Sumipol Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTEC) organized a training course titled ‘Lean IoT for SME Factory Management’
From September 1 to 3, the Sumipol Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTEC) hosted a 3-day practical training workshop titled “Lean IoT for SME Factory Management” (6 hours per day) for personnel from the Department of Industrial Promotion (DIProm). The objective was to enhance the management capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by effectively integrating Lean concepts with Internet of Things (IoT) technology and automation, helping to reduce costs and increase operational agility.
The 3-day training focused on blending theoretical lectures with hands-on workshop sessions to provide participants with comprehensive knowledge. The program began with the fundamentals of Lean concepts and IoT Architecture, alongside learning about the 8 Wastes and Standardized Work. Participants engaged in a Process Mapping workshop using a bottle-cap assembly kit to identify bottlenecks, as well as comparing manual data collection with IoT-based tracking.
Building on this foundation, the course explored efficiency improvement through automation, strategic sensor placement aligned with organizational KPIs, demonstrations and hands-on testing of hardware and physical sensors, and SQL database design specifically for IoT data. The program concluded with the 5 steps of Lean Automation design, allowing participants to practice creating both As-Is and To-Be process flowcharts, evaluate cost and performance efficiency, and apply practical techniques such as Karakuri, Poka-Yoke, and Low-Cost Automation (LCA) to real-world factory development.
This training marks a significant collaboration in empowering DIProm personnel with the knowledge to apply digital technologies and automation cost-effectively within SME factories. This initiative will help drive the Thai industrial sector toward a sustainable, next-generation era.
