Abstract:
The project outlines the the development and implementation of a digital project
monitoring system for the Fiber Research and Development (R&D) Business Unit
of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL). The existing
monitoring system based on Excel was ineffective and irrelevant because it did
not provide real-time data, delay the decision making, and compromise the result
of the research. Qualitative stakeholder interviews and business analyses using
McKinsey 7S and SWOT frameworks helped diagnose critical system
inefficiencies. The solution proposed was the creation of a centralized automated
dashboard called the R&D Project Management Cockpit, which integrated with
STIGMA, APRIL’s internal R&D database, and Qlik Sense, a business
intelligence software. The system provides real-time tracking, issue identification,
and performance evaluation of 17 research programs and over 145 research
projects. It also improves data accuracy, system integration, strategic alignment,
operational efficiency, and intraorganizational transparency for APRIL’s Fiber
R&D division. This project showcases the impact of digital transformation and
stakeholder-centric design on research project management in industrial settings.
