THREE years ago, when home-grown beverage and food company Yeo Hiap Seng (YHS) decided to expand its Singapore plant, raising productivity levels along with safety and quality was high on its agenda.

With lids on, Van Goor placed the tomato jars into the retort along with a large can of green beans. Meanwhile, we scooped the soft apples into a machine that separates skin and seeds from flesh and ...