What it is
System selection, vendor evaluation, integration partner onboarding, and go-to-market strategy for automated packaging solutions, from right-size carton automation to automated poly-bag systems and beyond.
Who it is for
Companies in packaging, automation, e-commerce fulfilment, supply chain and logistics across Asia Pacific that want senior, hands-on help with automated packaging.
Proof from the field
- 30% year-on-year growth driven by spearheading automated packaging projects across Asia, including right-size carton and poly-bag automation systems.
- USD 2M+ revenue contributed per automation line commissioned, including Louis Vuitton China, Momo Taiwan and DKSH Malaysia.
- 40%+ headcount savings in the pharmaceutical packing automation project, while improving throughput and operational reliability.
- Stories: a three-storey packing operation for a global pharma MNC and a USD 2 million luxury goods deal in China.
Who you work with
Francis Lee spent 30 years at Sealed Air Corporation, rising from Engineering Assistant to Director, and is PMP-certified. APACEdge is his independent consulting practice, based in Singapore and serving clients across Asia Pacific.
In practice
Francis acts as a consultant for prospective clients, helping them remove unnecessary steps in their processes and simplify what remains, to save time and resources before any equipment is chosen.
In the pharmaceutical packing project, the process was simplified step by step:
- Quality checks: a visual camera replaced the manual QC check, and the images go to a server as evidence, so fewer people are needed to check.
- Packing and sealing: boxes are closed automatically by the machine, and labels are applied automatically by a label applicator that reads the barcode.
- People: much less labour was needed on the line. Some staff moved to other roles, such as picking products into totes for transfer to the boxes before they reach the conveyor.
The first question Francis asks a new packaging client: what are your current challenges, and what is the dream state of your line?
How an engagement works
- First contact: Francis speaks with you, learns what you need and what is not working today, and suggests several options for you to review.
- Week 1: identifying the pain points. A common issue clients arrive with is data readiness, so this is checked early.
- What you get: it depends on the need, from straightforward verbal advice to a simplified workflow supported by an AI agent built on Claude.
- Timeline and price: typically within a month, depending on complexity. Pricing scales with the complexity of the project, from a few hundred to several thousand Singapore dollars (SGD). Complex projects use a retainer so the solution sticks.
- Who it is usually for: business owners, who decide whether to invest in AI.
- Delivery: remote or on-site, in English or Chinese, and Francis will travel to any country if needed. Based in Singapore, taking projects globally.
How to engage
Engagement models: AI agent projects, advisory retainers, project-based consulting, workshop facilitation and a peer advisory network. Enquiries are answered within 48 hours.