Director-general Jumrud Sawangsamud said that in the 4.0 industry era, to maintain competitiveness manufacturers needed to apply new technology to their supply chain, customer management and business-to-business transactions.

“The master plan was designed to drive our members in all industries to enter the industry 4.0 era,” he said.

Under the master plan, all members will be encouraged to adopt information technology and automation in the production process when renovating their businesses, which have been affected by increase in labour costs.

Jumrud noted that mass customisation would be a focus of the plan.

The Industry 4.0 master plan calls for manufacturers to adjust their supply chain with information technology and use a digital platform to link customers with manufacturers, paving the way for e-supply chain management and e-business.

For large-scale operators, orders could be customised to fit a particular order. Orders would be linked with a manufacturer’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

The ERP system will also be linked with the raw material supplier’s system and the manufacturing system, allowing automatic production according to customers’ orders.

To support the e-business, the FTI has launched the website www.ftiebusiness.com as a business-to-business platform linking the websites of manufacturers. Some 10,000 members from over 30,000 members in 45 industries have joined the e-marketplace.

“Last year, the revenue of e-business transactions via our platform was Bt14 billion. The inclusion of more members provides growth opportunities for the industrial sector,” Jumrud said.

The FTI wants members to help develop a data pool that lists their products for both existing customers and new ones attracted to the electronic marketplace. Jumrud said the pool – expected to be online by the end of this year – should create confidence among customers.

The FTI is also working with government agencies in other areas. For example, in collaboration with the Electronic Transactions Development Agency, it will develop an electronic invoice, or an e-invoice, and a national payment message standard for businesses.

Under the Revenue Department’s plan, the FTI members will start to receive |e-tax invoices from the second half of next year. “The Industry 4.0 [master plan] will enhance the competitiveness of all industries and the country,” Jumrud said.