It is essentially an organization mindset shift, rethinking how employee works, adapting new technologies and fostering a culture of continuous learning and agility.
“Those who stand still in a fast-moving world get left behind”.
