On 1 December 2023, NSTDA hosted the SMC Open House 2023 at the EECi Headquarters in Rayong province. The event was aimed to introduce the Sustainable Manufacturing Center (SMC) and its activities to potential customers. To demonstrate its net zero commitment, NSTDA organized this activity as a “low carbon emission” event.
Established in 2020, SMC is located within the compound of Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) and serves as a component of EECi Automation, Robotics, and Intelligent Systems Platform (ARIPOLIS). Its main mission is to facilitate the Industry 4.0 transformation of the Thai industry.
Following the welcome address by NECTEC Executive Director Dr. Chai Wutiwiwatchai, SMC Director Dr. Panita Pongpaibool presented the 2023 performance highlights and 2024 outlook for SMC. In 2023, SMC served 178 organizations and trained nearly 1,500 individuals through its comprehensive services, ranging from Industry 4.0 readiness assessment to Industry 4.0 consultation and implementation, as well as Industry 4.0 training. These activities has contributed to a THB 5.26-billion socio-economic impact and led to investments made by the industry totaling THB 120 million.
In 2024, SMC is leveraging its effort to prepare for Industry 5.0 through a 3-4-5 strategy consisting of:
- 3 pillars of sustainable development: social, economic and environmental.
- 4 areas of research and services: 1) Thailand i4.0 Index, 2) AI application, 3) Emission reduction, including the establishment of a testing lab for EV motor systems according to international standards such as ISO-21782 and UNECE-R85 and the development of a digital platform to support the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and 4) SMC Academy.
- 5 privileges exclusively for SMC network members: 1) free Thailand i4.0 Index assessment by SMC experts, 2) 5G Private Network, AIS Paragon Platform and AIS 5G Manufacturing Platform provided by AIS, 3) AIoT Edge Computing provided by Smart Sense, 4) IoT tools for monitoring and analyzing energy consumption provided by INET, and 5) greenhouse gas emission reduction assessment provided by BIG.
In his presentation, Dr. Ravipat Phudpong, Director of Industrial Collaboration Division at NSTDA, revealed the results of Industry 4.0 readiness survey. Conducted in 2023, the survey was participated by 150 companies in Thailand, focusing on three sectors: automobile and auto parts, food and beverage, electrical and electronics. The overall average score was 2.8 out of 6. The average scores by sectors were 2.71 for automobile and auto parts, 2.77 for food and beverage, and 2.83 for electrical and electronics. The average scores by company size were 2.38 for small-sized enterprises, 2.45 for medium-sized enterprises, and 3.07 for large corporates. The assessment not only helps each company understand their level of operation and benchmark their company against industry leaders and competitors, but also offers areas of improvement. This year, the Board of Investment (BOI) introduced investment promotion measures aimed at supporting the Industry 4.0 transformation. The measures include a 3-year corporate income tax exemption that covers 100% of the investment made in Industry 4.0 upgrades.
NSTDA’s Industry 4.0 transformation process consists of four steps: self-assessment available online at www.nstda.or.th/i4platform/checkup; Industry 4.0 readiness assessment by a team of experts; industry 4.0 consultation where experts provide recommendations and guidance on areas such as technology, investment, testing, and analysis; and technology implementation.
For more information on Industry 4.0 Platform, please visit https://www.nstda.or.th/i4Platform.
