By Elizabeth Wilmot

THESE are economically nervous times, but it remains crucial that companies keep upgrading their business management capabilities, said Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

Mr Lim said during the Business Excellence Awards presentation ceremony last night: 'A recent study by Accenture found that companies that manage well over time can improve their performance relative to the competition, even during economic downturns. They are not only able to pull through, but also to grow, during challenging times.'

It was an apt comment, given that nine companies were rewarded for demonstrating outstanding business excellence this year across five award categories - Singapore Quality, Quality Award with Special Commendation, People Excellence, Innovation Excellence and Service Excellence.

The Quality Award went to four organisations: Avi-Tech Electronics, which provides solutions for the semiconductor industry; Baxter Healthcare, which produces intravenous sets and pumps; the national water agency PUB; and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Avi-Tech Electronics is the third small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) to win since the Quality Award began in 1994.

'As an SME, we have to work with limited resources, which means staying lean in order to maintain higher profitability. Fortunately, we have a team of committed staff who are willing to go the extra mile to make things happen,' said Avi-Tech Electronics chief executive Lim Eng Hong.

Baxter Healthcare was marking its second Quality Award after winning in 1997.

General manager Ong Eng Chye said: 'Being a second-time winner is a significant milestone for us and also a special occasion, as we celebrate 30 years of making a meaningful difference in Singapore.'

The Quality Award with Special Commendation, which recognises past Quality Award winners for scaling greater heights of excellence, went to the HDB. It won a Quality Award in 1997.

The HDB said its passionate staff, strong research arm, innovative use of building technology and robust support from the Government were some of the key factors behind its win.

The People Excellence Award went to Hamilton Sundstrand Pacific Aerospace, which manufactures, repairs and overhauls aerospace components for commercial and military aircraft.

Innovative management clinched the Innovation Excellence Award for the Land Transport Authority and Kenwood Electronics Technologies, while the Service Excellence prize went to McDonald's.

Spring Singapore and the Singapore Quality Award Governing Council managed the event, which was held at the Fairmont Singapore hotel.

As well as the awards, a Human Resource Capability Package developed by Ernst and Young Associates was unveiled.

The package, jointly commissioned by Spring Singapore and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, aims to help SMEs strengthen their HR management skills. It consists of guidelines on how to execute HR activities and functions, and tips on managing specific HR matters.

Twenty SMEs participated in a pilot in March this year to develop the package.

Mr Lim lauded the initiative: 'A key challenge facing Singapore employers today is attracting and retaining talent.

'In time to come, we hope that our SMEs will be able to improve their HR management capabilities and raise their profile both in terms of attracting and retaining good employees.'

The package will be available through the Singapore National Employers Federation and the Singapore Human Resources Institute.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on October 08, 2008.