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Driven by passion, Dr. Pongsuda Phumathon Pongtanya has long developed innovations supporting business development. Today, this executive has served as the Managing Director of Deltalab SL, a Spain-based company. As her new role requires her to move to Europe, she is exposed to diversity in various aspects. But her determination and mindset have enabled her to take up the challenging job smoothly.   RESEARCHER-TURNED EXECUTIVE “I was awarded British & Thai government scholarships to study in the UK. After graduating with master’s and doctorate degrees in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering, I returned to Thailand and started working as a biotech researcher. Driven by a desire to apply my research for commercial purposes and make broad impact, I was keen to work for a leading enterprise. I dreamed of developing innovative and practical products. In 2007, I joined SCG and was assigned to explore new business opportunities in the fields of Healthcare & Life Science. I was also in charge of managing R&D system. SCG back then started recruiting researchers for the creation of High Value Added Products & Services. So, I actively participated in the development of R&D and innovation management system, researchers’ performance evaluations, and researcher management.   “In the middle of 2013, I was named the Director of SCGP’s Product and Technology Development Center and was entrusted with the mission of transforming research outcomes into business solutions. I really enjoyed and loved the job. In December 2021, I then got a new role as the Deputy Managing Director of Deltalab. After about a year in the stint, Mr. Jose Saez – the former Managing Director – passed on his position to me.”   READY TO LEARN! TACKLE EVERY CHALLENGE “I faced up to the challenges ever since I knew I would be assigned to work at Deltalab. After my graduation, I had never managed this kind of business before. So, everything was new to me. I was worried about business affairs as well as culture. I was not sure how much acceptance I would receive. A Growth Mindset, therefore, was much needed. I had to prepare myself mentally and get ready to tackle any challenge on my way. As part of my preparations, I started studying business information and reviving knowledge from my educational background. I also looked into new knowledge and technologies that could apply to Healthcare & Life Science businesses.   “I have come to Spain with another Thai staff. First of all, we planned how to work well with the team in Spain, achieve synergy, and create value for the company. I have also focused on building trust by presenting myself in every company function, identifying clear goals, and preparing factual information. I have always placed emphasis on communications to promote mutual understanding and readiness to work ahead together too. Prior to any customer visits, I enhanced my understanding of customers’ businesses. We have learned from one another. My goals are to fulfill the tasks I was assigned, drive business growth, and smoothly link SCGP and Deltalab.   “My main duty is to build further growth of business with Deltalab team. My principles surround sustainable growth, practicality, systematic management, and employee motivation. In my opinion, it is necessary that employees are motivated to understand both SCGP and Deltalab, as well as the fact that teamwork and employees’ contributions are meaningful to drive business and create a happy workplace. In the past year, we faced many challenges such as the post COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the rising costs of raw materials, transportation, production, and even electricity. In such a climate, the first must-take step is to get ready to learn and deal with whatever emerges. Then, we need to explore solutions strategically. I am very much impressed with the team members’ expertise and friendship. As we really work as a team, we have beaten all odds.”   OPEN UP, EMBRACE DIVERSITY Dr. Pongsuda has now worked amid diversity. Her workplace is different than before in terms of business nature, people, language, laws, and culture. “At Deltalab, I have experienced much diversity. Under Deltalab’s wings are five subsidiaries, namely Keylab, Nirco, Equilabo, Enfa, and Sanilabo. They have produced and distributed more than 10,000 medical and labware products to both B2B and B2C sectors. Their product portfolio covers Healthcare, Life Science, and related industries. I have therefore worked with professionals from many fields. Our team consists of more than 200 members, with products exported to over 100 countries worldwide. I have learned how to communicate with diversified groups of customers and conduct commercialization of vast product varieties,” she said.   “Aside, I have been learning new culture, mindset, and language. While we mainly communicate in English, I need to try to learn Spanish as much as possible and use body language in various contexts. On top of this, I have had to handle many other things like taking a test to get a Spanish driving license. But because I have never considered anything too difficult, so far, fortunately I can handle them all. I am motivated, driven, and positive. I try to look at everything as an opportunity. I have kept adapting and learning more.”     NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE “Based on my mindset, nothing is impossible. Even if something is not possible today, it may be possible tomorrow. Many things in the world could have never happened in the past. But today, they exist. So, if we set our sights on doing something, we have to think carefully and explore ways to make it possible. After we find a way, do our best. When I succeed, I am glad to an extent and use it as a motivation to keep going. If I fail, I learn from my mistakes. That’s how I keep moving ahead. I take action because it’s better than doing nothing related to our ideas.   “I have also developed myself constantly because new things keep happening. We need to look ahead and predict what will be next. I look into …

