TKK Corporation has partnered with the Mechatronics Engineering Department at Eastern Technological University to create an educational model that will produce personnel that truly meet the needs of the industrial sector.

Driving national economic development projects must go hand in hand with developing and producing a sufficient number of personnel to meet the needs of the industrial sector, particularly the 10+2 S-curve target industries that will emerge in the future. This truth is not just a fancy phrase used as a mere principle; all relevant sectors are working together to make it a reality, serving as an educational model that will truly become a model for educational reform in Thailand in this era.

The EEC Model has been proposed in the past to guide the development and production of personnel to meet the needs of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The key focus is on collaboration between educational institutions and businesses or the industrial sector, which will jointly develop curricula to produce graduates in each field, ensuring that they possess the 21st-century qualifications and skills required by each industrial sector.

Recognize the potential of Mechatronics Engineering at Eastern Technological University, a source for producing practical engineers and cutting-edge innovations for the industrial sector.

To proceed with the joint agreement, recently, the executives and staff of TKK Corporation CO.,LTD., led by Ms. Kalyanee Kongsomjit, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TKK Corporation Co., Ltd., visited the laboratory of the Department of Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Eastern Campus.

On this occasion, Professor Tassaphan Suwannatat, Head of the Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering Program at Eastern Technological University, explained the origins of this program, its teaching methods, and its potential for producing innovations to meet the needs of the industrial sector, a service provided by the program in the past.

“The opening of the mechatronics and robotics engineering program here stemmed from calls from all sectors in the eastern region, as the number of industrial factories in the area has increased significantly. In Chonburi Province alone, there are 5,400 factories of varying sizes, primarily in the automotive parts industry. Rayong Province, on the other hand, has approximately 600 factories, but they are more commonly large-scale, such as petrochemical plants.”

"We can say that we launched this mechatronics engineering program because more and more industrial factories are surrounding the university. When we decided to launch this program, we realized that, as the industrial sector grows in the Eastern region, parents see the potential for growth in the industrial engineering profession and want to send their children to study in this field at local educational institutions. Parents these days no longer prefer to send their children to study far away."

"Regarding employment trends in factories, previously hiring one mechanical engineer, one electrical engineer, and one industrial systems engineer, the factory recently expressed its desire to the education sector, which produces personnel, to produce engineers with capabilities covering all three of the aforementioned areas, all in one person. This is another reason why Eastern Technological University (ETU) chose to launch a mechatronics engineering program, a discipline of engineering that directly addresses the needs of the industrial sector."

This program focuses on teaching students three core skills: mechanical engineering, which requires students to be able to draw mechanical drawings; and mechanical components, which teaches students to design machinery for various industries. This includes designing small machines and automation machinery, using software supported by various manufacturers, allowing students to learn and work with diverse software.

“In addition, I learned from cutting-edge tools, using cutting-edge technology like 3D printers, both small and industrial-sized, and assembled small robotic arms. I also experimented with making AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), or automated cargo transport vehicles, using magnetic strips, vision, or lasers to guide the vehicle's direction as it moves.”

“The highlight of the Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering program, which we've been working with to develop human resources as mentioned above, and which we've been doing continuously for the past 10 years, is our extensive collaboration with the industrial sector. We can safely say that our university has one of the highest levels of collaboration with the industrial sector in the country. This is partly due to our university's location in the heart of an industrial area.”

“At the same time, as a local educational institution, we have a mission to provide academic services to the industrial sector as well.”

"It must be acknowledged that our field of study has historically been strong, in part, due to our intensive collaboration with industry in this area. This includes providing academic services, from providing advice to the industry to creating and implementing automation systems in factories. We bring our students along to learn from this."

"As mentioned, most industrial factories in Chonburi Province primarily manufacture automotive parts. Therefore, field visits to provide academic services typically involve factories contacting the department to express their needs or production problems, which they would like university personnel to provide advice and consultation. They can also assist with the production of tools and machinery, automation system installation, or programming to increase efficiency and reduce production costs."

"The systems and innovations our department has installed have been recognized not only in Thai factories, but also frequently by executives from the parent company of the factory, such as Toshiba, a Japanese executive. They have witnessed the automation systems, mechanical arms, and robots we have built for industrial factories in Thailand and have been impressed by them, acknowledging their effectiveness. They have even ordered additional production, both for installation in other branch factories in other countries and for us to add additional features. This has also led to mutual learning."

Get to know TKK Corporation and its technology transfer to entrepreneurs, creating educational models to drive the country's industries.

On this occasion, Kanlayanee Kongsomjit, Chairman of TKK Corporation Co., Ltd., shared her perspective on TKK Corporation CO., LTD., a company that began as a medium-sized SME. Today, it has developed and become a leader in the country's robotics and automation industries, distributing world-class brands with renowned reputations and recognition for use in factory automation control systems, most of which are imported from overseas.

A brief history of TKK Corporation CO.,LTD. is that it was registered in 2004 with registered capital of 117 million baht, stock of 30 million baht, and a sales target of 800 million baht for this year. This year, after the first quarter, the CEO of TKK Corporation confirmed that sales were only slightly below target.

In the past, TKK Corporation CO.,LTD. has established a subsidiary company, KSI Solution, to offer services in the form of ENGINEERING SOLUTION, designing, providing advice, manufacturing, and installing robot applications and engineering systems for all types of industrial plants.

A key highlight that, upon learning about this, has made me feel amazed and greatly admire the management concept of this strong female executive is that at present, TKK Corporation and its subsidiaries have only 90 employees in total, with operations that generate such enormous value.

"We believe that in the future, even if employees resign, we won't need to hire new employees because we're using RPA (Robot Processing Automation) in every department at TKK. Currently, we operate using robots. For example, the accounting department doesn't need to manually enter accounts or create invoices; the robots handle everything."

"Therefore, if our sales reach one billion and we have 90 employees, we consider our turnover per head to be attractive and highly competitive compared to foreign companies. Going forward, we will strive to maintain this standard, minimizing costs and burdens so that we can achieve capabilities comparable to foreign companies."

This business experience is a significant asset that Kalyanee intends to leverage to create an educational prototype in collaboration with the Department of Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering at Eastern Technological University (EIT). This collaboration aims to jointly develop personnel in the automation and robotics industries.

"When it comes to future businesses, we agree with Professor Tassaphan that industrial innovations like AGVs (Automated Mobile Robots (AMR), which are part of the advanced technology and science in the automation and robotics sector, will undoubtedly transform the working patterns and processes of industrial factories."

"Therefore, in addition to adapting these technologies to enhance efficiency in domestic industrial plants, developing a workforce with the skills and expertise to both produce innovations and manage and use them is a parallel mission."

"This ties into the mission of the EEC HDC, which serves as the primary host on the EEC side, responsible for establishing production policies and developing human resources to meet the needs of the industrial sector in the EEC. The EEC Industry Forum was recently established to serve as a mediator between the private, business, and industrial sectors, collaborating with the educational sector to jointly achieve production and human resource development missions, ensuring the creation of a quality workforce to drive Thailand's industrial sector forward."

The strong female CEO of TKK Corporation talked about another innovation that is a key character of the future business in the automation and robotics industry, which is AGV technology, an automatic goods conveyor vehicle.

"Today, we saw the AGV vehicles created by faculty and students from Eastern Technological University. Upon seeing them, we were amazed at how talented Thai students are in creating AGV prototypes that can be used efficiently and at a relatively low production cost."

"Meanwhile, KSI Solution also brought a robot using AGV technology for the faculty to see. Our AGVs, developed during the COVID-19 crisis, will be used in cancer wards. The AGVs will perform certain medical services on behalf of medical personnel. We intend to produce these robots as a tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, who will then donate them to Chulabhorn Hospital."

"Furthermore, we see a clear trend that after the COVID-19 crisis, robots, such as the AGVs we've developed, will gradually assist or replace medical personnel. This is because using these robots will help reduce risks for medical personnel."

"Therefore, personnel working in the automation and robotics sector will be in even greater demand, due to the increased demand for AGV robots in the medical industry due to the current pandemic."

“Recently, KSI Solution has not stopped developing and offering only AGV technology. AGVs have the limitations of having to follow magnetic stripes and be controlled by a remote control. Therefore, we are interested in developing robots using AMR technology, as mentioned above.”

"We are also planning to build an AMR for the EEC Medical Hub, a new hospital in the EEC. Thammasat University's Pattaya Hospital will have a digital hospital concept, meaning everything in the hospital will be powered by automation and robotics. The AMR will serve as a robotic medicine transporter, cloth carrier, and dispenser. Ultimately, it can even operate in elevators. 5G technology will further enhance the AMR's efficiency."

“And the latest invention from KSI Solution is the AMR Apollo. This robot uses laser scanner technology and GPS coordinates, which allows it to be highly accurate. All you need is a floor plan of the location and 5G as a signal connection.”

"For this AMR Apollo robot, we expect to bring it to the Mechatronics and Robotics Department at Eastern Technological University for use by students in this program, following our signing of an MOU for curriculum development. At the same time, we hope to encourage the department to continue research and development to produce this AMR at an even lower cost."

Later, TKK Corporation also considered developing a new curriculum jointly between the company and the Department of Mechatronics and Robotics at Eastern Technological University. Kanlayanee cited an example of a trending technology: WMS, or Warehouse Management System, in the form of an intelligent warehouse. This system utilizes rail systems, sliding systems, and programming storage systems that adhere to warehousing principles, which in turn utilize the mechatronics engineering principles students have learned.

“Installing a complete WMS system would cost at least 200 million baht, but I'm confident that Thais have the skills to do it at a much lower cost. The most difficult part is probably the system control program.”

"It's like manufacturing an AGV. If we use genuine Japanese technology and materials, the production cost would be 800,000-1,200,000 baht. But when it comes to the AGVs produced by the faculty and students of Eastern Technological University, the cost drops to just 110,000 baht. This is remarkable and proves that Thais are just as capable as any other nation."

Share the views of the CEO of TKK Corporation on the dream engineering personnel that every business wants.

At the end of her presentation, Kalyanee reiterated that her hope from this collaboration with Eastern Technological University is to develop mechatronics and robotics engineers who not only possess engineering knowledge but, as an enterprise, want to impart comprehensive skills.

From providing customer advice, designing, and developing solutions using automation and robotic technology to meet customer needs, to installation and after-sales service, she believes that if achieved, it will redefine the production of quality personnel and prompt society to consider reforming Thai education to focus more on producing personnel who meet the needs of the industrial sector.

The curriculum that TKK Corporation and KSI Solution have recommended and plan to develop into an educational model in collaboration with Eastern Technological University in the future is:

1. Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
2. 3D Camera Vision System
3. Robot control
4. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR)
5. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)
6. Big data and Artificial Intelligence