From: sl2k+@andrew.cmu.edu (Schitt Laowattana)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: BACK TO... THE FUTURE
Date: 15 Apr 92 16:02:33 GMT
Organization: Doctoral student, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


    BACK TO Thailand for THE FUTURE Capability in S&T
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    After I posted two messages on this net namely "MoSTE students" and
"S&T opportunity in Thailand", I received an unexpectedly large number
of phone calls and e-mails from S&T students and Thai professionals. 
One of the major concerns is how their S&T capabilities can be used in
Thailand. What is the S&T plan in the near future ?

    Well, let me say this, If I can.  Based on experiences and abilities
of most of you, I strongly believe that you don't need to have things in
Thailand ready for you to step in.  Let's initiate by ourselves.  Who
will do it, if we don't ?   In addition, important elements in the
national-leveled administration start giving serious attention in S&TD. 
Below is a summary of future industry, technology and capability in the
area of Electronics and Information Technology-Based Industries proposed
by the Thailand Development Research Institute(TDRI):

    Researhers and staff
    Dr. Kosol Petchsuwan    Project leader
    Dr. Pairash Thachapong
    Asst.Prof. Prayoon Shiwatana
    Dr. Chatri Sripaipan
    Mr. Peter Brimble
    Khun Amornrat Apinunmahakul
    Khun Booncherd Prapassornchaikul

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Summary of Future Industry
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    The future industry of electronics and computer in Thailand during
the next decade may be derived from the existing survey of the existing
firms and also those recieving the Board of Investment promotion. They
are listed in the table 1.

Table 1.

1. Consumer Electronics
 
    1.1 Video Equipment

            Color Television
            Monochrom(B&W) TV
            Video Tape(VHS)
            Video Tape Recorder

    1.2 Audio Equipment

            Radios
            Car Radio
            Car Tape Cassette-Radio
            Cassette Tapes
            Radio Cassette Recorder
            Power Ampifier
            Clock radio
            Compact Disk Player
            Equalizer Booster
            Mini Stereo with Head Phone
            Portable Stereo
            Stereo/Monaural Raio Cassette

    1.3 Personal Electronics

            Digital Watch
            Electronic Calculators
            Electronics Toys
            Electronic Watch
            Home Stereo
            Microwave Oven
            Automatic Cameras
            Clock & Alarm Clock
            Electronic Typewriter
            Radio Control Toys
            Remote Control Toys

2. Communication Equipment

    Citizen Band Transceivers
    Cordless Telephone
    Key Telephone Systems
    Paging Receivers
    Telephone Receivers
    Transponder
    Facsmile
    Modular Telephone Hardware
    Radio Transmitter & Receiver
    Satellite Antenna
    Satellite Receiver Set
    Switching Equipment
    Telephone Answering machines

3. Computer Hardware Equipment

    3.1 Computers

            Microcomputer

    3.2 Peripheral Equipments
               
            Computer keyboard
            Floppy Disk Drive
            Hard Disk Drive Component
            Hard Disk Drive
            Paper Feeder
            Printer
            Thai Card
            Computer Cases
            Modems

4. Industrial Electronics Equipment

        4.1 Industrial Automation

                Servomotor
                Stroboscope(Electronic Flash)

        4.2 Testing Measuring and Analyzing

                Equipment
                Kilowatt-hour Meters
                Potentiometers
                Multi Meter
                panel Meter            
                Electronics Cash Register

        4.3 Power Supplies

                Power Line Conditioners
                Power Line Stabilizers
                Switching Power Supplies
                Uninterruptible Power Supplies
                Coil & Transformer
                Solar Cell Module
                Solar Cell Panel
                Module
                Solar Panel

        4.4 Medical Electronics

                Diagnostic X-Ray Equipment

5. Electronic Components

        5.1 Electron Tubes
            
                Color Picture Tubes(CRT)

        5.2 Solid State Products

                LED
                LED Clock Display
                LED Lamp
                LED Numeric Display
                Small Signal Transistor
                Integrated Circuit Assembly
                IC Heat Radiation Panel

        5.3 Electronics Parts

            5.3.1 Capacitor

                    Ceramic capacitor
                    Electrolytic capacitor & Parts
                    Power capacitors
                    Mylar Capacitor

            5.3.2 Resisters

                    Variable Resistor
                    Fixed Resistors

            5.3.3 Networks

            5.3.4 Switchs and Relays

                    Magnetic Relay
                    Microwave Oven Time Switch
                    Reference Time Switch
                    Electronic Control Devices

