Agencies collaborate on Dow sustainable industry scheme
DOW THAILAND Group and the Thailand Environment Institute, together with the Industry Ministry and its agencies, the Thai Industrial Standards Institute, the Thai-US Creative Partnership and 14 participating agencies have jointly announced a collaboration
The partners also hosted a “Thai SMEs Spring Up to Industry 4.0” seminar to create a cooperative network in advancing Thai industry through sustainability.
Since 2011, the Dow Chemical for Sustainable Industry programme has been organised by Dow Thailand Group and partners including public, private, non-profit, and international organisations to upgrade Thai industrial standards by providing knowledge and consultation to small and medium-sized enterprises on “lean management for the environment”.
The programme is aimed at reducing production costs while increasing the competitive advantage for the industrial sector.
This year, apart from the consultations given to participating factories within the eight-month time frame, the programme will be joined by seven universities designing a “lean management for the environment” curriculum.
“Industry 4.0” is an integration of production connected through the “Internet of Things”, allowing smart factories and logistics, and letting customers interact and share information on a real-time basis to increase management efficiency.
In Thailand, SMEs are strategic players in stimulating the country’s economy. Gross domestic product of SMEs in the first quarter of 2016 grew significantly, at 5.1 per cent. This was the seventh consecutive quarter of growth.
“We are approaching Industry 4.0 and Thailand has driven reform policies in various sectors to increase Thailand’s competitiveness and its standard, especially with SMEs as the national agenda,” said Somchai Harnhiran, permanent secretary of the Industry Ministry.
“Educational institutions must work towards industrial needs, as they will be the key driver of the economy. The Dow Chemical for Sustainable Industry programme is in line with the direction of the industrial-development policy and strategy of helping Thai SMEs to raise their standards through lean management for the environment.”
Jirasak Singmaneechai, managing director of Dow Thailand Group, said: “Throughout the years, Dow has evolved from vendors to partners who provide solutions for customers with more than 7,000 researchers in R&D centres around the globe to support our clients in various industries.
“We work closely with our clients to improve production efficiency to manage costs and resources while being environmentally friendly. We also develop new products to keep up with fast-paced market trends.”
