Page 28 - FoodFocusThailand No.247 November_December 2026

SPECIAL
SPECIAL INTERVIEW INTERVIEW

:
GREEN PRODUCTIVITY

STRENGTHENING THAILAND’S FOOD INDUSTRY
FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS

Rising production costs and green trade barriers are putting increasing pressure on Thailand’s food
and beverage industry to accelerate productivity transformation. Today, business resilience depends
on minimizing losses and maximizing resource efficiency. Achieving these goals requires an integrated
approach that combines effective management, technology, and human resource development. In this
special interview, Mr. Surachet Polwanich, Director, and Mr. Wuttipong Boonnaiva, Director of
Consulting Services, from the Thailand Productivity Institute (FTPI) shared insights into strategies
that can help Thai businesses turn these challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth.

The Thailand Productivity Institute serves as a strategic and AI for real-time production monitoring, and integrating vision
partner and trusted guide for Thai businesses, supporting systems for accurate defect detection with predictive maintenance
them in multiple areas, from enhancing competitiveness to reduce unplanned downtime, existing production lines can
through training and consultancy to contributing to industrial achieve greater efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
policy development in collaboration with the Ministry of
Industry. One notable example is the SMART Industry Productivity Challenges and Opportunities for
Project (SMART-I Project), implemented by the Ministry SMEs
of Industry in collaboration with the Office of Thailand Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may face
Quality Award and the Thailand Productivity Institute. The disadvantages compared with larger businesses in terms of
project encourages industrial enterprises, including food capital, resources, and production capacity. Competing on
manufacturers, to strengthen organizational capabilities volume alone may therefore not be the most suitable strategy.
by applying the Thailand Quality Award (TQA) criteria. Instead, SMEs should focus on innovation, distinctive product
This management framework enables organizations to development, and value creation to differentiate their offerings
systematically assess their performance across key areas, and better serve niche markets.
including leadership, strategy, customer focus, workforce For businesses of all sizes, productivity improvement should
development, and operational processes. These elements begin with a clear understanding of their specific challenges,
provide an important foundation for improving productivity including costs, product quality, resource utilization, and
and supporting long-term sustainable growth. machinery performance. Only then should they select appropriate
tools and technologies. The best technology is not necessarily
Productivity Tools: Unlocking Operational the most sophisticated; it is the solution that addresses the actual
Efficiency and Advancing Sustainability problem and delivers measurable results.
Mr. Surachet Polwanich explained, “Productivity
improvement is not simply about producing more goods. Empowering People, Elevating Productivity
It also involves maximizing the value derived from raw Mr. Wuttipong Boonnaiva, director of consultancy services,
materials, energy, labor, and other resources. The concept emphasized that investments in innovation and modern work
of green productivity therefore emphasizes improving systems may fall short if employees lack the skills or willingness
resource efficiency at the source while preventing waste to use them effectively. Organizations should prioritize workforce
from arising during production, rather than focusing development, particularly for frontline supervisors, through
primarily on waste treatment or recycling after waste has On-the-Job Training (OJT) and a culture of operational efficiency.
already been generated. Meanwhile, manufacturers can By aligning employees with organizational goals and empowering
apply Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) to analyze them to identify and reduce production losses, businesses can
the costs associated with material losses. This approach achieve sustainable cost savings and productivity improvements.
considers related expenses, including labor, energy, and In his closing remarks, Mr. Surachet Polwanich emphasized
waste management costs, enabling businesses to identify that enhancing Thailand’s food industry competitiveness
hidden costs and establish targeted measures to improve requires integrating productivity improvement with sustainability
their production processes.” through efficient resource utilization, carbon management,
Maximizing Productivity Without Replacing and ESG performance assessment. These approaches help
Existing Machinery manufacturers identify improvement opportunities, strengthen
“Don’t rush to invest in new machinery before unlocking competitive advantages, and achieve long-term success in
the full potential of existing equipment.” Manufacturers global markets.
should identify and address equipment losses to reduce
costs and improve productivity. By transitioning from
paper-based records to digital platforms powered by IoT
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