The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) arranged a Digital Smart Manufacturing (DSM) held training in partnership with a national bank to help businesses grasp the basics of the manufacturing process. Dr Suriya Lertwattanapongchai, a lean expert with over 20 years of expertise, was a resource speaker.
Such digitalisation initiatives are being made to raise quality and performance to boost organisations’ performance. Thailand aims to improve internal manufacturing management to reduce waste and industrial production by deploying digital technology solutions.
During the training, in which more than 50 companies sent representatives, the trainees explored Lean and Process Improvement utilising data and IoT, People management, Financial, Accounting, Tax, Sustainability, Leadership, and Organisation Development. During the course, there were five workshops and one visit to a Lean Automation System Integrator (LASI) from a global automotive component manufacturer. The attendees also visited the Thai-German Institute’s LIPE-Lean IoT Plant Management & Execution (Bangkok Center).
Participants proposed projects before the end of the learning programme to get results in fixing business problems. They can also apply for assistance from the DEPA Digital Transformation Fund.
The initiative is part of Thailand’s aim to become a Digital Thailand by 2037. The national digital development policy and plan were presented at an international meeting in Barcelona, Spain. The federal programme is intended for the economy and social strategy for 2018-2037 to drive digitalisation in the country.
The role of current technologies that can assist in meeting the aim is discussed in the event by Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Minister of Digital Economy Economy and Society (MDES), and Thiranan Srihong, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA). Big Data, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and efforts to detect and combat internet scams and call centre gangs were all mentioned.
The ministry and the agency attended the international mobile congress to study innovation and meet with technology entrepreneurs to discuss ways to expand collaboration in investment and growth of Thailand’s digital ecosystem. They encourage digital startups and creative concepts presented, such as submarine cable laying technologies to construct Fiberhome infrastructure, 5G Use Cases, and 5G/IoT part/component/systems and processes.
The team also addressed how to create new measurement methods and improve the effectiveness of promotion mechanisms for Thailand to keep up with emerging digital technology. The step is expected to help Thailand prepare to take the lead in a field where it will benefit.
Many countries have begun modernising and digitising their manufacturing sectors in preparation for Industry 4.0. The Re-industrialisation Funding Scheme (RFS) of the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) in Hong Kong has authorised a HK$15 million project by a Hong Kong-based restaurant. The project intends to establish a new smart production line for mooncake goods to serve Hong Kong’s food manufacturing and processing industry.
According to the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Hong Kong’s food products have an excellent global reputation for upholding high food safety and quality standards. The Hong Kong Food Manufacturing Industry is being encouraged by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) to capitalise on its competitive advantages. With RFS support, new innovative product lines can be created in Hong Kong to enhance production capacity and expand into new markets. This investment is expected to boost the “Made in Hong Kong” brand.
On the other hand, Indonesia pushed the use of digital technology to allow companies to foresee consumer behaviour. It is possible to accomplish this by collecting and analysing massive amounts of data from numerous sources, such as internet purchases, social media, and search engines.
One relevant example is collecting and analysing data from online food and beverage purchases and delivery services via online transportation applications, online marketplaces, and social media to forecast customer behaviour and find consumer trends. Product customisation is another trend to keep a look out for.