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SCGP has conducted its businesses based on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and Circular Economy concepts. It therefore has focused on green materials, maximum resource efficiency and upcycling. So many materials that would otherwise be thrown away become new products with added value, thanks to SCGP, which has also promoted community-enterprise development.   Guided by the aforementioned concepts, SCGP has recently collaborated with THINKK Studio in organizing “TRANSFORMATION” Waste to Value Workshop to promote resource efficiency and upcycling. Invited to the event were members of craft-community enterprises around SCGP’s plants in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Prachin Buri and Khon Kaen, as well as design / material-sciences lecturers and students. At the workshop, participants explored ways to upcycle SCGP’s unused materials with THINKK Studio in charge of sharpening the ideas and upcycling implementation.   “TRANSFORMATION” Waste to Value Workshop “TRANSFORMATION” Waste to Value Workshop took place amid inspiringly fun atmosphere. Discussed the workshop were four types of materials namely paper band, recycled plastic strap that is a byproduct from plastic-bottle forming, plastic tubes, and crushed recycled plastic. After THINKK Studio’s finishing touch, the upcycled materials are beautiful in design and boast added value.   THINKK Studio’s designers shared their ideas at the workshop. The first stage of the workshop was to understand more about the four materials and their different characteristics. The team then concluded that paper band should be woven in line with Thai craft of weaving. Tubes, meanwhile, should go well with that can be grasped in the hand. Crushed plastic, on its part, has solid durability and can be used for tray making.   In the next stage, THINKK Studio produced six protypes from the four materials namely a vase, a lantern, a handbag, a tray, a fan, and a tote bag. Participants then were given opportunities to make these products from the materials provided. For decoration, there were thin plastic sheets for participants to choose. These sheets were recycled from used plastic bags.   THINKK Studio – Think Circular Mr. Decha Archjananun, Creative Director & Co-Founder of THINKK Studio offered advice on how to upcycle waste/unwanted materials as follows: “Breathing a new life to no-longer-wanted materials or waste requires creativity. Designers need to visualize what the materials will be turned into through an experimental process that should go beyond any limit. During the workshop, THINKK Studio has already shown how to upcycle materials. Our team believes our efforts were successful and got positive response from participants. This workshop provided us with a good opportunity to interact with students who had fresh ideas as well as with craft-community enterprises that had exceptional craft skills. All sides in the workshop definitely discovered some inspirations. “Anyone can upcycle materials. At household level, upcycling will require just basic skills. At community or industrial level, it may be necessary to design waste disposal and storage process for upcycling. However, the process design can be done in collaboration with supportive companies, government agencies or research units. “Importantly, upcycling must focus on ensuring that its output is not only as functional as products from new raw materials but also answers well to consumers’ lifestyles. Last but not least, upcycling trend should continue because it is crucial to the environment and the world’s future.”  

SCGP has brought ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) concept to the next level by developing Green-Meeting displays from recycled paper for APEC 2022 Thailand.   While exhibitions need pleasant booths and displays, the use of new materials threatens to exacerbate global warming. Recognizing this fact, SCGP promotes resource efficiency through Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle principle. Made of recycled paper, Green-Meeting displays are parts of the promotion. Durable and environmentally friendly, they are in the forms of arched entrance, backdrops, podiums, PR materials, and bins. At the end of an exhibition, such displays can be turned into boxes for participants to carry something out of the venue. SCGP has also had knowhow to turn paper booths into eco-friendly shelves for schools in need. Innovative paper-based exhibition displays underline the power of creativity. Thanks to creative designs, paper acquires boundless potential, durability, functionality, impressive flair, and ability to take care of the planet.   Benefits of Paper Displays Lightweight Easy-to-move around Faster to install (saving installation time by two folds when compared with traditional displays)  Beautiful design Usable throughout the year or up to 14 times    

Happy co-existence with communities is one of SCGP’s main goals. All its plants, therefore, have operated with locals in their mind. Benyapa “Ni” Payompluk, CSR Officer of Siam Kraft Industry Company Limited, Wangsala Plant, has recently taken Passionate Experiences team with her on her recent trips to show what her Passion and Mindset do for communities in the plant’s neighborhood.   “As I have worked in this position for 30 years already, I am quite close to locals. Under my care are 55 villages within the 5-kilometer radius from the plant,” she revealed. “My job is about familiarizing with locals, their way of life, and traditions. I have observed them to identify their needs and expectations so that SCGP can play a proper role in their communities. We seek to help where we can and engage them in activities that are useful to them in hopes of making them happy. “The key challenge is that there is no fixed success recipe. I cannot tell what will happen next. So, I must be ready to tackle whatever. ‘Empathy’ is crucial to my work. Only when I put myself in locals’ shoes, I can know what they really want. When we understand all stakeholders, our operations will be smooth. My Mindset complies with SCGP’s Our Act and supports its success. “On Passion, I am an energetic type. I am keen to work every single day. I always work like I am the firm’s owner and stakeholders are my customers. I give my all to every ask I am assigned to. After working to the fullest of my abilities, I also look for good things about every task I have completed. That’s when I can notice that my efforts really contribute to the successful operation.” Occupational promotion ranks among activities SCGP has conducted for communities. On this front, SCGP, for example, promotes “Paper Band” for communities’ economic, social, and environmental benefits. As part of the promotion, scrap materials from SCGP manufacturing operations become raw materials for woven products. As local wisdom blends with paper bands, distinct products are developed and launched into markets. In 2019, these products generated sales of over 1 million baht. “We started this initiative after we considered how to make good use of scrap materials. The initiative represents a collaboration that has brought good ideas forward and communities closer. Handicrafts from the initiative are functional and get good response from the market. Under this collaboration, locals put in physical energy while SCGP puts forward raw materials. Now, we also plan to introduce locals to new fashions so that they can develop products further, such as colorful and contemporary touch and appeal to more customers.

