Hitachi Asia’s collaborative creation with customers has accelerated with the establishment of Lumada, a facility that develops advanced customised digital solutions, services and technologies for turning data into insights to drive digital innovation.

For instance, the Lumada Center Southeast Asia is helping companies in Thailand navigate the economy’s rapid digital transformation under the Thailand 4.0 plan. Opened in 2018, the centre is located in Chonburi, which is slated to be one of three smart cities along Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor. Among other activities, the facility offers manufacturers Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to save costs and enhance productivity.

Problem-solving and co-creation play an important part in realising the Lumada Center’s objectives. Lumada Center is working with a team from Siam Cement Group (SCG) to improve the efficiency of its Thung Song Cement factory. As part of the project, Hitachi sent an expert to the factory to co-create a solution with the SCG team.

The project also aims to analyse the use of potential innovative technologies across SCG’s different businesses. To achieve its goals, the team collected data using sensors and overhead cameras at the plant, which monitor overall efficiency.

Another initiative focuses on transforming the manufacturing industry through smart analytics and artificial intelligence by developing ways to enhance load curves or lower energy consumption, for instance. In the next phase, it will work on solutions to reinforce a client’s supply chain by linking up multiple businesses to share resources and optimise logistics and planning.

Mr Yoshito Kodama, managing director, Hitachi Asia (Thailand), said: “Lumada Center is not a building, it is not a showroom. It’s a centre for co-creation, to bring our technology and prepare our people for the digital age.”