Global CEO Excellence 2017
38 CEO MONTHLY / GLOBAL CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 , Asta Chemicals Sdn Bhd are primarily amanufacturer of chemical resin and adhesives for the wood industry, who also toll manufacture resin and chemicals that are used in the oil and gas industry and in the preservation of animal feed. We invited the company’s CEO Jerry Looi, to tell us more about the company. Resin Manufacturing CEO of the Year – Malaysia Established in 1974 with a current workforce of over 200 employees, Asta Chemicals Sdn Bhd manufacture chemical resin and adhesives for the wood industry. Their customers are mainly involved in the production of plywood, particle boards, medium density fibreboard, furniture, etc. The firm currently also toll manufacture chemicals but mainly for MNC. Jerry brings a wealth of experience to the company he renamed and founded, and gives us an insight into how the company deals with new clients. “My experience in both finance and operations on a global and regional scale has given me a wider perspective and it has enhanced my ability to deal with issues at every level of management. In the case of a new project, we will evaluate the future growth prospect, the financial viability / return within a reasonable time frame, the capital investment (what synergy is involved) and lastly the technical knowhow must be accessible / can be secured and where required proper management & man power are in place. “Our practice is to be transparent and get all the relevant people involved from the beginning of the project because commitment must be a team effort. In doing so, the team objectives and time line are all clearly stated to ensure that we cover all the salient areas. The team will monitor the progress and report accordingly during periodical meetings.” Interacting with clients and making sure they are fully satisfied with the service they receive is important to the company. One of the ways Jerry ensures this is by constantly monitoring the staff and keep them up to date with goings on in management. The staff have incentives for meeting their targets, whilst also being trained properly, to guarantee a safe environment within the company, as Jerry explains. “To ensure satisfaction for our staff, we practise a very transparent management style. Department heads and senior mgmt. staff participate in meetings and keep all informed on the performance of the company. Various outstanding issues and recommendations are discussed whenever it is deemed necessary and decisions are made to carry them out. Close follow up on targets and objectives are corresponded closely with financials which are clearly tabled out in meetings. Incentives are usually paid out when the vision and targets are met. “The biggest challenge is always ‘People’. We need to have well trained people who are committed to their task. We have nurtured a team that is well trained technically and can deliver the required products to our customers on time and within the expected cost. The key in managing this challenge is that we need to manage both our People (including their welfare) and our processes in a systematic manner. We ensure our staff are trained properly to ensure good maintenance so that all aspects of our machinery function well. All employees are required to be aware of our company’s top priority and comply to our EHS policy and guidelines. We all need to be conscious of the management’s desire to protect our people and work in a safe environment.” Looking forward, the company are looking to expand the business both regionally and globally, and with a plan in
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