Project Management 101

 

Over the course of almost 3 decades, I've gained invaluable work experience in the field of Environmental Simulation Test Chambers. In the last 10 years, my company has undertaken over 20 major and minor projects requiring Project Management and I have learnt the hard way of delivering what the customer expects, most of the time.

Locally or overseas, it is crucial to follow strictly the following steps and this post is a timely reminder to all the readers and followers of what, in my humble opinion, would constitute a seamless and smooth transition from order placement to project handover of single item equipment, to much larger pieces of combined systems in order to grow the company's revenue and reputation.

Risk Analysis

At the start of any project proper, do a thorough Risk Analysis of what the project entails before even providing the initial quotation. Ask yourself what are the prospective gains in terms of profits, and what is the very worse case scenario, that is, what the business can potentially lose if all hell breaks loose and nothing is delivered, and there is liquidated damages to pay to the client.

The steps normally taken in the project - be it for something as simple as a piece of equipment sale to much larger multiple equipment cum construction deliverables.

a) Quotations and Technical Submissions

b) Presentations

c) Shortlisting  

d) Acceptance of Project

e) Gantt Chart and Possible Timeline Changes

f) Payment Terms

g) Payment Progress balanced with Company Cashflow Needs

h) Audit / Initial /  Pre / Post buy off of the said equipment or deliverables

i)  Installation 

j)  Commissioning 

k) Handover and final Payment. 

Rule 1 of Project Management 

Know your company and your suppliers' capabilities 110%. Be very familiar with what you can safely provide and what would constitute a 50 / 50 design call. 

Rule 2

Commit less and Deliver more than what your client expected

1.Equipment quality

2.Performance deliverables

3. Shipment Timelines.

4. Timely aftersales support.

Rule 3

Collect as much upfront in payment upon order 

Rule 4

Establish close communication with the factory making the equipment and ensure all items are double checked and tested in the factory before the equipment is shipped out.

Rule 5 

Trust only your instincts and what you see first hand. We do regular audit checks in factory before shipout, to ensure compliance and reliability of the equipment are to the highest performance standards.

Rule 6 

Install and commission thoroughly and speedily. Leave nothing to chance. Check multiple times with the factory and when the equipment arrives. Ensure a thorough checklist is done before the machine is shipped out and shown to client upon arrival and run through the same checklist upon arrival at client's location.

Signoff with the client speedily.

Rule 7

Aim for High Profits and High Downpayment ; Pare these with the cashflow situation of the company. 

Rule 8 (new)

Do a complete project debrief after each and every project to see what went right and what can and must be improved for the next upcoming project. 

 

What is the true meaning of Home.

                                                   Tiong Bahru Market 13 April 2025 

3 May will be our election day. While the hustle and hubris is yet to come, I am reflecting at a time about my home for the last 6 decades. I have travelled to over 40 countries over the last 40 odd years since my mid teens to be sure. I have visited some truly amazing places, some with beautiful scenery, some amazing people, some with majestic architecture from 3000 BC till the mid 20th century, many with totally unforgettable experiences, the list is endless. However, I consider Singapore my home, even though the lure of the foreign lands is there. 

What constitutes home ?

I was born in Kandang Kerbau Women and Children's Hospital (at Middle Road) by Professor Salmon (Prof Yvonne Salmon was our family friend). I was born in the year of the Tiger at 6.42 pm on the 27th of November in the early 1960s.  

That was what it was stated in my birth certificate.

I was raised by Dad, Mum and Por Por (maternal grandmother) at 6 Adis Roa, Singapore district 9, in a sprawling colonial bungalow of around 40,000 square ft which now is part of a large condominium complex. In my earlier posts and on Youtube, I recall my childhood being filled with very carefree days with nary a thought of school homework (there was practically none), ECA, nor any study concerns. I happily coasted through those 6 years in primary school. More of my early years in later posts.

Getting back to this post's objectives. 

Home in my mind, and experience is the intuition or feeling that I truly belong in a place. That sense of belonging results from a culmination of setting up of the following :

> The present network of family, close friends made from school (my alma mater is Saint Andrew's), National Service, University and then after University through work or networking.

> The presence of family and the ties that bind, through marriage, through blood (father and mother). We are family though we may be spread all over the world. At last count, I have cousins in Australia, Norway, USA, Malaysia, Portugal, Thailand, Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong and of course Singapore. 

