Engineers from the Transport and Water Sectors to Pool Expertise
to Ensure Maintenance Excellence
 

    The Land Transport Authority (LTA), PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, SBS Transit Ltd and SMRT Corporation Ltd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration in the area of infrastructure maintenance through knowledge sharing and staff development.

2.  The MoU signing took place at the inaugural Joint Forum on Infrastructure Maintenance today, and was witnessed by Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure & Minister for Transport Mr Khaw Boon Wan. About 150 senior engineers and staff from the four organisations attended the Joint Forum. They participated in sharing sessions and focus group discussions on topics such as best practices in maintenance and maintenance technology.

3.  Areas of collaboration under this MoU include asset management strategies, maintenance programmes, maintenance expertise and audit processes. Engineers from the four organisations will be able to share their knowledge, experience and best practices in their respective domains, as well as learn from each other, through platforms such as regular forums, joint courses and attachments.

4.  LTA Chief Executive, Mr Chew Men Leong, said: “Engineering expertise is a valuable asset. It comes with knowledge, acumen and years of experience. We are happy to be part of this MoU, through which our engineers can share their experiences with and learn valuable lessons from their counterparts in the other organisations. I am certain this cross-pollination of knowledge will bring about good synergies between the different disciplines and encourage innovation. The deepening of collective expertise across our engineering sectors will improve maintenance practices and eventually benefit all Singaporeans in the long run.”

5.  PUB Deputy Chief Executive (Operations), Mr Tan Yok Gin, said: “Underpinning our extensive water infrastructure systems is a dedicated engineering team and rigorous operations and maintenance regimes that ensure the systems run smoothly round the clock to provide safe drinking water to the population and industry. The team ensures public health by collecting and treating every drop of used water, and reclaims the treated used water into NEWater. Be it the water systems or rail system, similar fundamental engineering knowledge, best practices and asset management approaches apply. There are certainly areas where we can learn from each other. I believe PUB engineers will benefit from the collective expertise that this platform offers.”

6.  SBS Transit Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gan Juay Kiat, said: “Through the various platforms under this MoU, we believe that our engineers will be able to share their experience and best practices, as well as acquire more knowledge to build deeper engineering capabilities. We are committed to developing our staff in their professional competencies. This will ultimately benefit the entire rail industry."

7.  SMRT President and Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Desmond Kuek, said: “We appreciate the networking opportunities for engineering staff from both the water and transportation industries to learn from each other. There are common principles associated with how we can optimise people, processes and technologies to deliver essential services. Our shared experiences will help us develop robust engineering solutions, and promote operations and maintenance excellence in Singapore’s public transport sector.”