Singapore, 17 July 2026 - Misumi Kaizen | MIRAI Ventures, the venture building and strategic advisory division of Misumi Kaizen OÜ Group, today announced the publication of a case study by Singapore Management University (SMU) Academy documenting the group's collaboration with SMU-XL on reimagining the China-Indonesia EV charger supply chain under the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA 3.0).

The case study, published on the SMU Academy website, captures the full scope of a 10-week capstone engagement in which a team of five SMU-XL students developed a comprehensive supply chain playbook for MK Express, the logistics arm of Misumi Kaizen | MIRAI Automotive. "The SMU-XL project team demonstrated exceptional rigour in tackling a genuine operational challenge facing our Group," said Mohamed Hardi, Chief Operating Officer ASEAN of Misumi Kaizen OÜ Group. "The research underpinning this engagement was thorough — the team developed a proprietary 21-Parameter Cost Model and a comprehensive supply chain Codex (v2.0) that we have since adopted as internal reference tools for route optimisation across our ASEAN corridors."

Three-Pillar Playbook with Measurable Impact

The engagement delivered a three-pillar strategic framework covering the Shenzhen-Singapore-Jakarta route architecture, Singapore as a DDP compliance control tower, and volume-triggered distribution hubs in Johor Bahru and Batam. The team evaluated 17 potential routing configurations, stress-tested ACFTA 3.0 compliance against real shipment scenarios, and validated landed costs ranging from US$39.75 to US$48.59 per unit at pilot scale, scaling to approximately US$31–38 per unit at commercial volumes of 5,000 units.

"What impressed us most was the practical applicability of their work," added Hardi. "The ACFTA 3.0 compliance framework they built was not merely theoretical - it was tested against real shipment scenarios from Shenzhen to Jakarta. These figures now inform our FY2026 procurement budget and 3PL negotiations, which has led to further contract consolidation and potential efficiency savings."

AI-Enabled Supply Chain Innovation

Beyond the cost model, the team advanced Misumi Kaizen MIRAI | Source LISA 2.0 (Logistics Inference & Supply Chain Assistant), the group's agentic AI-driven automotive platform. LISA 2.0 combines structured supply chain reference data with engineered prompt logic to democratise supply chain expertise, enabling non-specialists to generate corridor-specific cost estimates, identify optimal routing configurations, and flag compliance requirements in real time.

Next Engagement: Sustainable Automotive Aftermarket

The case study publication coincides with the preparation of a second SMU-X engagement scheduled for August 2026. The upcoming project will focus on sustainable automotive aftermarket procurement and transformation across ASEAN - exploring how Misumi Kaizen | MIRAI Automotive can build an AI-enabled aftermarket supply chain network that gives independent workshops access to purchasing power, inventory efficiency, and service quality previously available only to large franchise and platform operators.

"For a global organisation actively streamlining its operational processes across the ASEAN region, this project delivered immediate strategic value," said Hardi. "I have no hesitation in recommending this as a showcase of what industry-academia collaboration can achieve."

The full case study is available at: https://academy.smu.edu.sg/projects/capstone/reimagine-china-indonesia-ev-charger-supply-chain-under-acfta-30

About the Student Team

The SMU-XL team comprised of Lee Yie How, Fong Tat Wai (David), Cheong Juan Meng, Chiam Serene, Shen Hsuan (Shane), and Lee Bee Teck (Arthur). The project was delivered under the supervision of Prof. Venky Shankararaman, Professor of Information Systems (Education) and Vice Provost (Education), and Prof. Gary Pan, Professor of Accounting (Education) and Associate Provost for Lifelong Learning at SMU.

About Misumi Kaizen | MIRAI Ventures

Misumi Kaizen | MIRAI Ventures is the deep tech innovation division of the Misumi Kaizen OÜ Group, an ASEAN-based professional services company and venture builder. Specializing in drone technology, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud solutions, and robotics, Misumi Kaizen | MIRAI Ventures is strategically positioned across Singapore, Johor (Malaysia), Batam (Indonesia), Bangkok (Thailand) and Hanoi (Vietnam). The company drives digital transformation initiatives throughout Southeast Asia, focusing on high-impact sectors such as AI, robotics automation, GPU cloud computing, healthcare, advanced automotive systems, smart logistics, eGovernment, and supply chain enablement.

About Misumi Kaizen OÜ Group

Misumi Kaizen OÜ Group is a Japanese-Estonian privately held innovation and technology company headquartered in Estonia with operations across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Operating since 2013, the company specialises in automotive professional services, technology advisory, venture building, and digital transformation for enterprises and early-stage innovators. The Group remains privately held and committed to maintaining complete independence and ownership. The name 'Misumi' reflects the commitment to purity and excellence in automotive innovation. The Group is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or related to MISUMI Group Inc. (Japan), any of its subsidiaries or other MISUMI entities.

ASEAN Startup Fund I is an internal capital allocation of the Misumi Kaizen OÜ Group for IP acquisition and venture support. It does not manage third-party capital or operate as a collective investment scheme.

Media Contact:

Mika Nakamura

Head, Corporate Services

Misumi Kaizen | MIRAI Ventures

Misumi Kaizen OÜ Group

Email: m@misumikaizen.com

Phone: +65 6679 6287

Website: miraiventures.ai | misumikaizen.com

Misumi Kaizen | MIRAI : Building the Integrated Future of ASEAN Innovation