80% of my extended family reside in Singapore.

> The sinking of roots in buying an apartment, then a house and raising my family here.  

> The common experiences shared between me and my fellow Singaporeans who have walked the path from the tumultuous 60s (Singapore was a newly minted country with many challenges, both external and internal), the rapid socio economic development of the 70s - 90s and early 2000s is something only the Baby Boomers of my fellow citizens will experience and knowingly acknowledge that, yes, we went through it.  

> The tough National Service training every able bodied 18 year old Singaporean male has to serve for 2 and a half years.

> The pre University and University experience of studying in the Halls of Residences, taking the many examinations, the project works, the sleepless nights, 

> I had also the  additional super enjoyable experiences of representing the Nanyang Technological Institute in the  televised TV debates in 1984 and 1986 respectively against all the other tertiary institutes like, the 2 NUS teams, the National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore Polytechnic (2) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic (2) 

> The 30 plus years of working first in a small MNC then starting my own businesses (2), starting a family in Singapore, raising 2 sons, and the time goes by all with the unique Singaporean experiences in the form of challenges, some wins, many yearly family holidays (since 1997)

> All these experiences shaped me, my thinking and over time the bonding I had and have with the country of my birth. I have always and will always be a Singaporean. 

So what makes me say that this is home ? Well below are many instances of situations which subconcsiously remind me :  

If I'm hungry, and its lunch time and I want to have a decent meal, with the food tailored to my decades old palette, I am spoilt for  choice with literally close to 50 types of dishes I can choose from, from the nearby hawker centres, coffee shops, shopping centres with Food Halls normally in the Basement. 

A quiet drink at the patio 

If I wish to cook, then the fresh food markets like Tiong Bahru and Toa Payoh sell everything from the freshest crabs, cuttlefish, sea bass, grouper (at least 20 types), poultry, pork, beef, vegetables and fruits.

If I feel lethargic, I can go for a run at at least 6 different parks with beautiful pathways and views all over Singapore. On other days, I take a walk around my neighbourhood and come to a forest just 3 minutes, away. My cycling days are at least once a week at East Coast Park.

If I want company outside of family, I can reach at least a dozen mates who can and will have time to chit chat, at any of the member clubs, or the numerous night spots in Club Street and downtown.

Fine dining, Singapore is a food paradise for people with some money, its not cheap (over USD 100 per pax) but the cuisine is world class for many many top restaurants. Even some of our hawker stalls are Michelin Bib Gourmand level.

If I don't feel well, I have my family doctor whom I've known for 30 odd years at Coronation Clinic, and if I want an Eastern doctor, I know of 2 major setups all within 15 minutes drive (one in McPherson and one in Toa Payoh)

So, Home is the 

1. collection of relationships developed over decades.

2. the shared collective experiences of doing things together as a united people (football matches at the old National Stadium for one) 

3. the self aware feeling of "I am part of this scene"

4. some purchases such as an apartment or house and car.

5. the social / business network - transactional at least, and transactional plus some at best - which supports me as I go about my daily life. Some examples :

a) my family doctor

b) my car service mechanic

c) the network of SME owners whom we meet every 3 to 6 months

d) the clubs staff who tend to my requests for food and drink. (No I don't hang out at any regular bar at all)

5. The acceptance of the way things are done here and no where else in the world :

a)  the familiarity of 'how things work over here' - like 'choping' of tables with tissue packs

b) cleaning up after ourselves at hawker centres.

c) No eating or drinking inside MRT stations and trains.

d) No Littering

Funny, I can't describe the meaning of home in one sentence. I guess that is why home evokes a whole orchestral performance of emotions intertwined with some logical  reasoning of why I love my home.

Comments anyone ? 

Bistecca Birthday Dinner 12th April 2025

 

Macaroni and Cheese 

Yesterday we celebrated May's birthday at Bistecca Tuscon Steakhouse at 26 Mohammad Sultan Road. The 3 of us, Noel, myself and May ordered 2 steaks medium done and a series of starters which I must say is truly exceptional.

The exceptional starters are :

a) Octopus Grilled with Tomato paste (bottom picture). 

   My Rating : 5 / 5

  

I've eaten some amazing grilled Octopus dishes in Singapore, from the likes of Alati (Amoy Street), Bakkalaki (Merchant Road) and Blue Kouzina (Dempsey) just to name 3. We've also tried some wonderful grilled Octopus in Napfoli Greece in 2022 which will go down as the best we have ever tasted. 

