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SUCCESS CASE
How an Interior Construction Specialist Secured S$270K+ for Production Automation
RIC helped an established interior construction specialist secure CTC Grant support for a large-scale production automation and workforce transformation project.
CATEGORY
Factory and Process Optimisation
CLIENT TYPE
Interior construction / fit-out solutions
GRANT TYPE
NTUC Company Training Committee Grant support
FUNDING SECURED
Over S$270,000
About the Client and Project
Client Profile
The client is an established Singapore interior construction specialist with nearly 30 years of track record, delivering high-quality fit-out solutions across Singapore and regional markets. It serves major enterprise clients, including multinational corporations, hospitality groups, and large commercial developments. The company holds internationally recognised certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001, and has close to 100 employees.
Project Nature
The project involved transforming a labour-intensive workshop environment into a streamlined, technology-driven production facility. Key technologies included a CNC panel sizing saw with optimisation software for automated material cutting with minimal waste, an integrated dust extraction and ducting system to improve safety and reduce manual cleaning, and a magnet motor system covering compressor, air dryer, and filtration to provide stable compressed air for automated machinery. The project also included production layout redesign, system integration, and workflow improvements.
Funding Objective and Challenge
Funding Objective
The funding objective was to support a CTC Grant project that combined production automation with workforce transformation. The grant helped fund advanced manufacturing technologies, layout redesign, and system integration, while supporting worker outcome commitments such as wage increments and job redesign. The project aimed to improve productivity, reduce manual labour, increase accuracy, reduce material wastage, improve workplace safety, and move employees into higher-skilled operational roles.
The Challenge
The client was an established interior construction specialist with nearly 30 years of track record, close to 100 employees, and a strong base of enterprise, hospitality, and commercial clients. However, parts of its production environment still relied on labour-intensive workshop processes, including manual panel cutting, fragmented workflows, and material handling inefficiencies. The challenge was to frame the project as a production transformation initiative, not just machinery purchase. The grant case needed to show how advanced manufacturing technologies would reduce manual labour, improve accuracy, reduce wastage, increase throughput, and create better workforce outcomes through job redesign and wage increments.
How RIC Supported the Client
RIC supported the client through a comprehensive grant advisory and project management process.
RIC’s support included:
• Conducting a detailed assessment of existing production bottlenecks, including manual panel cutting, fragmented workflows, and inefficient material handling.
• Developing a fully integrated automation strategy covering machinery, production layout redesign, and system integration.
• Quantifying productivity gains, including reduction in manual labour, improved accuracy, throughput increase, and workforce outcomes.
• Building the financial and cost analysis needed to justify investment in advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Structuring worker outcome commitments, including wage increments and job redesign to meet CTC Grant requirements.
• Working closely with specialised machinery vendors and solution providers to ensure the proposed technologies were robust, scalable, and aligned with grant evaluation criteria.
• Providing end-to-end grant management support after approval, including implementation monitoring, workforce transformation deliverables, claims documentation, compliance, and audit support.
RIC’s role was to help the client turn a labour-intensive production model into a fundable automation and workforce transformation project.
Outcome
FUNDING SECURED
Over S$270,000
The client secured over S$270,000 in CTC Grant support for a large-scale production transformation initiative. The project reduced reliance on manual processes by approximately 50%, improved productivity and operational efficiency, enabled employees to transition into higher-skilled roles such as CNC operators and automation technicians, delivered committed wage increments of 5% for impacted workers, improved production accuracy, reduced material wastage, enhanced workplace safety, and positioned the company for scalable regional expansion.
What This Means for Similar Companies
For construction, fit-out, and fabrication businesses, automation funding is strongest when the project is linked to both productivity and workforce outcomes. This case shows how CTC Grant support can help a company move from manual workshop processes into a more scalable production model, while also improving job quality for workers. The strongest cases connect technology adoption, production redesign, measurable efficiency gains, wage increments, job redesign, and long-term business expansion.
