Isuzu Motors has revealed that it is ready to upgrade its factories in Thailand with automated system responding to the new "D-MAX" model. It prepares to increase the production capacity by bringing full automation to its factories.

Isuzu has decided to increase the production capacity in two factories at Samrong and Gateway. The Samrong plant will have the capacity to produce more various models of pickup trucks, while the Gateway plant will mainly focus on the production of 4-door pickup trucks.

Being aware of the increased wages in Thailand, Isuzu aims to reduce its costs in the long run by bringing robots and automation into its plants. Initially, the Samrong plant has many welding robots installed in order to change the welding process from 70% to 100% automation and it focuses on increasing the use of robots in conveyors. Meanwhile, the Gateway plant has increased the automation in the welding process from 70% to 78% and has scheduled it to be 100% in the future.

Aside from the wages, another reason why Isuzu chooses to use an automated system is that its new D-Max model has more functions than the previous ones and so requires more time in each production step. The robots and automated systems are brought in to replace human labor where technology can be used while the human staff is moved to work in the parts assembling process. This can really improve its production efficiency. 

In addition, Isuzu is considering to utilize IoT systems more in the future, starting in the plants in Japan. It does not have a plan to use IoT in those in Thailand anytime soon. However, the company emphasizes the importance of the factories in Thailand that they will be the cornerstone of the company in the future.