DR. ADISAK VORAKUNPINIJ WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION COMES WITH LOVE   Dr. Adisak Vorakunpini is Innovation and Product Development Director – SCGP. Influenced partly by CEO of SCGP Mr. Wichan Jitpukdee’s Work-Life Integration ideas, Dr. Adisak has today found that Work-Life Integration not only makes job more fun, but it also offers life inspiration in many aspects.   MISSION: “EXPLORING NEW OPPORTUNITIES” FOR SCGP   “I joined SCGP as an engineer for the Innovation and Product Development Center. I was in charge of paper development before receiving a corporate scholarship to pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees in paper & pulp in the United States between 1997 and 2003. Upon my return, I was appointed an analyst at the Business Planning Division. That job was a turning point because it enabled me to see a bigger business picture. I learnt a lot from senior staffs and thus was able to look at investments from various perspectives. When I later returned to the center as a senior researcher, I brought along technical and business understanding. Now at the helm of the center. I have striven to ensure that our researches have greater commercial potential.   “Our work is about exploring new business opportunities or identifying New S-Curve. We are entrusted with this mission because our team has solid capabilities, knowledge, expertise, and tools. SCGP can do much more than packaging. For example, eucalyptus plantations, herbal farming, and extracting Cordyceps for dietary-supplement production. We are confident that SCGP will be able to develop many more new businesses in the future.   “After getting an assignment, we identify goals and draw up innovation & product development plans. Everyone in the relevant department must see the same picture for plan and implementation. The plan must resonate with the SCGP’s vision and business opportunities. Senior executives will oversee the direction and help to allocate resources such as human resources and tools or to fine-tune clear targets from our plans.”     UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY & EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS   “I used to supervise just a few subordinates. But as my team grows bigger and so do my work goals, I need to collaborate with many internal and external units. Communications therefore are extremely important.   “Each customer has different needs. We need to be persuasive to ensure that customers understand the values of what we are doing for them. During SCGP’s ongoing overseas business expansions and increasing focus on specialized businesses, we need to communicate well too to clearly understand customers’ pain points. That’s how we can develop products and services that match their needs and importantly generate returns for our company as well.   “I enjoy taking action because it leads to answers. When we do things, we will know where good points lie and where improvements are needed. People from different generations may have different traits. Gen Y and Gen Z have placed a stronger emphasis on Work-Life Balance when compared with people of the previous generations. So, I try to ensure they can maintain that balance. One of soft skills that I currently apply is empathizing people who work around me. I try to understand people and communicate effectively with them. We focus on goals. If there are obstacles, we address them together. Communications are made at both personal and group levels. But of course, one–on–one conversations usually make people open up more. I try to inspire and energize them. I allow them to unwind or take a break so that they can recharge themselves and come back with better energy.   “On cross-function projects, I understand that each unit has different focus. So, when doing such projects, communication will make all sides see how important the project is and how it will benefit to SCGP and customers. Professional work with strong collaboration within SCGP, in my view, plays a big role in enhancing SCGP’s brand image as top-of-mind brand on a sustainable basis.”   WORK-LIFE INTEGRATION   “I may seem like a workaholic. But in fact, I just need to work harder because I take care dozens of staff. I always try to find time for myself and my family as well. “I always enjoy working and inspire to do my best. I always try to find new ideas and break away from routines. I have hardly had any low points. It’s just that I sometimes want to take a break to do my hobbies. I like gardening, which started during my OptiBreath project development. To develop this product that extends fresh produces’ shelf life, I talked to farmers and farm owners for data collection. I was very much into the things they do. Then, I have come up with my gardening hobby.   “For me, getting jobs done needs two things. Firstly, we should have passion. That’s how we will be excited to go to work everyday. Secondly, we should be knowledge seekers. I don’t think I am good at everything. But I trust that we can build something from what we know and learn. We can create from what we have learned from others. Their ideas may induce our perspectives and boost our creativity. I can exchange viewpoints with team members or others for innovation development.”   “Learning has no bounds. Today, we can access information easily. Specialists are also more willing to share their knowledge. So, if only we have the courage to learn new things, our field of knowledge can be very vast.”  

