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Post Visit - 3M
Post Visit - Qioptiq
Post Visit - GSK
Post Visit - Makino

Makino and Precision Engineering
1 very interesting point about precision engineering is how everything must be accurate even to the micron level. This is because precision engineering is the technology of machines, and machines have to be very accurate such that the products made by the machines remained accurate. It can be even said that precision engineering forms the starting point of manufacturing for they provide machines for manufacturers.
This is further proven by a quote:
"The basic idea is that machine tools obey cause and effect relationships that are within our ability to understand and control and that there is nothing random or probabilistic about their behavior. Everything happens for a reason and the list of reasons is small enough to manage." - Jim Bryan
With such precision, the machines created by Makino/Precision Engineering are of the highest quality and can give the best yield, which will affect what is being produced. Like a chain reaction, if the machines made by Makino are not well done, the parts created by the machines may be flawed, which may affect another product made out of these parts. In a sense, if Makino machines are not well done, the other machines made by Makino machines may not be good as well.
Another interesting point is how Makino machines are often made by the very basic tools such as the hammer, micrometer and so on. The machines made are not made by another machines.
How am I connected with Makino Machines
Makino machines often are used in the manufacturing to produce more products. It could even be that the computer that I'm using, the 3M products I'm using, the washing machine I'm using, are all molded out using Makino machines. Perhaps these products are processed once again from the raw materials, but Makino machines are the ones that has participated in part of the production lines.
Interesting project Ideas
Some interesting project ideas I have is more on how to maintain the sustainability of making these machines, and reducing the amount of carbon emission

Current methods of ensuring sustainability
order to survive . survive.
Currently, raw materials contributed the most to the carbon footprint of Jurong Factory in 2010 with a stunning amount of 90 million kg of CO2 per year.
of the methods used includes increasing mass efficiency of manufacturing products. The Jurong factory is termed the 'factory of the future', and many of the sustainability strategies are being emphasised and tried out here. In the manufacturing of lamivudine, the active ingredient in many HIV combination therapies, a new process will increase mass efficiency (use less raw materials for every kg of products manufactured), reduce water used through solvent recovery operation from 60 litres/kg lamivudine to 15litres/kg lamivudine, and cut the chemical oxygen demand in wastewater to less than a third of the previous level.
http://www.gsk.com/responsibility/cr-report-2010/environmental-sustainability/environmental-sustainability-strategy/
Ideas in mind
Some of the ideas for more sustainability would be creating an inhaler that can be refilled. In the visit to 3M, we have learnt that the flex circuits are now attached onto the printer and thus consumers would only have to buy the ink cartridges which could really save the environment by using less raw materials to make the flex circuits. Similarly, for GSK, if a model that is refillable is invented, it would really save the environment by reducing the amount of raw materials used. The casing for the inhaler is made using plastics, which is made from crude oil. As we know, crude oil is a non-renewable natural resource and thus reducing the amount of plastics made can help to reduce the amount of carbon emission too. Coincidentally, raw materials is the largest contributor to GSK's carbon emission and reducing the amount of plastic used can help the environment in the long run.
Takeaways
The biggest takeaway I have for today would be how seamlessly the whole production building worked together to create a product. In our visit, I found out that the production line actually starts from the highest floor and the products produced will be transported to the floor below it by gravity. The whole building is literally the production line. In this production line, the operators have to always be alert as the machines may overheat at times and the operator would have to fix the problems. This can be applied in my daily life as being even a student or a citizen, we should always be alert about the things happening around us.
Not only so, in this production line, everyone contributes to the success of the product manufacturing. Everyone is responsible for each step of the process and if any mishaps happens along the production line, the products may not be formed successfully and the raw materials may have gone to waste. This concept can be applied in my daily life as it speaks the importance of teamwork. In a team, everyone has to work with one another in order to achieve certain things.

Current methods of ensuring sustainability
GSK is a company that is responsible for the manufacturing of many healthcare products available in many pharmacies. They are committed to integrate environmental sustainability into their businesses. Due to the depleting natural resources, GSK has to maintain a high standard of environmental sustainability in order to survive .
Currently, raw materials contributed the most to the carbon footprint of Jurong Factory in 2010 with a stunning amount of 90 million kg of CO2 per year.
Some of the

