Industry 4.0 has gained significant global attention due to its potential to revolutionize industries and economies through the adoption of digital and other advanced technologies. These technologies promise increased manufacturing efficiency and improved product quality. However, many of Thailand’s industries are still operating at levels 2 and 3. To maintain and enhance competitiveness and align with the Thailand 4.0 initiative, it is crucial for industries, both small and large businesses, the transportation and logistics sector, and the labor force to embrace Industry 4.0.

Dr. Ravipat Phudpong, Director of Industrial Collaboration Division at NSTDA said that the successful and sustainable transition of Thailand’s industrial sector to Industry 4.0 requires systematic planning and step-by-step execution. In collaboration with public and private agencies, NSTDA has established the Industry 4.0 Platform, a comprehensive service platform aimed at enhancing competitiveness, improving production efficiency, reducing costs and losses, elevating product quality, aligning processes with relevant standards, and minimizing environmental impact. This initiative is part of NSTDA Core Business program, which harnesses skills and expertise from various departments within NSTDA to translate research into practical solutions, thereby enabling research to have a tangible socio-economic impact.

“The Industry 4.0 Platform comprises three essential components: 1) i4.0 Maturity, offering readiness assessment services; 2) i4.0 Consulting, providing technical consultation services from experts across diverse fields, offering recommendations and guidance on investment, research and development, technology transfer, testing, and analysis; and 3) i4.0 Training, focusing on skill development services to prepare employees at all levels to effectively harness technological advancements with courses for System Integrators (SIs) and high-level management,” explained Dr. Ravipat.

The Industry 4.0 Platform is a collaborative effort with various partners, including the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), the Ministry of Industry, financial institutions, the Board of Investment (BOI), the Sustainable Manufacturing Center (SMC), and the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi). Key target groups encompass medium and large enterprises as well as organizations or workforces involved in system integration.

Dr. Ravipat highlighted NSTDA’s array of expertise and innovative solutions designed to facilitate the transition to Industry 4.0. These include the Industrial IoT and Data Analytics Platform and autonomous mobile robots.

The Industry 4.0 Platform aims to equip manufacturers with the knowledge, understanding, investment strategies, and a well-defined roadmap for transitioning to Industry 4.0. “The data collected from readiness assessments will constitute a comprehensive database for fostering effective collaboration and strategic planning with various agencies to drive Thailand towards Industry 4.0 and prepare for the industries of the future,” concluded Dr. Ravipat.

For more information, please visit https://www.nstda.or.th/i4Platform or contact i4Platform@nstda.or.th.