AI, robotics, and talent development are not seprate strategies, they are the foundation of ASEAN’s advanced manufacturing future. At the AIM Asia CXO Forum 2025 Singapore Session, industry leaders discussed how the fusion of AI and robotics, empowered by visionary leadership and a future-ready workforce, is shaping sustainable and scalable innovation.
Moderated by Renee Tan, Chairperson of AIM Asia, the panel featured:
- Rohit Girdhar, Vice President & Head of Strategy, M&A, Infineon Technologies
- Yuvraj Lehl, Director, Global Executive HR Business Partner, Micron Technology
- Praveen Lala, VP Global Commercial Operations, GE Vernova
- Nigel Lee, General Manager, Lenovo Singapore
Together, they unpacked the path to building resilient supply chains, climate-ready factories, and inclusive talent pipelines, with AI and robotics at the core.
- AI + Robotics: More Than Just a Trend
Across the board, speakers agreed that the game has changed. AI alone is not enough. It is the fusion of AI and robotics that is transforming manufacturing. Rohit highlighted how the rise of multimodal AI systems – combining text, vision, and sensor data, when paired with robotic automation, can eliminate repetitive tasks and redefine productivity benchmarks.
From servo motor advancements to edge-based AI integration, factories are becoming smarter, faster, and safer.
Infineon’s approach? Equip teams early. In 2020, they launched ‘Arise’, a company-wide AI initiative designed to make AI accessible from sandbox experiments to real-world inspection tools. The result: faster adoption, deeper engagement, and tangible ROI.
- Rethinking Talent: From Coders to Creators
AI adoption is not just about tech. It is about people. Nigel shared Lenovo’s shift toward autonomous, “lights-out” factories, some operating 24/7 with zero human intervention, powered entirely by renewable energy. But even in these futuristic setups, human capital remains critical.
Yuvraj highlighted Micron’s skills-first approach. By focusing on actual capabilities over academic degrees, Micron is building an internal talent marketplace that gives opportunities based on skills, not just resumes. It’s a move toward inclusive, agile teams, prepared to grow alongside evolving tech.
Praveen pointed out, the future workforce is already thinking differently. Gen Z’s default tools are not encyclopedias or even Google, they’re AI-native platforms. “We’re not just building factories for today, but for the next generation,” he stressed.
- Scaling with Sustainability in Mind
Sustainability is not optional but operational. From semiconductor fabs to global logistics, every speaker acknowledged the urgent need to decarbonise and embed sustainability across the value chain. Infineon, for instance, has committed to full Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon neutrality, backed by water conservation and energy-efficient fabs.
GE Vernova is doubling down on clean electrons that is powering everything from homes to industrial plants with green energy. Meanwhile, Lenovo’s lighthouse factory in China, powered by reverse energy and solar panels and is setting a precedent for zero-emission operations.
However, challenges still persist, many SMEs in the region are still unable to understand what true sustainability really means. “It’s not just switching off lights,” Nigel remarked. “It’s designing for circularity, for compliance, and for global competitiveness.”
- Supply Chain Resilience in a Shifting Trade World
With tariffs and trade tensions on the rise, supply chain agility is non-negotiable.
Praveen and Yuvraj both underscored the need for optionality, building localised, yet globally responsive systems. “The model that works today might not work tomorrow,” said Praveen. “We need people who can pivot, adapt, and lead with speed.”
Lenovo, for example, has built the ability to shift production globally in response to tariff spikes including recently expanding to Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
- The Real ROI: Mindset, Not Just Machines
Advanced manufacturing is as much about mindset as machinery. It is not just about installing new systems, it is about reimagining the way teams think, work, and lead.
From skilling up engineers in prompt engineering to adopting a failure-friendly innovation culture, all four panelists stressed that leadership matters most.
As Yuvraj put it, “The biggest risk is not investing in people. What if you don’t train them and they stay?”
Hashtaqs Wraps Up AIM Asia CXO Forum SG 2025
The future of manufacturing does not belong to those with the best tech, but it belongs to those who know how to scale it, fund it, and train teams around it.
From lights-out factories to AI sandboxes, from ecosystem partnerships to rethinking education itself, it is evident that ASEAN’s manufacturing momentum is accelerating and Singapore is at the helm. However, turning bold ideas into real outcomes demands more than just innovation alone. It calls for committed leadership, collaborative networks, and a mindset that sees people as the centre of progress.
This forum reminded us: technology may power transformation, but people sustain it.
As the AIM Asia network continues to grow across the region, the road ahead is clear, those who act now, who invest in both capability and culture, will define the next decade of industrial leadership.
Check more photos here: AIM Asia CXO Forum 2025 Singapore Album
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