Engineering CMU Hosts KTH and UNIBZ Researchers for Factory Visit in Lamphun

The Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University (Engineering CMU), led by Asst. Prof. Wapee Manopiniwes, Assoc. Prof. Chawis Boonmee, Dr. Pongsawat Premphet, and researchers from the Department of Industrial Engineering, welcomed international collaborators — Asst. Prof. Jeong Yongkuk from KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) and PhD Candidate Lars Jakobs from the Free University of Bolzano (Italy) — for a joint factory visit in Lamphun province.

The group visited S.J. Equipment and Care Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of tissue paper products, and Plethora Sports Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a producer of high-quality sports goods. The visit aimed to explore real-world industrial practices, production management, logistics systems, and technology utilization among Thai SMEs.

During the visit, the teams exchanged insights on process improvement, sustainability strategies, and digital transformation challenges in the local manufacturing sector. The discussion also focused on how academic collaboration and applied research could enhance innovation and competitiveness for regional industries.

This activity, organized under the SME50 project, reflects a strong commitment to fostering research collaboration, knowledge transfer, and long-term partnerships between European and Thai institutions — contributing to innovation-driven and sustainable industrial development in Northern Thailand.