With the Movement Control Order and government directives to operate at a reduced workforce, Melissa Yong San San of YongCL Engineering Sdn Bhd and daughter of the founder, Mr. Yong Chen Lim, thought it would be an actual struggle for her company.
Melissa handles the management office and overlooks all personnel at YongCL. She says this challenge was a chance to exercise her leadership skills to steer the company through the pandemic.
Having no choice but to incorporate changes in the company’s operations from how it has been doing business for years did not stop her from running the company smoothly altogether, despite restrictions from the pandemic.
YongCL is a recognised mechanical engineering company offering services in the design, fabrication, and installation of steelworks. Founded by Yong Chen Lim in 2008, this well-established family business supplies products and services to the palm oil mill sector and provides heavy machinery equipment and components.
Considered essential services because their client base covers the palm oil sector, the company could maintain operations during the pandemic, she says.
Implementing New Workplace Solutions
After setting up hybrid work situations, it was difficult for the company to navigate this sudden need to change the way they have been operating.
“We allowed staff to work from home, but managing remote working staff was challenging as we needed to operate based on trust and it was difficult to monitor work progress,” she says.
During the Movement Control Order, work was quiet, she says, which allowed her to take time and research the various ways companies were going digital to sustain their business and manage staff effectively.
She adds that even at reduced capacity, they still had multiple projects happening simultaneously. While project managers had to compile data for the office, staff had to visit all their project sites, and the movement restrictions became an obstacle to smooth operations.
With a firm base of under a hundred engineering staff skilled in various capacities for the steel industry, the Kuching-based steelworks expert also provides maintenance support, repairs and testing services, including deliveries to clients’ sites.
New Solutions for New Problems
“My father started this company, and it has been around for 13 years. Implementing change has been challenging, but I’m glad that after much research, I found I can apply modern solutions to ease my work processes and solve problems conveniently,” she says.
Since one of YongCL’s objectives is to keep up with the constant upgrading of existing technical solutions and create new solutions tailored for clients to show commitment, it motivated her to search for novel approaches online.
She also says she found solutions to monitor and manage the work hours of her employees’ after looking into various government incentives for implementing digital business solutions for SMEs and hunting for better online connectivity options.
It helped to prevent fraudulent claims, gain data to reward overtime or legitimate claims, and be more effective from the comfort of her office desktop.
She became more efficient and gained control over staff movement while also lowering costs and working with a leaner system that eliminated many uncertainties. With the system, everything was trackable on her mobile phone and on other devices provided with the various applications.
Tips on How to Face Uncertainties
“We are digitalising our business. The pandemic has brought on challenges, but problems are opportunities for even more success,” she adds vehemently.
Using an online payroll system, a project management software, and a web/mobile application to help her teams organise, track, and manage their work, she finds that those solutions allow her to simplify team-based work management.
Currently looking to explore an e-count stock inventory management software, Melissa is looking forward to what is in store in the future for her family business despite uncertainties and challenges.
Having the future of this family business in her hands, Melissa is staying true to her father’s legacy of committing to keep up and upgrade existing solutions for a more efficient tomorrow.
Support YongCL Engineering Sdn Bhd by visiting them at https://yongcl-engineering-sdn-bhd.business.site/ A homegrown business highlight by Celcom Business.
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