PAITOON PAPER BOX GROWS SUSTAINABLY WITH QUALITIES & STANDARDS   “Paitoon Paper Box” materialized after its founder decided to accept a senior figure’s invitation to step into the packaging industry. Throughout its journey, the company has pursued constant learning and development for the purposes of upholding quality and upgrading its business operations. Today, its founder’s son Mr. Puniapon Muangsiri serves as its Managing Director. Taking up the torch now, this top executive is here to talk about his company’s establishment and guiding principles in the face of changing situations.   LEARNING IS BEGINNING   “Our company was founded around 1978 after a senior figure invited my dad to do a packaging business together. He intended to set up a small plant in Bang Bon and trusted in my dad’s abilities and machinery expertise. In the beginning, the plant hired just three workers. My dad, who used to work in other businesses, learnt how to make various types of corrugated boxes from that senior figure himself.    “After a while, a customer told my dad that purchase volume would increase by about 10 folds. My dad grasped that opportunity by quickly installing more machines to fulfill the growing purchase orders. Thanks to bigger capacity and production volume, we had more bargaining power in raw-material sourcing. We therefore could lower costs significantly, paving the way for our business to grow further. In 1996, our business expansion focused on Backward Integration. In other words, we started producing corrugated cardboards ourselves to save time and cost. We have since been able to handle urgent jobs and answer customers’ needs with greater efficiency. Moreover, we have imported, distributed, and installed packaging-production machines too because we have had solid experience and expertise in the field. About 99 percent of our machines come from Japan. We have installed and maintained them on our own.”     GROWING WITH QUALITIES & STANDARDS   Today, Mr. Punjapon has taken over the company from his father. The business environment now is far different from what it was more than 40 years ago, though. In his view, qualities and standards are key factors for the company’s further growth.   “Unlike in the past, we now have to study international standards and practices to upgrade our business and standing, as well as support environmental & social care. Our raw materials and production process must be friendly to the environment. Currently, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is there to certify which materials come from manmade forests. International labor laws also govern where to source materials. It is therefore necessary that our human-resource development is good enough to ensure that our workforce can deal with emerging changes. Only when we are able to adapt efficiently, can we maintain customers’ trust. We need to assure our customers that we are always ready to deliver quality products and meet the latest standards. The quality of our products is controlled by labs with moisture and temperature control to ensure full compliance with customers’ requirements.   “We have been learning and adjusting all the time. During the past five years, our approach has worked great and driven our business growth well. We therefore intend to keep up this standard. This way, we should be able to meet the needs of even the most demanding customers. We will keep up with ongoing trends even though we may need to shoulder more expenses.”   BUSINESS UPGRADE WITH RIGHT PARTNERS   “I would like to thank SCGP for its constant support. When we started producing corrugated cardboards, SCGP helped us with raw materials that had good quality and came with a very reasonable price tag. Thanks to its support, our business has been growing. When we develop key projects with our major customers that require FSC CoC (Chain of Custody) certifications,SCGP provides us with solutions. Not only that SCGP delivers quality paper, but it always has enough supply to fulfill our demand. The company has delivered all goods without failure even during the COVID-19 crisis.   “Our customers now place a strong emphasis on resource efficiency. So, we have done lots of homework to respond to their demand. Through our collaboration with SCGP, we can curb paper consumption by 15 percent without compromising quality. We have produced such products for five consecutive years now.   “Moreover, I am impressed with SCGP’s sales and technical teams. They always tend to our needs, be they about quality, specific requirements, or improvements. They conduct analyses, provide information, and follow up with feedback to help us solve customers’ pain points and deliver increasingly better products. In the future, we will expand our production to Corner Protection guards, Duplex, and various other products in response to our customers’ changing needs. We will together partner with SCGP for sustainable growth.”    