I can safely say, this ranks with the best Octopus we have eaten in Singapore. 

The texture is a little crunchy outside, tender inside, and so flavourful all around, without any hint of fishy or  salty taste. The tomato pesto tastes great too.  

Broccoli and Bacon Bits 

Squid Ink  Lobster Pasta 

M/y Rating : 5 / 5 

This has got to be the best Squid Ink Pasta I have ever eaten, here or anywhere else in Europe. There are bits of lobster which surprises my palate with every bite. 

The texture is wonderfully soft, the taste is like no other, and the aroma of the cheeses, and some wine is evident with each bite. Truly a heavenly tasting dish which I would be happy to eat again and again. The price tag of  $ 48 ++ is on the high side. I believe the calorie counter will go through the roof too. 

Ribeye M5 400 g (left) and Wagyu M2/3 200 g 

The true test of any steakhouse is ,well, the steaks. We've travelled the length and breadth of Italy 3 times in the last 7 years, and Tuscany steaks are well aged, and most oftentimes, eaten rare. In Florence, Tuscany, they proudly have their stakes done rare, and bloody. 

In our case, we had ours medium.

The rating 

Wagyu : 5 / 5

Ribeye  : 4 / 5

The Wagyu was superb, texture wise, grass fed Australian cow. The taste was a little salty but very savoury. Could I eat it without the sauces ? Yes, though the 4 sauces really enhanced the flavour to a 'heavenly'  note. 

Ribeye was highly marbled and if it was medium well, the fatty part would be turn out crispy  and more to May's palate and liking. I liked it the way it was done. With regard to the sauces, my favourites were the

a) Horseradish sour cream

b) Mushroom Steak Sauce

c) Dijon Mustard. 

Squid Ink Lobster  Pasta 

Octopus 

Finally for the side dishes, we had 2 to be shared amongst us. The Mac and Cheese I did not try but it appeared unappetising. The other one, the Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Bits was a 'hit', though it was salty.

Side Dishes 

Brussels Sprouts

Rating : 4 / 5 

Mac and Cheese

Rating : N A.

Drinks : Pinot Noir 

For $ 25 a glass it was expensive, but since it was a special occasion, I decided to splurge a little.

Service 

It was very good, but something I would expect from a top rated restaurant such as this. The service staff cleaned our plates quickly, wiped the table free from any breadcrumbs and food, refilled our water without prompting and was very helpful in suggesting the house specials.

Nothing spectacular but very welcoming. 

Best Steakhouse in Singapore ?

Its a toss up between Bistecca and Wooloomooloo at Raffles City. 

Price Range : $ 420 for 3 pax or $140 per pax all in.

Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse

26 Mohammad Sultan Rd

Singapore 238 970

Reservations Needed ? Yes. 

Do it online, at least 2 weeks in advance. 

How will Trump's Tariffs impact the world ?

As a small business owner, I read and watched with some trepidation when Donald Trump announced on 2 April that the US was implementing tariffs worldwide to 181 countries. Major countries were slapped with as much as 54 % tariffs (China for example).

How will these tariffs impact the world ? Who will bear the brunt of his Make America Great Again ?

One thing is for sure, the stock markets around the world have dropped as much as 10 - 15% of their value and left a trail of trillions of dollars of losses.

US Citizens will feel the major brunt of the action, in the short run. Price of eggs for example have escalated from US$ 0.30 to US$ 1.00 per egg. If the person was a multi millionaire or billionaire, then the impact on his monthly expenses will be insignificant, but for tens of millions of Americans this will mean the difference of eating 3 meals a day to perhaps 2 meals a day.

It is a terrible reduction in the quality of life for tens of millions of American citizens.

The recent DOGE action to terminate literally hundreds of thousands of US Federal jobs have made millions of families go to the edge of bankruptcy and despair, coupled with the loss in trillions of dollars in ETFS share prices whereby the 401 (K) retirement funds are invested in, means that their promised pensions may be cut by up to 30%. Their 'golden retirement' nest egg and the Medicaid cuts are all being thrown into a cesspool of uncertainty.

Worldwide, there may be geopolitical instability as the bastion of democracy and freedom these last 80 years after the 2nd World War is no more. 

