The August issue of FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal explores the needs of SMEs which make up most of the manufacturing industry in Southeast Asia. How can they improve their competitiveness in the midst of challenges? Quality management In terms of growing their business, for example, SMEs have very much to grasp, from understanding the importance of proper documentation to long-term planning. In the report, First urgent Total Quality Challenge to MSMEs in the Philippines , the author, Dr Miflora Gatchalian writes that SMEs do not know where to begin their quality development and improvement efforts, as well as on how to sustain these efforts. Her team has been collaborating with the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology on how to assist SMEs. In the next issues of this magazine, she will be sharing more highlights about this collaboration. Are they ready to go smart? In solving many of their operational problems, investing in digital transformation is a route SMEs m...