Digitalization continues to be a major strategy to raise the productivity and competitiveness of industries. According to a WEF survey in 2021 on SMEs in ASEAN countries, more than 85% of SME owners recognized the importance of digitalization in business operations and postpandemic economic recovery. Digitalization of SMEs in the manufacturing sector is especially crucial as it helps to optimize their resources while facilitating deeper integration in supply chains for greater efficiency in the economy. Digital upgrading in manufacturing has therefore become indispensable.

However, SMEs face constraints due to lack of awareness, resources, and technical capacities. An OECD publication in 2021 indicated that SMEs lagged behind larger enterprises. Now that cost-effective IoT technologies and AI solutions are available on the market, new opportunities have emerged for SMEs to leapfrog in their digital transition.

This e-course will impart fundamental knowledge of digital transformation for SMEs in the manufacturing sector with the introduction of IoT, AI, and robotic applications as references for initiating their digital upgrading.

Course Objectives

The main objectives of this course are:

• Understand digital transformation in the manufacturing sector with a focus on SMEs.
• Impart knowledge of the IoT, AI, and industrial robots as key technologies supporting digital transformation of businesses.
• Showcase the adoption and success stories of digitalization in SMEs.

Course Modules

This e-learning course will cover the following modules:
Module 1: IoT and digital transformation in the manufacturing sector 
Module 2: Applying IoT technologies 
Module 3: Leveraging the power of AI  
Module 4: Applications of industrial robots in SMEs 
Module 5: Good practices of SME digital innovation in Japan

Important Notes:

1. Participants who register to take this course and pass the final examination with a score of 70% or higher will be eligible to receive the APO certificate. Please note that the final examination can be taken only once. Therefore, the most appropriate time to take the examination should be chosen carefully. The self-assessment quizzes are for personal evaluation only and are not related to the final examination results.
2. Participants who perform well in this course and receive the APO certificate will be given preference, on a merit basis, for selection to attend follow-up face-to-face multicountry APO projects on similar topics, when nominated by their NPOs and if slots are available.
3. Notes 1 and 2 are applicable only to participants from APO member countries. Participants from nonmember countries are welcome to take the course for self-improvement, although they will not have an opportunity to attend the follow-up face-to-face multicountry APO projects.
4. Each module is in a prerecorded video format in which the expert delivers presentations by explaining each slide. Participants can access the video by clicking on the link provided under the title of each module.