The spotlight is on Dr. David Weidong Lin, Digital Supply Chain Programme Leader, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore.

The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) is a university of applied learning which offers industry-relevant degrees that prepare graduates to be work- and future-ready professionals. SIT’s teaching methodology integrates work and study, embracing authentic learning in a real-world environment through collaborations with key strategic industry partners. Its focus on applied research with business impact is aimed at helping industry innovate and thrive.

SIT offers industry-focused, applied degree programs in five clusters: Engineering; Food, Chemical and Biotechnology; Infocomm Technology; Health and Social Sciences; and Business, Communication and Design.

The Engineering cluster prepares undergraduates for careers in various engineering disciplines. It also teaches supply chain management, fundamental to engineering and manufacturing concerns. Dr. David Weidong Lin is an Associate Professor in Engineering and Leader of the Bachelor of Science with Honours in the Digital Supply Chain program. He holds an MBA in International Business and a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Xi’an Jiao Tong University, China.

He also is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, passionate about applied teaching and learning in areas of industrial and systems engineering, systems modelling and simulation, systems and project management, supply and inventory management, and supply chain management.

He has authored and co-authored dozens of research papers on areas including digital twin simulation for manufacturing, logistics and supply chain; healthcare logistics; and transportation optimization systems.

When he launched his brand-new Digital Supply Chain program in 2022, he adopted Oracle NetSuite through the Oracle Academy program.

Oracle Academy: What drove your choice of Oracle NetSuite for your Digital Supply Chain program?

David Lin: I needed enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that would help me teach the fundamentals of supply chain management and logistics, software that would map to industry requirements. It turned out that SIT had a cooperation agreement with Oracle Singapore and through that I met Oracle Academy. For me, NetSuite as an ERP platform with a supply chain module was perfectly suited, just what I needed, and I steered SIT to become an Oracle Academy member.

Oracle Academy: Was that your first encounter with Oracle?

David Lin: I have known Oracle over a decade, since I was working in industry as a senior supply chain consultant. We used it for the database and for order management. There were several Oracle people on assignment inside the company, and I became well versed in its solutions. When I discovered Oracle Academy, I was overjoyed that it would help me start the new program.

Oracle Academy: You mentioned mapping to industry requirements. How does that work?

David Lin: SIT’s model of applied learning is built on direct industry input. For our program, we work very closely with the logistics, supply chain and manufacturing companies based in Singapore, who frequently hire our graduates. As an applied learning university, SIT’s syllabus must be designed according to industry requirements. In constructing my program, I had input from the Industry Advisory Committee, which includes prominent industry partners. We meet twice a year with these partners and also visit many other companies to review our program curriculum structure in relation to their priorities.

In the case of engineering, these companies recognize and approve the use of NetSuite for teaching supply chain fundamentals, such as order management, item management, and so on.

Oracle Academy: Are they also NetSuite users?

David Lin: Even though not all partners use NetSuite — which is more common among SMEs — they all recognize the value of ERP knowledge. Knowledge of NetSuite, which covers supply chain and all other aspects of an ERP system, is a great asset for careers in Singapore’s dynamic infrastructure and logistics ecosystem.

Oracle Academy: Are you pleased with the NetSuite resources?

David Lin: NetSuite is fantastically user friendly and easy to set up, with just one log in to all of the ERP content, and it’s in the cloud. The supply chain focused materials are perfectly relevant to my course, well organized, and save me a lot of work. I don’t have to build my own syllabus on ERP and, since NetSuite runs in the cloud, we are self-sufficient; in the past, where software was concerned, we needed support from the IT department. Meanwhile, if we need any assistance at all, Oracle Academy is always fast to respond.

On the practical front, I use NetSuite as an introduction to supply chain fundamentals, starting with Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, fixed asset management, reporting and other essential supply chain flows. The hands-on exercises for class and lab work are just right. Feedback from students is positive.

One of the features I like most is role play. In NetSuite, students can choose different roles to play in succession: financial manager, operations manager, supply chain coordinator, procurement lead. For me that is super useful for students planning their future career paths and for me as a teaching resource.