            5.3.5 Connectors

            5.3.6 Transformers & coils

                    Coil for Electronics Watch
                    Power & Output Transformerss
                    Flyback Transformers
                    IF Transformer
                    Instrument Transformer
                    Microwave Transformer
                    Deflection Yoke

            5.3.7 Quartz Devices

                    Crystal Oscillator
                    Quartz Crystal & Tuning Fork
                    Oscillator Circuits
                    Piezo Transducer

            5.3.8 Filter

                    L-C Communication Filter

            5.3.9 Printed Circuit Board

                    PCB Assenbly
                    PCB
                    Clock and Watch PCB
                    Flexible PCB
                    Cable Harness
                    Computer Cord
                    Electronic Wire & Cables
                    Flat Type Cable
                    Interface Cord
                    Keyboard Cord
                    Power Supply Cord Assembly

            5.3.11 Others

                    Actuators & Parts Assembly
                    Analog Watch Components
                    Cabinet for Radio & TV set
                    Electronics Watch Components
                    Fan & Stepping Motors
                    Ferrite Circulator & Isolator
                    Floppy Disk Drive Head
                    Head Gimbal Assembly
                    Loudspeaker
                    Magnetic Recording Head
                    Metal Parts of Microwave Oven
                    Micro Speaker
                    Microwave Circulator & Isolator
                    Plastic Electronics components
                    Printer & Disk Drive Components
                    Small & Miniature Ball Bearings
                    Strain Gauge
                    Transducer
                    TV & Radio Tuner & Parts
                    VCR and Car Stereo Parts
                    "E" Block Assembly
                    Condenser Discharge Ignitor
                    Electronics Ballast
                    Gas Circuit Breakers
                    Head Gimbal Coil Winding

    The main different from the world industry are at this stage
Thailand does not seem to have firms which will produce the world future
products, namely very large scale integrated circuits(VLSI), optical
fibers and optical products, major telecommunication equipments,
microvomputers and lager computer, industrial automation equipments,
high definition and digital television.  These missing industries are
seen as the significant ones if Thailand is willing to be among the
world leading electronics and computer producers.
                    

Summary of Future Technology
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Material and devices

    The main material will be silicon, galium arsenide and
superconductors which are the basis for the various electronic devices
such as transisters, diodes, display devices etc.

2. Microelectronics and VLSIs

    Integrated circuit technology may be divided into two major areas:
the fabrication technology and the design technology.  A country like
Thailand can enter into the design quite readily as it does not need so
large capital investment.  It can be used to produce the increasing
populary type of integrated circuit known as the ASIC(Application
Specific Integrated Circuits) which bring out such a dedicated microchip
called digital single processing(DSP) chip.

3. Artificial Intelligence(AI) and Man-Machine Interface

    This technology will be integrated in probably every electronics and
information-based products.  The forr runner of this AI technology are
the knowledge-based expert systems, which will imitate the various human
experts, and the machine translation which will translate texts and
speech among different human natural language. Other kinds are
man-machine interface technology such as voice, vision, hand-written
characters.

4. Opto-electronics

    Outstanding among this opto-electronicss technology are optical
fiber, and laser which will generate for example communication industry,
industrial electronics and medical equipments, computer storage and
printing equipments etc.

5. CAD/CAE/CAM

    Computer-aided-design(CAD), computer-aided-engineering(CAE) and
computer-aided-manufacturing(CAM) are probably the technology that
increase the industrial productivity.  The design, engineering and
manufacturing will be faster, more accurate, higher complexity when
using this CAD/CAE/CAM technology.

6. Automation and Robotics

    This technology is also seen as the efficient way to increase the
productivity.  Robotics and automation will make industrialized country
even more competitive.

7. Software

    The future product of electronics and information based industry
will mostly have microprocessor as an integral part. It is most obvious
that these products will always feature the programmability.  Hence
software technology at all levels are necessary for the future.

    The microelectronics and VLSI technology is for example seen as
essential for the production.  To increase reliability and economy od
scale. the board assembly firms will have to adopt the hierarchical
technology SMD(Surface Mounted Devices) hybrid IC, semi-custom IC
respectively.  Artificial intelligence is seen as the added value for
the product design to be competitive in the future market.

    As the semiconductor wafer fabrication industry is always regarded
as a major industry that Thailand must acquire.  