The USA is fast becoming no more than a self serving 3rd world country with a big chip on its shoulder. Friendly countries are being dumped and faced with uncertainty and stonewalling.

 

5 Rules to Success

1.Show Up  - Accountability.

This is the No. 1 rule for me. When the chips are down and the bread needs to be buttered, show up and be accountable. Successful people show up when it is absolutely crucial to the completion of the project, the potential sale and the accountability of the mess up.

It is the major difference between winners and losers. 

2. Be Clear on Why You are Where You Are at this point. Don't lose your head.

Setting goals are one thing, but achieving them are completely different matter, and I must be clear that when I set goals, I must achieve them, else I will not give myself excuses.

Many times, I am doing something and then I go wayward and end up doing something else, similar but not achieving the major objective however painful or unpalatable it is to carry out.

Be clear to address the elephant problem in the room, no procrastination, no matter how unpalatable that process turns out to be. You and only you must do it.

Lesser people will procrastinate, give excuses, delegate the issue to someone else and the consequences normally will turn out to be a compromise, or something less than ideal. 

                    With Noel at a Greek Restaurant Pano Kato (29 March 2025)

3. Give the Best Version of Yourself - Day In and Day Out.

Give of your best daily. Your mind, your body and your soul. 

4. Be Resilient 

Bounce back from failure, learn to walk away if the challenge is too big to handle, lick your wounds and live to fight another day.

If you choose to fight on, be resilient, and come back up fighting. It will be messy, it will be bloody.

You may fail again and again. 

5. Be Humble. 

Never brag about your achievements, its better to let people find out about your success when other people write about them. Success is only temporary. It is fleeting. Learn to savour the moment and move on. 

Its the same with failure and setback. Swallow your pride and take the bitter medicine and learn from your failures.

Try not to dwell on the failures too long. It becomes emotional baggage which drags you down from moving forward. 

Lunch at Tinto Dempsey 28 Mar 25 Friday

 

Chorizo Paella 

I had another pretty amazing lunch at Tinto Spanish restaurant at Dempsey recently. Rey, a new business associate and friend I have known for a couple of years was in town recently, and I hosted him a business lunch to discuss some terms of our mutual cooperation. The lunch menu consisted of 3 dishes, and I have chosen to highlight 2. 

The first, (above) was the Chorizo Paella which I must say was exceptional and very tasty. Though it appeared a little salty, it was extremely good on the palette and very filling.  The saffron  long grained rice was nicely cooked and the lemon bits added to the zing.

Suckling Pig 

The suckling pig (leg portion) with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables was another standout dish. The skin was crispy and the meat, tenderful and juicy. It was a little on the gamey side, though I would think that this dish is best shared, Rey seemed to enjoy this dish far more than I did. 

Paellas (Dry Martinis)

We had a couple of Paellas, and I would say, the conversation flowed very smoothly from the get go. 

 

Here's to the start of a good relationship. 

WUI - Writing under the Influence - Here is my take

 I sure you have heard or seen of the word DUI, that is Driving under the Influence of Alcohol which can be punishable by a stiff fine or even a jail sentence, here and in many countries abroad.

Now that I am slightly inenbriated with a bottle of Soju (12% alcohol per serving), I am writing to explain the effects of it, since I wrote so disaffectedly about the perils of alcohol (and the other vices).

Your cognizance is slightly enhanced if you drink a couple of sips. If you consume increasing amounts, it will spiral downhill fast and your ability to think logically, see or visualise, even hear well enough will impact you in a negative way.

Hence, all those posters warning drinkers to "Drink and not drive." If you drink, be responsible and take a Grab or use the "drive me home" service. It will save you, some strangers and your family a whole lot of trouble, if you get caught.

The alcohol limits of people go down significantly, and in my case, it takes very little to get me in a tailspin, so a can or two of beer is my limit. I don't like whisky, or the fine spirits, and the worse poison I will succumb to will be wine which is 12 % or so alcohol content.

The upside of alcohol drinking ? Right now, the feeling of loss of inhibition or 'scared to lose face'. Apart from that, I can't find any transient 'joy' in drinking it on a regular basis, as I have enough of life's little satisfactions to give me the 'edge' or 'bounce' day in day out.

I will resolve to cut out drinking to perhaps once a month. 

It will give my wallet a much needed breather.