Post reflections- 3M

3M visit was held today, 16 Nov! Before we enter the innovation centre in 3M, we have to clean our shoes using their machines. This is really something new! To keep 3M plant clean and dirt-free, there is such machine for visitors and workers to clean their shoes! How unique! We were warmly welcomed by the plant manager, Mr Yap and the operation manager, Mr Mok. A short video was played to introduce the products of 3M. Do you actually know that 3M creates 55000 products, with most products created for the industrial purposes. Mr Yap then gave a brief introduction of 3M companies around the world and Singapore plants. He also told us how 3M spend their time thinking about new products using all the existing concepts of 3M!

We were then brought around to see how 3M actually creates their products. The lockers of 3M companies has their roof slanted downwards to prevent workers to place their items above the lockers. This is to keep the entire working conditions in a clean condition. Their working area is split into 2. 1 area is exposed to UV light rays where items are exposed in optimum condition while the other area is the assembly area for their products. They also have a discussion room for their workers to think of better ideas to improve current products or inventing new items. Lastly, we were brought to a "Clean Room". This is where all their products are exposed to dirt-free environment so that the products maintain high accuracy and precision. Mr Mok told us that this clean room is specially designed. The air that enters this room gives a 1 way flow so that dust particles do not retain in the room. There are also vacuum pipes in the side walls for cleaning once a month. Lastly, workers that enter this room has to be dressed up like a mummy to prevent dust entering the room.

I feel that 3M trip was an excellent one as I see how a small plant could operate so efficiently with their careful planning. I have also seen unique products that I have never seen before and realised the importance of innovation. It is not necessarily very important to create something out from no where, although it might be good. Innovation helps to improve products and create new products from there. I believe that 3M employees are excellent thinkers and are full with ideas. It is a very sad thing that their attachment program was scraped by the previous plant manager, an attachment program for students in 3M will definite inspire many engineers for the society in future!