Jobs in Singapore: “How my career took flight after I took a leap of faith”

Fadhil Muhammed, 35, is an Operations Manager at American aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, which produces key components of the GTF™ engine at its Singapore facility. He has a Masters in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management from University College Dublin.

1. How did you come to join Pratt & Whitney and what opportunities have you had here? What were some challenges you had to overcome when joining a new industry?

I was working long hours as a Workplace Safety & Health Officer (WSHO) in the construction industry. As I was just starting my family, I wanted better work-life balance and saw a job opening for an Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) Engineer at Pratt & Whitney. Applying for the job turned out to be a great career decision.

Pratt & Whitney is one of the biggest aerospace companies in the world, with facilities across the globe and multiple sites in Singapore alone. As an EH&S Engineer for its Singapore manufacturing facility P&W NGPF Manufacturing Company (Singapore), I was involved in establishing a very comprehensive EH&S system. At the same time, I, together with my team, supported various departments in day-to-day EH&S matters. It was a challenging time, but it was also extremely rewarding. Even though I had years of experience working as a WSHO, I still had a lot to learn as workplace safety implemented in aerospace manufacturing is different from how it is done in the construction industry. I’m grateful that I have a strong and supportive team that was able to show me the ropes and get me up to speed. This was also when I started developing essential skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, which continues to serve me well today.

I’m currently an Operations Manager, leading a team of more than 100 employees. The team consists of two production cells that are in charge of producing fan blades and turbine disks, key components of the GTF™ engine.  Aerospace manufacturing usually involves more advanced technologies, and we focus our efforts on optimising production. I am also supported by four production cell leaders who manage operational issues and implement strategic improvements to the cells.

2. How is it like leading the operations team at Pratt & Whitney and what have you learnt from this experience?

It can be quite varied, which is both challenging and fulfilling. Besides the regular operations, we do experience unique problems that pop up occasionally across our manufacturing line. Such problems often require the whole team to work together to figure out what is the best solution.

Pratt & Whitney has also helped me to develop and grow as a leader through various leadership programmes. With the support of the company and my direct supervisor, I attended the “Foundations of Leadership" course, which taught me theoretical leadership concepts that I can apply to my work.

One of the things I have learnt about being a good leader is the importance of having empathy. When something goes wrong, it is very easy for us to react with anger and start pointing fingers at each other. However, we must remember that we are working with complex machinery. Individual employees might also be dealing with their own personal issues, which can result in unpleasant outcomes at work. So as a leader, it is important to be empathetic – we shouldn’t see a team member as “just another employee”. With this mindset, we can then better understand the problem at hand and discuss with management on how to prevent such situations from happening again.

3. How has Pratt & Whitney empowered your career development?

I never imagined that I would one day become an operations manager until I started working at Pratt & Whitney.

In addition, Pratt & Whitney strongly encourages employees to take part in their scholarship programmes. For instance, the Employee Scholar Program (ESP) has helped countless employees, including myself, to upgrade our skills across all educational levels, from a diploma to a doctorate. As my background is in workplace safety, I decided to try something different by taking up Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management. Through this experience, I was able to further my knowledge and gain a different perspective on the work that I do. I have also had the opportunity to visit other Pratt & Whitney sites for benchmarking trips due to the close working relationship that we share with facilities around the world.

There is still a lot for me to learn about manufacturing, but my biggest achievement so far is how much I have grown, not only on a career level, but as an individual as well. I never thought that I would have the chance to be exposed to so many different areas in my career. I am truly thankful to be working in an environment where there is proper guidance, and things are set up for an individual to succeed and flourish. Ultimately, it’s not about how far or how high I can go but how I can improve myself so that I can do the best for the company based on the resources that I’m given.

4. How has aerospace manufacturing changed over the years? What words of advice do you have for young people looking to join the aerospace industry?

The sector has really changed with the emergence of Industry 4.0 technologies. Things that were not seen in the past are now standard across the industry. Now, when we plan for a new process, the first questions that pop into our minds are, “Can I automate this process? Can a robotic loader be used to optimise this?”. I believe every single Pratt & Whitney facility in Singapore and even globally is already venturing into automation and robotics. In fact, intelligent scheduling is already being used in multiple sites across Singapore, which has enabled our operations to be more efficient and effective.

It is quite cool to see all these machines in our day-to-day work. There are also indirect benefits to working in a high-tech manufacturing processing plant – our machines all come with automatic guarding which enhances the safety of my colleagues. The environment is also pretty clean since the machinery used does not produce harmful by-products.

To young people looking to join the aerospace industry, you should simply go for it! Singapore has a significant aerospace presence, offering numerous opportunities across different roles. Working in this industry, and Pratt & Whitney in particular, also allows you to actively contribute to the engines powering passenger flights worldwide. My journey has been rewarding, and I wholeheartedly encourage others to embrace this experience for themselves too.

Pratt & Whitney is part of Singapore’s vibrant aerospace industry. Find out more about how Singapore grew to become the region’s leading aerospace hub and the opportunities for growth here.