• Theindex will help APO member countries evaluate their readiness for Industry 4.0and develop strategies for the transformation.
• Theinitiative will enable the APO to assist member countries in self-diagnosis anddeveloping national productivity and innovation roadmaps.

TOKYO, JAPAN - Media OutReach - 26 October2018 - The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) has announced joiningthe Index Partners Network promoted by the Singapore Economic Development Boardto help manufacturers accelerate the execution of their Industry 4.0initiatives. The network complements the Smart Industry Readiness Indexdeveloped by the Government of Singapore to enable the transformation ofindustrial sectors at both the enterprise and national levels.

The initiative will enable the APO toassist its member countries in self-diagnosis and developing nationalproductivity and innovation roadmaps using the index. It will also help themevaluate their readiness for Industry 4.0 and select customized approachesnecessary for the transformation.

Sharing details of the Index PartnersNetwork, APO Secretary-General Dr. SanthiKanoktanaporn said that the initiative was in sync with theorganization's efforts to help member countries transform their manufacturingsectors by harnessing the potential of Industry 4.0. "The Smart IndustryReadiness Index will effectively enable APO member economies to diagnose gaps,identify their priorities, and kickstart their Industry 4.0 transformationjourney," he commented.

Pointing out that APO member countrieswere at different levels of industrialization, with some countries ahead of thedigital adoption and Industry 4.0 curve, the Secretary-General stressed that byleveraging the index as a common language and framework, the APO would be ableto help them all, regardless of their manufacturing-sector maturity.

Created in partnership with globaltesting, inspection, certification, and training company TÜV SÜD and validatedby an advisory panel of industry and academic experts, the index was designedas a comprehensive tool to help enterprises of any size in all industries toharness the benefits of Industry 4.0 systematically and comprehensively.

At the enterprise level, the index offersa four-step approach to help manufacturing firms learn about Industry 4.0concepts, evaluate the current state of their facilities, devise atransformation roadmap, and deliver sustained value for their businesses. Atthe national level, the index has the potential to serve as a metric forIndustry 4.0 benchmarking within and across industries, enabling governmentagencies to design sector-specific policy interventions to accelerate theindustrial transformation.

The index comprises three layers. At thetop are the three fundamental building blocks of Industry 4.0: process;technology; and organization. Underpinning these building blocks are eightfocal pillars, which are divided into 16 dimensions of assessment. For each ofthe 16 dimensions, the index provides an assessment matrix for companies to usein evaluating their current processes, systems, and structures. The assessmentmatrix also doubles as a step-by-step improvement guide, as each dimensionprovides intermediate steps needed for progress.

Aboutthe APO

The AsianProductivity Organization (APO) is an intergovernmental organization committedto improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1961, theAPO contributes to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the regionthrough policy advisory services, acting as a think tank, and undertaking smartinitiatives in the industry, agriculture, service, and public sectors.

The APO is shapingthe future of the region by assisting member economies in formulating nationalstrategies for enhanced productivity and through a range of institutionalcapacity-building efforts, including research and centers of excellence inmember countries.

APO Members: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Republic of China,Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Republic ofKorea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore,Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.