The SEA Greif RIPS team in Singapore worked vigorously in 2016 to set up a new GFSI Certified Plastic Production facility to meet a global supplier’s needs to have a local packaging supplier and product to support the company’s growing demand in that market.
From preparing the plant location to signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the customer, the Singapore team was able to develop a new facility and product from inception to completion in under one year.
Involving several managers from the Singapore team and representatives from the team in France, the transformation process began with informative visits to other Greif facilities, staff training on GFSI standards and close coordination with the customer on a global level. Working in partnership with representatives from various customer functions, from supply chain to operations, the cross-regional team gained a greater understanding of what their needs were and how to create the right solution.
The cross-regional, cross-functional collaboration on the transformation process brought another benefit. It allowed the customer to see the positive impact of this partnership even before supply began, and solidified their decision to make Greif their partner in the region.
“GFSI Certification was a new concept for all of us. But with the team effort and right attitude, we built a strong foundation with our customer and gained their trust. The key thing that struck our customer is that at Greif we deliver what we promise with sheer determination and persistence,” said Gezali Rasidi, Key Account Manager, based in Singapore.
The customer’s goals were achieved to have their packaging supplied locally plus the creation of new Plasticaps required by the customer. What’s more, the customer gained a partner with global presence that can open new opportunities for future collaboration throughout the Greif network.
“We really reached into our expertise across the globe to deliver a new product and become the local supplier for the customer. This was a really great win and an outstanding team effort,” Rasidi continued.