Summary of Future Technological Capability
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

1. Acquisitive Capability

    To acquire the technology, one must look for the source of
technology which many either be within the country or outside the
country.   The technology in the country may be the technological
onformation center acting as a body providing thenecessary information,
the university laboratories, the firms which are using the technology in
producing the products, and the consulting firms.  Although at a very
early stages, Thailand has already set up new center at the Ministry of
Science Technology and Energy e.g. the department of technology
transfer, the science and technological information center.  The
STDB(Science and Technology Development Board) is also in the the
process of setting up TIAC(Technical Information Access Center).  It is
still remained to be seen if these centers will be effectively
supporting the future acquisitive capabilities in electronics and
computers.  From the survey there is only one university (KMIT Thonburi)
that officially has a center providing consultancy to private companies.
 The private consulting companies acting as the information sources and
acquiring technology are virtually non-existent.  Normally the trading
companies representing imported equipments will offer the procurement,
plant layout design, installation and start up.  These types of trading
companies are for example the computer agencies and process equipment
agencies.  However, a neutral consulting firms are generally needed to
provide unbiased technical information and advice.

    In conclusion, it is strategically necessary that the local sources
for acquiring the technological capability must be established both in
quantity and quality to enable the Thai-owned firm to start up their
factories.  The foreign-owned and joint venture firms normally acquire
their technology from the mother companies outside Thailand.

2. Operative Capability

    The future operative capability will partly depend on the acquired
technology and the manpower.  For Thailand, manpower especially at the
engineering and technician levels are much below the present demand. 
This due mainly to the rapidly growing number of firms receiving the
promotion from the Board of Investment.  The estimated demand is around
4,000 engineers per year while the supply of engineering graduates is
only half of the figure.  Although the survey shows that there are 16
universities that offer bachelor degrees in electronics and computer,
only half of them(mostly governmental universities) do actually produce
the largest portion.  It is strategical that the government must promote
the production of engineers by investing more in this kind of education.
 Alternatively, incentives must be offered to the private universities
to start the engineering education programs.

    The training programs offered to various firms will help updating
the awareness and technological skills in operation e.g. quality
control, productivity, new equipments, new processes etc.

    As the number of investment from aboard in increasing rapidly in
Thailand, these firms may be upgraded in the future as providing the
technology to the local firms through their operation.  The employees of
these foreign-owned or joint-venture firms which are generally excellent
in their operative capabilities can acquire their skill in technology,
management and market.  Hence, these firms may be regarded as a
strategic organization that provide the acquisitive capability.

    Finally the uses of modern equipments such as computers for
management and automation equipments for manufacturing should also be
encouraged to enhance for example productivity and quality.

3. Adaptive capability

    The adaptive capability may be made effective if three main
strategic are laid down.  First of all, the components and parts must be
made plentiful locally.  This is seen as a necessary basic factor that
will stimulate the reverse engineering of products.  Trial and error can
therefore be attempted at a low cost by the local entrepreneurs.  The
second factor which is regarded ad important to achieve the adaptive
capability is the engineering knowledge.  This will enable digestion of
technology in order to understand the products and processes to a
certain extent.  The minor adaotation of the products and processes may
then follow.  Thiedly, the firms must be encouraged to set up their
engineering divisions in charge of all technical experiments to acquire
this adaptive capability.

4. Innovative capability

    The innovative capability may be achieved through real knowledge and
skills in RD&E (Research, Development and Engineering).  First of all,
the local universities must offer sufficient programs in Master and
Doctor of Engineering.  From the survey of the 16 local universities,
only two universities offer Doctor of Engineering program and only half
offers Master of Engineering program.  This is seen as too small to be
effectively in producing tha manpower at this level.  It is also seen as
too small to produce any significant RD&E results by the universities
themselves.  Secondly, it is also an important strategy that a kind of
liaison office acting as a go-between the universities RD&E laboratories
and the private firms must be established.  This will enable the
effective use of the RD&E resources.  Thirdly, it is also seen as an
important measure to set up a national RD&E organization which will
serve the local firms directly to innovate new producys and processes. 
This national RD&E organization must run as a professional non-profit
company.  Finally, it is also always the obvious aim that the firms must
be encouraged to have their own RD&E divisions.  In industraiized
countries, it is always true that the RD&E expenditure is approximately
90% in the private firms and only 10% in the public organization.

    It should probably noted here that the country has already seen two
main funding agencies for RD&E in electronics and computers e.g the
National Electronics and Computer Center(NECTEC) of Ministry of Science
Technology and Energy, and the Science and Technology Development
Board(STDB)

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Posted by Schitt  Laowattana