Dow, agencies in MoU on 'sustainable industry'

They are the Department of Industrial Promotion, the Ministry of Industry, the Thailand Environment Institute Foundation and the Thai-US Creative Partnership.
The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of Thai industries, small and medium-sized enterprises and organisations in the business and service sectors through education and consultancy on “lean management for the environment”, a principle that promises greater benefits for industries by reducing the cost of production, increasing productivity and profits, and elevating safety and environmental standards. The Department of Industrial Promotion of the Industry Ministry has appointed a management strategy committee for the initiative. Its chairman is Arthit Wuthikaro, director-general of the department.
Other members cooperating in Phase 3 include the Industry Ministry’s Office of the Permanent Secretary and the Department of Industrial Works.
Atchaka Sriboonruang, secretary-general of the Industry Ministry, acknowledged that in preparation for the full implementation of the Asean Economic Community at the end of the year, the Thai industrial sector must remain alert and be able to adapt if it wishes to compete successfully in the region’s free-trade environment.
“The cooperation among different sectors on this programme is a major step towards better standards and a greater competitive advantage for our industries, in particular SMEs, which represent more than 90 per cent of all businesses and therefore are the heart of Thailand’s economy,” Atchaka said.
The project also aims to educate young adults and university students who will soon be working as industrial professionals on its principles and the effective application of “lean management for the environment” in factories and other enterprises.
Launched in 2011, the programme’s activities range from developing curricula, manuals and training sessions to assembling teams of mentors who help plan and offer advice to enterprises and organisations.
The participants are trained on how to utilise the “lean management for the environment” framework to revamp their manufacturing process. That includes designing a comprehensive waste-management system that features raw-material acquisitions, product delivery, seeking ways to consume less energy and increasing employee and operating safety.
It is promised that an enterprise will not only benefit from waste and cost reduction but also gain the greater trusts of communities, customers, investors and stakeholders and will eventually be able to attain both a profit and its sustainability goals.
More than 3,000 professionals from almost 900 public and private sectors have joined the training sessions.
“Thailand’s rate of energy consumption per economic growth ranks among Southeast Asian’s highest. This means high cost per unit of growth and, as a result, low competitive advantages,” said Dr Kwanruedee Chotichanathaweewong, Thailand Environment Institute Foundation director.
“Therefore, in order to thrive in the region we need strong industrial entrepreneurs, policies that concentrate on promoting business growth by increasing productivity and reducing costs and at the same time protecting the environment, as well as products and services that are innovative and unique.”
Jirasak Singmaneechai, Dow Thailand managing director, said Dow Chemical’s businesses globally were centred on sustainability, “which we strongly believe lead to common benefits for partners, consumers, employees, communities, society and environment”.
Honorary awards and certificates have been given to all 20 enterprises and organisations that have taken part in the initiative.
The first prize for the improvement of small factories/organisations category through the application of the Lean Management for Environment went to the Prostheses Foundation of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother, which boosted its productivity by 30 per cent and increased its safety and waste management.
Cotco Metal Works, having cut down the time used in its machine-installation process by 33 per cent and its energy costs by at least Bt120,000 per year, received first prize in the enterprise category.Bangkok Eagle Wings Co received second prize in that category for its recently adjusted machinery layout, which has shortened the distance of material movement by 48 per cent, reduced the number of works in process by 100 per cent and increased its overall machinery efficiency by more than 40 per cent.