In manufacturing sites in Thailand, the introduction of “traceability” systems that manage the movement of materials and manufacturing processes has been accelerating. This article introduces a case study of an MES and traceability system implementation at PIOLAX (Thailand), the Thai subsidiary of the PIOLAX Group, which has been a pioneer in KAIZEN activities using IT systems within the industry.

A System to Visualize Material Flow and Prevent Human Error

At Piolax, an ERP system had already been implemented to manage accounting, sales, production, and inventory. However, on-site material movement, production results, and lot control were still managed using handwritten ledgers and Excel files. The factory employs nearly 380 people and handles approximately 2,000 product items. With a high daily production volume, material movement was frequent. In order to meet increasingly strict customer quality requirements, the company began to feel the limitations of manual ledger-based management.

As a result, Piolax decided to introduce a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and a traceability system to visualize all material movements from raw material receiving, through the manufacturing processes, to the shipment of final products.

▲ Product storage warehouse inside the PIOLAX factory

▲ All items managed with QR codes from raw materials to finished products

▲ Production progress by process displayed on office monitors

Since the introduction of the core system in 2019, the system has been continuously improved and enhanced with additional functions such as human error prevention features by incorporating feedback from on-site staff.

“In addition to objectives such as labor-saving and resource-saving (paper reduction), this system implementation was carried out with a medium- to long-term vision of linking traceability with our ERP system. In addition to system development, we have also signed a maintenance contract with Thai NS Solutions (hereinafter ‘Thai NS’) and entrust them with comprehensive system management. By understanding our on-site operations, they have contributed to system construction from a holistic perspective—linking systems together rather than treating them as isolated components.” (Mr. Kodaira, PIOLAX)

Japanese-Quality Standards and Strong Delivery Commitment Were the Deciding Factors
Planning Horizontal Expansion to Other ASEAN Sites Based on Thailand’s Success

PIOLAX selected Thai NS as its partner for the following reasons:

＜Key Reasons for Choosing Thai NS Solutions＞

Currently, PIOLAX is considering rolling out the system implemented in Thailand to India and Indonesia.

Approximately 15 Thai NS staff members are involved in the PIOLAX project. The partnership has continued for nearly six years, with minimal changes in personnel, ensuring that staff deeply familiar with PIOLAX’s operations remain in charge.

“Compared to other companies, Thai NS’s Thai staff have extensive system knowledge and respond very quickly. Because they understand our operations well, it’s easy for them to grasp our intentions, and their thorough schedule management makes communication extremely smooth.” (Mr. Jirawat, PIOLAX)

“Our group has relatively high system literacy within the industry, and even in Thailand, our expectations are quite advanced. In the early stages, both sides faced many challenges, but through repeated trial and error, we have built the strong trust we have today. Thanks to Thai NS’s deep understanding of our business, information sharing is seamless, which we truly appreciate.” (Mr. Kodaira, PIOLAX)

High-quality system development requires a deep understanding of the customer’s business. This knowledge contributes not only to maintaining system quality after implementation but also to generating ideas for continuous improvement. The strong trust and proven results with PIOLAX demonstrate the high service quality of Thai NS Solutions.

【Interview Cooperation】

PIOLAX (THAILAND) LTD.
Engaged in the manufacturing and sales of automotive industrial fasteners in Thailand and across Asia. In Japan, where its headquarters is located, the company holds a top market share in precision metal springs and fasteners, primarily for the automotive industry. Globally, PIOLAX operates a network of 11 locations across 8 countries.

▲ Examples of PIOLAX products

▲ PIOLAX project members

PIOLAX (THAILAND) LTD.
Masaichi Kodaira (pictured, center right)
President

Jirawat Janpengpen (pictured, center left)
ERP Promotion（IT）Manager

If you are considering implementing an MES or traceability system that contributes to labor-saving and operational efficiency in Thailand, or if you are exploring other system development solutions, please feel free to contact us via the inquiry form below.