WELCOME CHALLENGES AND CHANGES Kasinee Thitiwutthisakul Senior Researcher, Innovation and Product Development Center   Numerous SCGP’s products, services and solutions are created and developed through technological innovation. Not only that they answer customers’ needs but they also pave way for SCGP’s sustainable growth. Behind SCGP’s various innovations, several teams are involved including researchers. One of them is here to share their mindset and inspirations, which enable them to have fun inventing new things and driving SCGP forward.   “I am a researcher, who is in charge of executing innovation strategy and creating more business opportunities by expanding our core competencies in Nanotechnology. Many of you may be familiar with SCGP’s nanocellulose, which has already been applied to several commercial use cases.   “To develop technology and create innovation, it should be presented as a solution, and it is necessary that we perceive overall picture along value chain. We need to consider customer’s needs as well as technical and business feasibility to create differentiation and link across the entire value chain.   “The first challenge to implement innovation based on our breakthrough technology is related to scalability for industrial purposes. Since it is a newly developed approach, handful of people have had experience in the field as well as less information from external sources for our specific purposes. This means we can only enhance our team’s capabilities. We need to learn more and act fast. Another challenge is to create a New Solution in response to customers’ latent needs, and add value through sustainable future for all. When we acquire Customer Insight, we will understand comprehensive picture of customers and market, so that we will stay ahead of the competition. Allowing us to provide solutions with assured means of meeting or even exceeding customer’s expectation in both functional and emotional aspects.”   Under current framework for the challenges, we have faced BANI (Brittle / Anxious / Non-linear / Incomprehensible) world, where many uncertainties and main global challenges in economic and social outlook are on the rise. As SCGP has expanded our business both in Thailand and overseas, we should be persistent with continuous learning and expanding our skills to keep up with emerging development. Furthermore, we should be open-minded and embrace more global perspectives. It is important to shift ourselves with “Welcome Challenges and Changes” mindset.   “In my opinion, innovation should focus on creating a better world through sustainable development. My research thus focuses on three aspects: In the environmental aspect, our solution should lead to achieving maximum resource efficiency with minimizing energy usage; In the social aspect, our solution should deliver a better quality of life, which is beneficial for customers and future for all. In the organizational aspect, our solution should support our firm’s sustainable growth.   “Driven by passion, I am keen on learning new things besides preparing myself for what’s next and challenge what’s possible. Within SCGP culture and ecosystem of innovation, it is a great opportunity to develop a T-shaped capabilities, becoming an expert in particular field with the ability to collaborate with experts in other disciplines. This is a kind of joy and passion in my career, where I am allowed for learning, adapting and growing to create a next chapter of me on a continued basis.”        

Considering your job fun and challenging is a mean to ensure you are happy working with clear goals in sight every single day. Let’s here how an executive and staffer of Conimex Company Limited in SCGP have applied such good concept to their work.   “In my human-resource-management job, I have accorded importance to communications. I usually go soft or request cooperation rather than giving orders. These days, SCGP has stepped in to offer advice for stronger work systems. Such move will benefit our company and our staff in the long run. While changes happen in the process, we have assured our staff that they are loved and taken care of by the company all the same. We have adjusted their mindset so that they are aware of their long-term benefits and security. Clear communications make it easier for them to understand.   “In my view, passion is about the fun of doing something new. I am passionate about learning new skills so as to make staff happier and add value to our organization. Trying new things also make us realize that we have the potential to do more. We don’t need to expect that we will be successful in everything we try. But at least, we will know what we can do from all those experiments. If they are not the right solutions yet, we can explore further. I am fortunate that SCGP supports such approach.   “If we look back, we will see that some of our passions have changed over time. We may discover new passions if we are keen to explore. Once we step out of comfort zone, we will see our new value. This is how I have defined my passion.”   Dr. Passachon Limthongchai HR and Procurement Director   “I am in charge of RMC (Raw Material Control). The challenges of my job surround cost-control efficiency, manufacturing-formula planning, in-process waste reduction, and the fulfillment of customers’ expectations.   “Clear work goals are my inspirations. For now, my goal is to reduce plastic waste from production line. It is quite a challenging goal. But we are committed to achieving it. So, we are ready to experiment. I have encouraged junior staff to share their ideas too. When we have a clear goal to beat, we will have fun. We will want to do our best andsee if we can finally achieve the goal.   “I am between operational staff and executives. So, when I have managed my team, I have made sure they know that I am with them. My team members can talk to me whenever they come across any problem. I am willing to share my experiences, offer advice, and give support. I have provided them with tools and set work protocol, which ensure team members can work interchangeably. I have also offered moral support so that we all can move ahead together.”   Mr. Pramote Pengiam Raw Material Control