Issue 12 : 15 Sept 2014

The quality of Thai craftsmanship has been recognised globally, Horizon Thailand talks to the acting head of the Federation of Thai Industries about the importance of skill development in the country’s automotive industry.

As the nature of Thai people is hard-working, enduring and delicate, this seems to be handed down through Thai DNA, especially the hand skills.

Thavorn Chalassathien quotes former US President Abraham Lincoln when describing Thailand’s manufacturing base. “I am a slow walker but I never walk back,” says the Acting Secretary General, of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), echoing the American abolitionist.

Thailand is widely regarded as a world leader in many industries both heavy and light. Its leading industries include agribusiness, food products, electronics and especially automotive vehicles and auto-parts. According to Chalassathien, these contribute up to 30-40% of the country’s GDP.

With such a high potential for the Thai automotive industry and its related supply chain, the FTI, in cooperation with the Department of Skill Development, has been focusing on developing the industry’s workforce. It has developed a Dual System with industrial entrepreneurs to encourage vocational students to be trained and gain work experience in line with the needs of the manufacturing sector to meet global standards.

“Thai craftsmanship and skills are recognised by World Skills International,” says Chalassathien. “Like welding skills which Thai has won almost every year in this competition, it requires endurance, concentration, hand-eye coordination and a steady hand. As the nature of Thai people is hard-working, enduring and delicate, this seems to be handed down through Thai DNA, especially the hand skills.”

To develop the Thai workforce for the global industry, especially the arrival of the soon-to-be ASEAN Community, greater attention should be paid towards developing human resources and workforce skills especially in the vital automotive industry, says Chalassathien.

“In foreign investors’ eyes, what they lack in their workforce is the skills they can find from Thai people,” Chalassathien adds.

Moreover, Thai craftsmanship is well accepted globally. In this regard the country’s automotive industry is leading the way for other industry’s to follow.

As Chalassathien clearly is a fan of Lincoln, he might appreciate another saying from the President. “That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.” Time will show whether the Thai automotive industry represents the blueprint for other industries to follow, but one thing is for sure, the acting head of the FTI will keep going in only one direction – straight ahead.

Words by Natthinee Ratanaprasidhi