New knowledge learnt
Before the visit to Qioptiq my impression based sorely on the research was just the basic optics solution provider. However, what I've not expected was how these optics solutions are actually something that I've never heard of.
To cite one example, one of the methods Qioptiq used is to glue few prisms together to provide total internal reflection to reflect light rays into a certain direction. The part on glueing few prisms together is interesting as I would not have even imagined that happening in the first place.
When I look deep into the science principle, I was amazed at how it works just on the principle of reflection! Such a simple rule can actually provide such magnificent solutions!
Another new knowledge that I've learnt is diamond turning. Diamond turning is a type of precision machining with tools that has diamond-tipped tool bits. It is mainly used to manufacture aspheric lens from materials such as crystal and acrylic. It is only with diamond turning that we can have proper camera lens in our cameras! This is a whole new concept to me and I feel awed at how such precision engineering is so important in optics as well.
Business trend
Firstly. regarding business method, one very interesting point about Qioptiq would be how it has melodious chimes at intervals throughout the day to let the workers have a break. I feel that the concept of having a break is very essential! With rest, we are able to replenish our nutrients, and let our brain take a break. With such breaks, we can go even further as our brains will be able to more optimally. This concept is a good one and I feel that most companies should try to implement such measures.
Interesting project ideas
During the visit, we were shared on how HUDs work and how Qioptiq produces HUDs. One very interesting concept that I have in mind is to incorporate HUDs onto windows and then incorporate it with Layar technologies. With this, we are able to stare out of our windows and know what's around us! Such applications can be incorporated with the Singapore Flyer, as users can look out and see the landmarks near Singapore Flyer.
In the future...
Frankly speaking, I am rather awed at how Mr Ronian is so passionate about astronomy that he wrote a letter to the writer! For me I won't even bother doing so! Back to the topic, I really wonder how my life would become in the future. Though so, I have planned to at least try to either get into Medicine or the Finance sectors (as would most Singaporeans do), Who knows, maybe I would even end up as an entrepreneur or something else! Life is too unpredictable and the only thing we can do is to adapt to it.
What Mr Ronian has shared with us is very inspiring as many of his stories contains takeaways that are very essential for us to apply in life. For example, the most important takeways that I had was that grades don't mean everything. Personally I feel that grades are just a rough indicator of whether you are okay in the subject. However, to me, getting exceptionally good grades without having the same growth in terms of character is useless. I would rather be someone who is good with interpersonal relationships and can do work well (i.e. have a life) but get only slightly better than average grades as compared to one with very good grades but doesn't have a life. Personally, I do not have very good grades, but I am proud at how I'm willing to do work, which has being largely developed in my times in NPCC ExCo.

http://solutions.3m.com.sg/wps/portal/3M/en_SG/Pocket/Projector/
http://solutions.3m.com.sg/wps/portal/3M/en_SG/Pocket/Projector/Main/Uses/SeeItInAction/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE200IACD88IO00S7000000_univid=1273666561999
What are the innovations you have experienced with since childhood?
Perhaps one of the most impactful innovation would be the proliferation of mobile phones and the advancement in mobile networks.With the advancement of mobile phones technology, we are now able to communicate with anyone miles away with just a few taps.
What are some interesting project ideas / areas of research or even hands-on experiments that you think can be explored in future learning of sciences & math in the school?
I feel that physics and chemistry is mainly what is focused in 3M's R&D. Some project ideas could be how post-it notes can be reused without them losing their 'stickiness'

After visiting 3M, I found out so much more about 3M, and some of the concepts behind 'innovation'. 3M felt different from other plants for R&D was a very highly emphasized portion in the company as seen from the plant tour.
Which are the 2 3M products that interest you most and why? What is the science/math behind?
{http://www.hotcouponscoolsavings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/post-it-notes.jpg}
{http://www.ces-show.com/news_images/00416_pocket-projector.jpg}
The reason why it caught my attention was the unusual tininess of this particular projector. Projectors as we usually see are rather big, and often are bulky, hence making them difficult to carry around. However, for this particular pocket projector, it functions just a normal projector, just that the actual size is much smaller, and is able to fit into your pockets. Handy indeed!
What is interesting to take note is that it can possibly be used as a tool for businessmen to do presentation everywhere due to its mobility. I feel that it is capable of increasing efficiency of businessmen as they can be used anywhere. This is especially important if the businessmen would like to show something to the client on the spot.
http://solutions.3m.com.sg/wps/portal/3M/en_SG/Pocket/Projector/
http://solutions.3m.com.sg/wps/portal/3M/en_SG/Pocket/Projector/Main/Uses/SeeItInAction/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE200IACD88IO00S7000000_univid=1273666561999
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_kQdsf49-U&feature=related

The first product firstly would still be the post-it notes that 3M has produced. In my opinion, post-it notes appear to be such humble looking stationery, but they actually have a lot of impact in our daily lives. Post-it notes has subconciously improved our lives by making us more efficient through the reminders that the post-it notes has given to the users.
The science principle behind post-it notes is pressure sensitive adhesives. When pressure is applied by the user, the adhesives forms a partial bond with the object (e.g paper) which holds the post-it notes onto the object that is adhered onto. The bond strength is strong enough to withstand the weight of the notes , but is weak enough for the post-it notes to remove when the user peels it off.
the book.

Another product that caught my attention was the pocket projector
{http://www.ces-show.com/news_images/00416_pocket-projector.jpg}
The reason why it caught my attention was the unusual tininess of this particular projector. Projectors as we usually see are rather big, and often are bulky, hence making them difficult to carry around. However, for this particular pocket projector, it functions just a normal projector, just that the actual size is much smaller, and is able to fit into your pockets. Handy indeed!
http://solutions.3m.com.sg/wps/portal/3M/en_SG/Pocket/Projector/
http://solutions.3m.com.sg/wps/portal/3M/en_SG/Pocket/Projector/Main/Uses/SeeItInAction/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE200IACD88IO00S7000000_univid=1273666561999
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_kQdsf49-U&feature=related