Oracle Academy: Do industry partners interact with your classes?

David Lin: Very much so! We are pleased to have a regular flow of guest speakers who bring the real world of digital supply chain into focus. In the last few terms, we have hosted a healthcare procurement agency, which shared insights on the evolution of Singapore’s supply chain in that domain; a leading AI routing technology firm explaining vehicle routing challenges; and a logistics company emphasizing the integral role of technology in transport planning.

We also host leaders from PSA International, Singapore’s largest logistics organization and one of the world’s biggest port operators in the world with over 70 deep-sea, rail, and inland terminals. They lately have moved from pure container transshipment into a major logistics hub, integrating end-to-end supply chain solutions, optimizing cargo flow through its ecosystem, handling customs brokerage, 4th party logistics and more. The company also organizes port visits for our students, which are amazing experience.

All of the above have given insightful lectures and talks about the world our digital supply chain students aspire to enter. Furthermore, the speakers have taken care to tailor their lectures to the Digital Supply Chain curriculum, bolstering the theory with practical industry examples and case studies.

Oracle Academy: Presumably for these industry partners your cohort represents a fresh talent pool every year.

David Lin: Correct. As part of applied learning, SIT offers extended work placements through the compulsory Integrated Work Study Program (IWSP), in which our second-third year students undertake internships. During that time, they develop professional skills while immersing themselves in the placement company’s business and culture. IWSP helps bridge the gap between what is taught in school and what is seen in the real world. This often leads to full-time employment. Last year we placed seven students with DHL, working on domestic and cross-border logistics; others are now employed by industry partners.

Related to that, we have just held our annual Poster Day, where students exhibit projects they have worked on during their internships. The placement companies define a project of benefit to their business, and which also corresponds to what the students are being taught. On certain days, students return to SIT for progress assessment with their academic supervisors.

Oracle Academy: That must be valuable to companies developing their talent pipeline. What other tools do you use — or are considering using — in your digital supply chain teaching?

David Lin: As we progress, I go deeper into the intricacies of digital supply chain and introduce students to systems such as discrete event simulation software, while also drilling into Internet of Things, AI, agent tools such as Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and even providing an overview of the applications of large language models.

Now I am looking at other Oracle Academy resources, especially Oracle’s warehouse management and transportation management solutions. I want students to gain maximum supply chain knowledge to support their future careers. All manufacturing, logistics, port, airport, and warehousing companies need skills in procurement, order management, demand forecasting, planning and scheduling.

I am interested in Oracle for AI/ML, analytics, for transportation management, project management… there’s a lot to explore. At the same time, I want more teachers in SIT to know about and use Oracle Academy resources.

Oracle Academy: That’s great to hear. You also author papers and conduct applied research we hear?

David Lin: That’s right. SIT is all about applied learning and applied research. Not all problem statements can be solved at undergraduate level, so we have an Industrial Master and Industrial Doctorate program (IM/ID) that goes deeper. Currently I have several industry doctoral and master candidates, collaborating with industry partners on multi-year research programs, for example a local logistics company that needs to build a Logistics Digital Twin (LDT) System for sustainability management; an international semiconductor company needs to build a digital twin of production line to manage digital transformation; or manufacturing companies that need to solve quality control problems using AI/ML in their production lines.

Oracle Academy: Fascinating. Lastly, what are your interests outside of the university?

David Lin: I like traveling and I make a yearly trip to China to visit family. My main pastime is swimming, which I find to be a great way to relax, stay fit, and gain mental clarity. The focus on controlled breathing in swimming has also taught me techniques for increasing energy and focus in all aspects of life. I prefer to swim in the evenings to enjoy the quiet and disconnect from technology — no electronic devices.

While swimming is individual sport, I also recently learned to play squash with my son, who is captain of his school’s squash team. There’s a big difference between squash and swimming, but I like them both! And thanks to him, I learned that Oracle is deeply involved in Formula 1 with the Red Bull Racing Team — another fascinating example of technology meeting performance.

Thank you, Dr. David Weidong Lin, for your passion for Oracle Academy and for preparing your students to make a positive impact.