From analysis to action

As he approaches two decades working with Rotary Engineering, with the past seven-and-a-half years in the role of Deputy CEO, Chun Peng Koh has learned a thing or two about what it takes to be an effective leader. His biggest takeaway?

“It’s OK to make some small mistakes and fine-tune along the way instead of paralysis by analysis,” he says.

“In the first three-to-five years of my career, I’d seen some managers overthinking scenarios. However, the answer is only real when the thoughts move into actions. This philosophy is with me to this day.”

Over the 18 years he’s spent with the Singapore-based engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and maintenance services company, Koh has experienced firsthand a number of significant strategic shifts that have resulted in Rotary Engineering evolving into one of Asia’s leading EPC players.

“The shift in mindset to view overseas markets as essential for survival, rather than as a ‘nice-to-have,’ marked a turning point,” he tells The CEO Magazine.

“From there, we rolled out our expansion strategies and allocated resources in foreign markets across South-East Asia and the Middle East to establish a strong foundation for growth.”

Strategic collaborations

In addition to collaborating with local partners in a deliberate manner, Rotary Engineering embraces collaboration in a variety of guises, from company and project-level joint ventures to consortia and alliances.

“We consistently focus on specializing in what we do best – chemicals and energy infrastructure,” Koh says.

“We avoid straying into general infrastructure or venturing into sectors outside our expertise. We differentiate by integrating client-driven innovation, strong execution capability and long-term partnership thinking.”

Over the next period, the company’s focus will be on continuing to shape the future of energy storage infrastructure, solidly reinforcing its role as a “long-term enabler of the energy transition,” as Koh puts it.

“As new energy value chains scale, energy storage will be foundational,” he explains. “We intend to remain at the forefront of complex storage solutions, particularly cryogenic and low-temperature facilities for ammonia, methanol and sustainable process plants.

“By being deliberate in our choices and bold in our execution, Rotary Engineering is positioning itself not just to adapt to change, but also to help lead it.”

Innovation is, of course, key to achieving this goal, which is why the company takes note from the biggest and best national and international energy companies, combined with insights from specialist partners, technology providers and research institutes.

“This allows us to translate real operational challenges into practical, deployable solutions,” Koh points out. “We also partner with technology licensors to deliver EPC solutions for low-carbon and new-energy facilities, such as sustainable aviation fuel and a waste-to-plastics recycling plant.

“Overall, our innovation is practical and execution-focused, reinforcing our role as a trusted long-term EPC partner rather than just a project contractor.”

Tools to excel

Employing digitalization and technological advancements in numerous facets of the business is helping Rotary Engineering excel, streamlining systems and increasing efficiency, safety and project outcomes.

With initiatives such as its behavior-based safety observation systems, which capture and analyze safety procedures in real time, as well as WeldTrace, which monitors weld quality and facilitates traceability, the company is looking to create futureproof solutions that will continue to set it apart from its competitors.

“One key enabler is our in-house 3S5M productivity application, which captures planned versus actual output per man-hour in real time,” Koh explains.

“This allows project teams to analyze productivity trends, identify bottlenecks early and make data-driven decisions to optimize worker deployment and schedule performance.

“We also use remote smart goggles during commissioning and critical works, enabling live, hands-free collaboration between site teams and Rotary Engineering specialists located globally. This allows us to access expert knowledge instantly, reduce travel dependencies and accelerate commissioning and problem resolution.”

As for the advice he’d offer aspiring managers and CEOs, Koh has some sage words of wisdom.

“Don’t be afraid to take on roles you’re unfamiliar with – this is the most effective way to learn,” he says.

“Don’t just think of your daily or weekly tasks. Always reflect on what the end game is that you’re delivering alongside your managers so that you don’t get lost in the details. With that, you’ll be more effective and also derive greater joy from your work.”