The China Productivity Center (CPC) held the Multicountry Observational Study Mission on Smart Manufacturing and Digital Supply Chains in Taichung, the Republic of China, from 13 to 15 August 2025.

The program brought together 33 participants from 15 APO member economies and three resource persons, two from the Republic of China and one from Japan, to explore the latest trends and practices in smart manufacturing. The mission featured expert lectures from the resource persons, a hands-on workshop on IoT applications, and site visits to the CPC Central Regional Office in Taichung (the APO Center of Excellence on Smart Manufacturing); Fair Friend Enterprise Co., Ltd.; and Victor Taichung Machinery Works Co., Ltd.

Participants gained insights into IoT integration, robotics, predictive maintenance, and digital supply chain synchronization. The mission also highlighted the twin transformation (digital and green) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the importance of supportive policy frameworks, workforce upskilling, and SME support mechanisms to accelerate digital transformation.

The study mission reinforced the CPC’s pivotal role as the APO Center of Excellence on Smart Manufacturing in leading regional initiatives and sharing best practices. Participants emphasized the need for stronger cooperation, demonstration projects, and continued capacity building to advance smart manufacturing and resilient supply chains across APO member economies.