On December 23, 2021, at 14.00 hours, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin presided over the ceremony for the CiRA CORE training room and the opening ceremony of the 2nd “MARA Skill Competition 2021” at the Manufacturing Automation and Robotics Academy, Chonburi Skill Development Institute 3, Chonburi. Assistant to the Labour Minister Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong, the Labour Minister’s Advisor, Mrs. Thiwalrat Angkinan, Secretariat to the Labour Minister Mr. Suthep Chitvong, Assistant Minister from the Prime Minister’s Office performing duties for the Ministry of Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on politics), Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat, the Department of Skills Development’s Director-General, Mr. Prateep Songlamyong, and the Ministry of Labour’s executives also joined the occasion. Mr. Suchart said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha and the Ministry of Labour under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has the policy to operate following the national strategy by focusing on the development of targeted industries to use technology and innovation in production and increase the country’s competitiveness. This response to the growth of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Many enterprises in the EEC have started to use more automation and robotics in their production. Therefore, the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Skill Development uses the civil state approach with the private sector and educational institutions to develop labour skills, both Up-skilling and Re-skilling, especially new worker groups and vocational veterans, to become quality workers to support future industrial technology.
The Department of Skills Development’s Director-General, Mr. Prateep Songlamyong, said the competition was held under the policy and organized by the agency under the DSD, the Manufacturing Automation and Robotics Academy (MARA) from December, 23 to 24, 2021. There are six competing branches, including three branches competing in teams of 2 each, namely Mechatronics, PLC, and the maintenance of robots. There are three individual branches, including robotics, Computer Mechanical Drawing (CAD), and Artificial Intelligence (CiRA CORE). The contestants are students in vocational colleges in the EEC area, such as the Eastern Technological College, E. Tech, the Chonburi Technical College, the Rayong Technical College, the Chachoengsao Technical College, and the IRPC College of Technology, for example. The winning contestants of each branch will receive the following prizes: The first-place winner will receive prize money of 5,000 Baht with an honour plaque from the Minister of Labour. The second-place winner will receive a prize of 3,000 Baht, and the third-place winner will receive 2,000 Baht. This skills competition is an activity that is of great importance to preparing new workers and encouraging vocational students to apply their knowledge and skills to modern technology effectively, quickly and respond to the real needs of the workforce in the area. Another highlight was the acquisition of CiRA CORE Training Rooms, which follows government policy in line with the civil state guidelines that strengthen the potential of the EEC. The rooms, supported by TKK Corporation Co., Ltd., and CiRA Automation and Technology Co., Ltd., provide training equipment such as Nachi robots and handles, automatic conveyors, and electric control cabinets. The rooms allow training to be organized on artificial intelligence for industrial robots, the application of artificial intelligence for manufacturing (AI), coding with microcontrollers for robotics, and automation development, for example. Both of these activities were organized by academic institutions and the private sector, promoting the development of labour skills promptly, effectively filling in the limitations of the government sector to promote the propulsion of the national economy and the EEC with quality workers in line with ever-changing technology.
In 2021, the Department of Skill Development by the MARA Institute, a training unit established according to a special mission, developed the workforce in the field of automated manufacturing technology and robotics in the EED area. They have conducted Up-Skill and Re-Skill training using a participatory training model from the private sector called “EEC Model Type B,” with training according to MARA’s regular labour capacity development programs and special government projects, including the from the basic economic program and the central government budget. The training courses include industrial applications of PLCs, computer-aided design and manufacturing (lathe), Solid works for CAD, NX for CAD, robotic welding technology, and advanced industrial robot control programming. The training can develop a workforce of over 2,000 people. By 2022, more than 30 new courses will be prepared in automation technology, robotics, production programs for manufacturing machinery and measuring equipment, and logistics systems, which are expected to develop at least 2,000 people.
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Division of Public Relations
23 December 2021
