Japan–Thailand partnership drives industrial innovation
Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. has signed a strategic partnership with Mito Kogyo (Thailand) Co., Ltd. to introduce its Projection Assembly System (PAS) in Thailand, advancing the region’s move toward digital manufacturing. Signed on 28 October 2025, the agreement aims to support zero-error production in Thailand’s growing automotive and electronics industries.
The collaboration represents a milestone in Japan–Thailand industrial cooperation, highlighting how Southeast Asia is becoming a hub for AI-driven, precision manufacturing systems that enhance productivity and global competitiveness.
Thailand’s manufacturing evolution
Thailand has long been known as the “Detroit of Asia,” with its robust automotive supply chain and electronics ecosystem forming a vital part of the regional economy. The introduction of Oki’s PAS technology aligns with the country’s Thailand 4.0 policy, which encourages digital transformation and advanced automation.
According to the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), the manufacturing sector accounts for over 25% of national GDP and employs millions across industries ranging from car assembly to precision components. As global supply chains shift toward smarter production, Thailand’s factories are increasingly integrating digital technologies to boost quality and reduce error rates.
Oki Electric Industry — one of Japan’s oldest electronics companies, established in 1881 — brings deep experience in industrial automation and system integration. Its Projection Assembly System uses a combination of 3D projection mapping, sensors, and AI analytics to guide workers in real-time, eliminating assembly errors while improving operational efficiency.
Mito Kogyo (Thailand), a subsidiary of Japan’s Mito Kogyo Co., Ltd., operates as a precision component manufacturer serving major automotive brands. The company will be the first in Southeast Asia to adopt PAS at scale, marking a significant step in Thailand’s journey toward Industry 4.0 adoption.
Deploying precision through technology
Under the agreement, Oki will deploy its PAS solution at Mito Kogyo’s manufacturing site in Chonburi Province. The system projects assembly instructions directly onto work surfaces, using visual cues and motion tracking to assist operators in carrying out precise assembly tasks.
This visual guidance minimizes human error and reduces training time — a key advantage for industries struggling with labor shortages and high turnover. According to Oki’s internal pilot results in Japan, the PAS solution improved assembly accuracy by over 98% and reduced rework costs by up to 40%.
The project also aligns with Thailand’s national push for smart industrial zones, such as the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), which promotes partnerships between global technology firms and local manufacturers. Oki’s entry into this market not only enhances Thailand’s automation landscape but also strengthens Japan’s role as a key technology partner in ASEAN.
Oki Executive Officer Masahiro Miyazaki said the collaboration “represents a shared vision for a future of zero-defect manufacturing,” noting that PAS will allow Thai industries to meet global quality benchmarks while maintaining cost competitiveness.
Beyond initial deployment, the partnership includes plans to establish a regional innovation lab for process simulation and worker training, with support from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Thai government agencies.
Asia’s manufacturing transformation in motion
This collaboration between Oki Electric and Mito Kogyo reflects a broader industrial shift taking place across Asia — the transition from labor-intensive operations to data-driven, precision manufacturing. Southeast Asia, once primarily a low-cost production base, is rapidly evolving into a hub for high-tech, digitally integrated factories.
Thailand’s automotive and electronics sectors are at the forefront of this evolution. By embedding AI-guided systems like PAS, local firms are not only improving efficiency but also cultivating a new kind of workforce — one that blends technical skills with digital literacy.
The partnership also underscores Japan’s role as a technology enabler in regional industrial upgrading. While Western firms often emphasize fully autonomous systems, Japanese manufacturers like Oki prioritize human-machine collaboration, ensuring that automation complements skilled labor rather than replaces it.
For Thailand, this approach aligns with national objectives to preserve employment while enhancing competitiveness. It also strengthens regional supply-chain resilience, particularly as companies seek to diversify production away from China without compromising quality standards.
Such collaborations could serve as a blueprint for other ASEAN economies, including Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, which are similarly seeking to balance modernization with inclusive growth.
Scaling Industry 4.0 across Southeast Asia
The rollout of Oki’s Projection Assembly System in Thailand represents only the first phase of a broader regional strategy. Both companies have signaled plans to expand deployments to other ASEAN facilities within the next two years.
Oki is also exploring integration of its PAS solution with cloud-based analytics, enabling real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. This would allow manufacturers to anticipate system failures, optimize workflows, and enhance supply-chain transparency.
Meanwhile, Mito Kogyo (Thailand) aims to train more than 500 local employees on PAS-enabled workflows by 2026, creating a digital-ready workforce aligned with Thailand’s national upskilling agenda.
The collaboration may also pave the way for future public–private partnerships in smart factory ecosystems, bringing together Japanese technology providers, Thai universities, and regional suppliers. As manufacturing becomes increasingly digital, the ability to combine precision engineering with adaptive technologies will define Asia’s competitive edge.
A new benchmark for smart manufacturing in Asia
The partnership between Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. and Mito Kogyo (Thailand) Co., Ltd. marks a defining moment in Southeast Asia’s industrial transformation. By deploying Japan’s advanced Projection Assembly System, the two companies are setting a new standard for zero-error, digitally assisted production.
This collaboration reflects more than a technological upgrade — it represents the merging of Japanese innovation with Thai industrial ambition. As manufacturing across Asia enters a new era of automation and AI integration, initiatives like this one underscore a key truth: the future of industry will be shaped not only by technology but by partnerships that connect vision with execution.
