Imagine NatSteel Asia (NSA) as a car and you – the driver – are asked to drive it towards the destination dubbed ‘world-class enterprise’. What would you do before embarking on the journey? One of the first things that you’d most probably do is to check the dipstick just to be sure that you have enough oil in the car engine.

Similarly, NSA, en route to becoming a world-class enterprise, had TBEM assessors from the Tata Group visit it to conduct a Dipstick Assessment from November 6 to 10. The assessment gave the company quick feedback on the appropriateness, effectiveness and deployment levels of its current processes. During their stay, the assessors also conducted introductory talks on TBEM for all staff.

NatSteel therefore believes it has braced itself well and is on track to achieve its first milestone of a 450-point score in TBEM, by end-2007. And by the way, it’s aiming to add a ‘spoiler’- the Singapore Quality Class emblem – too.

“We’re at the TOP!”

“We’re at the TOP!” cheered NatSteel as they celebrated the fact that they had reached an annualised saving of $ 16 million through the Total Operational Performance (TOP) programme. This programme seeks to achieve cost-reduction targets through the implementation of ideas for improvement.

The Core TOP team, comprising 30 staff from different departments and spearheaded by a steering committee, worked intensively from October to December last year to solicit ideas from various departments.They consolidated these ideas, and concluded the first phase of TOP with a roadshow on December 29, 2006.

Mr Joseph Yong, Senior Vice-President for Production says, “Watch out, the second wave of TOP is here! Each department now has to launch its implementation phase and make the projected cost savings a reality!”

Indeed, the onus is now on the idea owners to take charge and bring NatSteel Asia to new heights!

Of open minds and open doors

Before any important circular is sent out, NSA President & CEO, Mr Oo Soon Hee makes it a point to speak with the Unions, face-to-face. This longstanding practice bespeaks his endeavour to enhance management union relations.

Beyond communicating effectively to the Union, he also makes boosting welfare of the workforce one of his top priorities. Take for instance the recent increase of the employment age from 64 to 65 years, on a case-by-case basis, and the fact that NSA is exploring ways to re-create jobs for these workers.

Appreciating the move, Mr Fauzie Omar Altway, General Secretary of NEU said, “These recent changes for the mature workers show not only an enlightened management, but one that genuinely cares for the workforce.”

NSA also has a strong emphasis on health and has a $700,000 per annum health expenditure to take care of its workforce. Safety and training are also aspects that NSA relentlessly advocates. In view of his efforts Mr Oo was awarded the Medal of Commendation on April 29 as part of the annual May Day Awards conferred by NTUC. This award recognises leaders who are proactive in enhancing industrial relations between the company and union.