On 30 August 2019 Dr. Pasu Loharjun, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, presided over the official opening ceremony of Sumipol Institute of Manufacturing Technology (“SIMTec”) and the Eastern Office in Rayong of Sumipol Corporation Limited, both co-located at the entrance of Amata City’s Rayong Industrial Estate. There were over 400 delegates representing a wide range of customers and executives from both the government and private organizations. Attendees included Dr. Kanit Sangsubhan, Secretary General of Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EEC), Dr. Somjin Piluek, Governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, and Mr. Suphan Mongkolsuthree, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, representatives from SIMTec’s 14 co-operating organizations and executives from machine tool manufacturers who flew specially all the way from Japan, such as MITUTOYO, DENSO, DMG MORI, FANUC, SUMITOMO, OSG, A.L.M.T., BIG DAISHOWA, YUKIWA, ERON, OMRON, and TRUSCO. In addition, directors of educational institutes and training centers from both governmental and private sectors were in attendance.
With the government establishing the Eastern Economic Corridor (“EEC”) in the three provinces of Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong, Sumipol chose to establish a new Eastern Office in Rayong, in the heart of the EEC in order to provide convenience to customers in the surrounding area. Situated in the same building as the office, there is a new technical learning academy called “Sumipol Institute of Manufacturing Technology”, SIMTec, which has been founded through the collaboration among 14 government and private organizations, along with 18 world-leading machinery and tool manufacturers, mostly from Japan, that have installed their machinery and equipment in order to develop the skilled personnel to meet the demands of industries in the age of “4.0”. The education will focus on demonstrations and practical training for engineers and technicians in industry, teachers in educational institutes and training centers, as well as students who will graduate soon. There are three types of skills that are the focus: machining, precision measuring, and factory automation, which also include Industrial “Internet of Things” (“IoT”). SIMTec has been established as a not -for-profit.
Dr. Pasu Loharjun, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Industry said, “When SIMTec is fully operational it will benefit both existing and new industrial businesses; and in-line with the government’s policy to support skills development, do so through meeting the increasing demands of the manufacturing sector. The Institute will assist the public sector’s goal to develop the EEC to its full potential, especially in the “S-Curve” industries.”
Mr. Chirapan Oulapathorn, President of Sumipol Group Limited said “We are very pleased and greatly appreciate the support from the 18 leading manufacturing technology owners, mostly from Japan, for providing modern, advanced machines and equipment to the institute without charge, with a total value in excess of 120 million baht, along with providing courses and specialists to work with SIMTec trainers.”
Dr. Kanit Sangsubhan, Secretary General of Eastern Economic Corridor Office said “I am delighted to see such a comprehensive technical academy. The building and systems are well-designed from the ground-up to facilitate training”. Dr. Sangsubhan then discussed the importance of skills development for the EEC , “When inviting businesses, from both local and overseas, to invest in area, besides investment privileges, frequent questions arose around the shortages of a workforce with the skills demanded by the industrial sector… I really appreciate Mr. Chirapan Oulapathorn in placing such importance on this issue and [founding SIMTec].””
After the opening ceremony, the participants were provided a guided tour around SIMTec, including its large seminar room, auditorium and classrooms. In order to enhance hands-on training, the “Learning Factory” was specifically designed to simulate the manufacturing line, which contains seven stations which include demonstrations of machinery, tools and advanced equipment.
The primary stations in the Learning Factory are:
- Smart Line Station: fully automated production line
- Machining Station: metal cutting with the use of an advanced machinery
- Automatic Control Station: important automation equipments
- Industrial Robot Station: basic automation and the deployment of robots in various applications
In addition to the stations there are also special training rooms:
- Mitutoyo Institute of Metrology (MIM): equipped with 16 dimensional instruments, it is Mituotoyo’s first learning center established outside of Mitutoyo
- Lean Automation System Integrator (LASI) has been established by DENSO and is a collaboration between the Thai and Japanese governments.
- Factory IoT: displays a visualization of the manufacturing line by gathering information from the machinery and showing the manufacturing data in a real-time manner; this allows fast problem solving and operations analysis for continual development.
SIMTec has begun providing existing courses and aims to be fully operational with a full complement of courses being offered in 2020. For further information or any enquiries please call 033-047-800 or visit www.simtec.or.th
Article by: Sumipol Corporation Limited