Topic 1: The Digital Economy and the Future of Business (relevance: overview of the digital economy and how it is changing the business landscape – to foster urgency to learn. Also coverage of widely applicable national or sectoral platforms in use)

Topic 2: Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) (relevance: relate  these ubiquitous but still difficult to understand terms to their everyday life e.g. social media, search engine results, customer relations, etc.)

Topic 3: IDT & A – Ecommerce Solutions (relevance: Manufacturing firms need to find buyers for their products, even if they have fixed contracts, there may still be surplus stocks that could be sold off to smaller-sized customers if they are able to find them. This topic will cover ecommerce platforms for Business-to-business sales)

Topic 4: IDT – Self-help B2B Ecommerce Website Building – Shopify (relevance: a tech-lite approach to setting up an eCommerce website specifically for B2B selling to close gap between manufacturers and their buyers)

Topic 5: IDT & A – AI/Machine Learning-Assisted Production Lines (relevance: this topic help learners to see how AI and machine learning is applicable and applied in manufacturing by covering use cases where AI takes over the control of production lines and processes to improve efficiency and reduce human errors – especially relevant for the new-age factory workers who may be controlling applications and interacting with user interfaces on control stations instead of applying their hands to manual production processes)

Topic 6: IDT & A – Remote and Real-time Monitoring Systems (relevance: this covers technologies available to help firms monitor and manage production processes and equipment centrally through remote means, which can help reduce wastage, improve efficiency, and reduce response times to crises/incidents – this is called ‘Industry Internet of Things’ (IIoT))

Topic 7: IDT & A – All You Need to Know about Cloud (relevance: broad overview of how cloud technology works and how it supports the use of all the tech and tools covered so far and to be covered further in the course – also cover concepts of hybrid cloud to enhance cybersecurity)

Topic 8: CR – What about Security? The “”Big 5″” Threats in Cybersecurity (relevance: after getting some insights into the tech and tools used in the digital economy today, participants will be able to better relate to this topic about cybersecurity, which will cover the “”big five”” threats – Advanced Persistent Threat (APT), Ransomware, Supply Chain Attacks, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) and Pivot in easy to understand language with examples. This will also cover Personal Data Protection Act and how to manage the risk of data leaks with increased digitalisation.)

Topic 9: DA & A – Computer/Machine Vision (relevance: Used in the management of production processes and activities by AI, these technologies used for machine recognition of visible indicators and/or faults can go a long way in improving efficiency and reducing manpower requirements on plants – they are a step up from traditional/existing sensors and monitors in the realm of monitoring technologies used in manufacturing) 

Topic 10: IDT & A – VR/AR Digital Twin/Simulations (relevance: help learners to connect popular buzzwords like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality to the manufacturing sector – predominantly used to create models and simulations to test the workability of new production line designs and train workers in operating, servicing and/or adjusting the lines – due to high costs in assembling/stopping actual production lines for practice/testing)

Topic 11: DA – General Enterprise Analytics Tools (relevance: these are solutions for businesses to organise and analyse data collected in all parts of their business, which is essential given how much data is generated every day in the modern digital economy. Learners will be introduced to free-to-start tools like ThoughtSpot and Tableau)

Topic 12: A – Robotic Process Automation (relevance: after knowing how different tools work and the unavoidable data collection, crunching, analysis and feedback work needed behind it, learners are then introduced to RPA, which helps organisations to automate rote and repetitive processes – thus making work more efficient.)

Topic 13: Action Plan Setting (relevance: the trainer will guide the learners in determining their immediate areas of interest and/or required tech skillsets in their current/desired job roles among the technologies and tools covered, and how they can pursue their learning in these areas after the SFDW)