In this volume, Techno Society Magazine presents the success story of heavy industry manufacturer’s business (listed company): Kulthorn Kirby Public Company Limited from the interview of Mr. Titisak Simakulthorn, Executive Vice President of Technology & Marketing, Procurement, and Production Planning in order to talk about company’s direction of growth including success that is proved by the position of market leader in producing and distributing Reciprocating Compressor and Condensing Units. This also includes professionalism from being Thailand’s first motor compressor manufacturer and over 30 years of experiences in the market. Today, Kulthorn Kirby aims at achieving more market share. The company also aims at becoming market leader of producing and distributing motor compressor in ASEAN.

Kulthorn Kirby Public Company Limited was established in 1980 by the cooperation between Simakulthorn Group, Kirby Group Australia to operate as a manufacturer and seller of motor compressor, reciprocating type for refrigeration products i.e., refrigerators, freezers, water coolers, commercial refrigerators, and air conditioning products since 1982. The Company is the first motor compressor manufacturer in Thailand and also produces Condensing unit which is the component of refrigeration products, electrical motor parts, and other motor compressor parts. The Company was listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 1991 with the name “KKC” with the goal of becoming leading manufacturer of motor compressor in ASEAN. Furthermore, there are currently 6 new companies which are: Kulthorn Premier Company Limited, Kulthorn Kirby, Kulthorn Steel, Kulthorn Metal Products, Kulthorn Materials & Controls, and Suzhou Kulthorn Magnet Wire.

SAP Hosting with “Integration” Management
Mr. Titisak Simakulthorn, Executive Vice President of Technology & Marketing, Procurement, and Production Planning, Kulthorn Kirby Public Company Limited said “the key to success is IT system: SAP Hosting which connects and manages areas of work in the organization from the upstream to downstream of the process starting from inventory, procurement, production, finance, and planning which should be managed using integration. All these areas must work well in harmony. More importantly, SAP system used by Kulthorn Kirby with their 6 companies can manage the system efficiently.

The main reasons why Kulthorn Kirby selected SAP Hosting are:

• Ability to Integrate all data used among 6 companies together harmoniously. Data which includes Report can be accessed remotely on a “Realtime” basis by executives.
• Data is managed by SAP Hosting system therefore is correct and accurate.
• Lower time consumption, create convenience therefore allow faster operation which will lead to decreased organization’s expenses.

4 Factors to Success for Kulthorn Kirby

Mr. Titisak said that “4 factors making Kulthorn Kirby succeed for over 30 year s and being successful as Thailand’s biggest manufacturer of motor compressor are:

1. Quality including that of materials, production process, and systems manipulating production process. SAP Hosting can be well used in this case.

2. Competitive Price in the market which dire ctly benefits manufacturer and distributor of appliances requiring motor compressors as parts and will finally benefit end users.

3. Fast Delivery which allows on time delivery after production. Fast product delivery can be made to manufacturers of appliances and equipment.

4. Services must be in good quality and high speed so that operation is according to plan and time scheduled. Customer satisfaction is also the result from this system.”

Kulthorn’s Business Direction from 2015 onward
Mr. Titisak talked about company’s growth, “Currently Kulthorn Kirby has number one market share in Thailand. Our aim domestically is to maintain the market share. Meanwhile for Europe and America, Kulthorn Kirby has started penetrating the markets for 3-4 years using partnership strategy including production via partner’s factories using Kulthorn Kirby’s expertise and experiences on manufacturing and distributing reciprocating compressor and condensing unit along with know - how and technology developed and accumulated for over 30 years. The most important part is that Kulthorn Kirby is steering at full speed to move forward to the first position of ASEAN’s manufacturer and producer of reciprocating compressor and condensing unit as AEC opening at the end of 2015 will create business opportunity and more capitalized market. This will lead to expansion of industry with motor compressor as part of production for appliances. ASEAN will become world’s large and potential market for production after the coming of AEC. Kulthorn will emphasize on producing compressor and will increase production line in other reciprocating motors.”

Impression for TCCT as Service Provider and System Supporter of SAP Hosting for Kulthorn Kirby
“From the past, Kulthorn Kirby had challenge on human resource. This challenge affected organizational management including production. Also previously the company and factories used software for a self management. However that did not create “Integration” and it was not effective enough.” This is why Kulthorn Kirby decided to choose TCC Technology (TCCT)’s SAP Hosting which could integrate all areas of operation and production of 3 factories and 6 companies and other parties from upstream to downstream together. Mr. Titisak talked about this impression, “the most important things for us towards SAP Hosting are: well taken care data with “Highest Security”, no leakage of data to other parties, accurate reports which provide convenience and least time consuming for executives, and finally unified functions of all operations in factories and all companies in the group.”