APO Asian Productivity Organization

ORGANIZATION

The Government of Thailand approved the establishment of the Thailand Productivity Institute substituting for the former Thailand Management Development and Productivity Centre on 18 January 1994. The Institute is supported by the Foundation for Thailand Productivity Institute (FTPI). It began operation on July 1, 1995 and was appointed as National Productivity Organization (NPO) on December 15, 1995.

The Thailand Productivity Institute is under the Ministry of Industry and is supported and funded by the Foundation for Thailand Productivity Institute. It is directed by a Board of Directors comprising the Minister and Deputy Minister of Industry as advisors; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry as Chairman of Committee; and representatives from public, private, and education sectors, authorities in labor unions, and authorities at-large.

Vision

To instill in the mindset of the people at large a productivity consciousness which will ultimately result in an increase of national productivity on a continual basis.

Missions

• To carry out national promotional activities to make all sectors of the public appreciate the meaning and importance of productivity.
• To promote widespread usage of productivity concepts and techniques in pursuit of better performance.
• To build up a wealth of pertinent data, information and knowledge related to productivity through research and development and other methods. These various types of information will be disseminated extensively to the public.
• To promote productivity movements in accordance with the National Productivity Strategy which is part of the 9th National Economic and Social Development Plan.

ACTIVITIES

Training and Consulting Services

The Institute provides the following regular courses:

• Fundamental knowledge on productivity
• Productivity management
• Productivity analysis for top management
• Productivity activities, e.g. 5S, Suggestion System, QCC
• Tools and techniques for problem-solving
• ISO 9000; ISO 14000
• Quality for Small and Medium Enterprises (QSME)

Research and Study

The Institute conducts research on subjects which are related to company- and national-level productivity such as Cost and Benefit of ISO9000, Performance Index, Productivity Improvement in Thai Food Industry, Benchmarking on HR Management, Self-Assessment based on Malcolm Baldrige Criteria, Best Practices etc.

Productivity Promotion

As a national productivity organization, our mission is to continuously promote a better understanding and awareness on productivity and why productivity improvement is necessary for competitive advantage.

Activities of this type include:

• Promote productivity in a number of target groups such as Local Enterprises, Workforce, SMEs, Politician, Youth etc.
• Produce productivity promotion materials such as leaflets, brochures, VDO, posters etc.
• Disseminate productivity concepts through media channels e.g. radio, television, publication, Internet, correspondence course etc.
• Organize activities to encourage the understanding and awareness on productivity such as exhibitions, seminars, Roadshow etc.
• Liase with international organizations.

Knowledge Center

More than 1,500 books and productivity journals, including over 200 videotapes on productivity improvement techniques and quality management, are available for members and the public. The Institute cooperates with other international organizations to exchange up-to-date information on productivity and statistics which will be made available for the public.

Thailand Quality Award Project

Thailand Quality Award will be launched in year 2002. It aims to:

• encourage organizations to adopt world-class quality system
• recognize organizations who meet a challenging set of criteria
• encourage award recipients to share their information to public which can lead to the strengthening of national competitiveness.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART