Building a ‘can do' spirit within the MC Packaging family

Straits Times

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Its success rests on the dedication of its past and present employees, many steadfast in their long tenure
'We overcame the stringent requirements that large multinationals placed on us and proved that Singaporean companies could meet and exceed the quality standards of such companies, and have been partnering with them ever since,' says executive director Remus Whang.
THE key element in shaping a 'can do' spirit in home-grown metal can manufacturer MC Packaging lies in its people, shares its executive director and third-generation business leader Remus Whang.
The 35-year-old had joined the firm, which was founded by his grandfather Whang Tar Choung, in the Covid-19 pandemic years after a five-year stint in finance.
He attributes the firm's success to its strong team over the years.
A core member of this team is its managing director Loy Chee Wee.
'We are very particular about having our staff acquire new skills, especially the technical ones. So, those who stay with the company longer will acquire more skills and have loyalty to the company,' says managing director Loy Chee Wee.
It is not very common that one can say they have lasted over 50 years in a company, even fewer can say they made it to the top, but Mr Loy has achieved on both counts and gets to wear them like a badge of honour.
Now 76 years old, Mr Loy was 20 when he got out of vocational school.
At the interview, Mr Loy's interest was instantly piqued when asked to set up a new metal packaging firm, and that marked the start of his long career in the manufacturing world.
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'Immediately I accepted the post because it was something new, it was interesting and a chance to start a new company that would make me a pioneer member of the team.
'After that, I never looked back,' Mr Loy recounts with a smile.
At that time, MC Packaging was the metal packaging supplier to the Lam Soon group and soon after other reputable local brands like Malaysia Dairy Industries, Yeo Hiap Seng and F&N.
Subsequently, it started to also serve foreign brands like Nestle's Milo, Kiwi shoe polish, Pokka's oolong tea and juice, Brand's essence of chicken to name but a few.
What kept it fresh for Mr Loy, and dozens of long-serving employees like him, was the massive transformation of the industry over the years.
In the 1970s, Singapore's metal packaging industry was starting to evolve. The range of manufactured products widened to include aerosol cans, talcum powder cans, crown corks and many others.
The Republic's manufacturing sector experienced significant growth due to rapid industrialisation, and the nation shifted from focusing on import substitution to becoming an export-oriented model.
Companies like MC Packaging played a vital role in laying foundations for the industry in those days.
At the start, it was the production of simple metal containers, such as round and rectangular cans for the food and edible oil sectors.
Mr Loy says the type of metal can used for packaging was 'a bit primitive' when he first started, but new developments emerged as new machines were developed, and so the industry went from soldered cans to welded cans, from low speeds to high ones. The offset printing and lid pressing technologies also made tremendous advancement in the field of can making.
The progress of Singapore's booming manufacturing sector can be traced in MC Packaging's expansion.
From the mid-1970s, the firm quickly grew its local operations.
A decade later, it grew its business outside of Singapore to places like Malaysia, Hong Kong and Mainland China. It even developed successful turnkey projects in Indonesia and India.
In the 1980s, growth was significant, especially in manufacturing.
Singapore's metal packaging manufacturing industry was then a key part of the country's broader manufacturing sector, and contributed to the production of food, cosmetics, machinery, and other goods.
It was during the start of this period that another long-serving employee Choong Kean Min joined.
'The company trusted me and put me through various departments where I learned quite a lot. I like the job and the company, and the reason I stayed with it for so long is because the company is very fair to employees,' says technical sales director Choong Kean Min.
The 72-year-old, who has risen through the ranks to the current role of a technical sales director, started as a production supervisor 45 years ago after a classmate recommended him to MC Packaging.
'The company trusted me and put me through various departments where I learned quite a lot. I like the job and the company, and the reason I stayed with it for so long is because the company is very fair to employees,' says Mr Choong.
The pickup in manufacturing in the earlier years meant that compensation in the 1980s was attractive, so he moved into MC Packaging where he was given the opportunities to try various roles.
From production, he was asked to join the human resources department, then the quality control division, before moving on to set up a factory in Johor, Malaysia.
Later, the firm transferred Mr Choong to Guangzhou in China for four years before getting him back to Singapore to help set up a joint venture.
He made sure the production line ran smoothly and was asked to join the sales and marketing team, where he has stayed until now.
In the 1990s, the metal packaging industry continued its upward trend, contributing to manufacturing output, job creation and trade balance.
During this period, a sizeable portion of the metal packaging produced in Singapore was exported to other countries, in turn boosting the country's economic growth.
The early 2000s brought the arrival of large infant milk powder players like Wyeth and Abbott, who set up their plants in Singapore with the help of the Economic Development Board.
It meant the firm was able to serve the large multinational corporations (MNCs), says Mr Whang.
'We overcame the stringent requirements that these large multinationals placed on us and proved that Singaporean companies could meet and exceed the quality standards of such companies, and have been partnering with them ever since,' he says.
In particular, the peel off end, which is a type of end that one will see on milk powder cans these days, is a product that MC Packaging introduced about 15 years ago.
The firm invested in the capabilities to produce such ends, and now, this product has become dominant in the infant milk powder can sector globally.
Looking forward, Mr Whang's experience in a disrupted and chaotic supply chain during the pandemic years will come in handy.
He says what pulled the firm through the pandemic was a very flexible team that was understanding.
Now, the company is steeling itself for uncertainties in the macro environment and bracing for possible impact from United States policies on tariffs.
As part of its strategy, the firm wants to grow its overseas sales and is exploring the option of exporting products to the American market.
To stay ahead, Mr Whang says it is crucial to keep an open mind and improve continually.
This is why investments in new technology and looking at how artificial intelligence can be applied are areas to watch.
Mr Whang adds that the best people now tend to go for the tech industries, unlike in the 1970s and 1980s when manufacturing companies had an edge.
So, he says it is vital to think about how the company can stay relevant and attractive to young talent as the industry continues to develop.
For both Mr Loy and Mr Choong, the growth in the industry has kept them busy with constant learning.
The two men are among the more than 20 employees who have been with the firm for 40 years or more.
A good 20 to 30 others who have been with the firm for decades, retired in the last few years, says Mr Whang. 'It speaks to how we have nurtured and fostered a generation of employees who have seen the company as an extension of their families.'
Mr Loy says one of the key reasons staff stay for a long period is because of the training opportunities given.
'We are very particular about having our staff acquire new skills, especially the technical ones. Every time we get new equipment, we make it a point to send this group of staff on rotation for overseas training. So, those who stay with the company longer will acquire more skills and have loyalty to the company,' he notes.
In fact, he says in the late 1970s, the Ministry of Education gave approval for the company to institute an in-house training centre that was authorised to award National Trade Certificates to staff.
Full-time instructors were hired and workshop equipment was specially set up within the firm to facilitate training.
Mr Choong echoes a similar sentiment, adding that the company is generous when it comes to chances to advance and learn more things.
The culture at MC Packaging, he says, mirrors that of its founders.
And to encapsulate such culture, the company's relatively new slogan, 'Because we can', is bound to serve them well in the years ahead.
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