Alumni Talk “Alumni tell stories” by the Faculty of Engineering, Sripathum University

I would like you to assess your strengths and find your weaknesses because if we don’t know these things, it will be difficult for us to develop ourselves in the right direction.

Mr. Surachai Saengmuang, an alumnus of Industrial Engineering, code year 45, from a welding student in the province, determined to enter Sripatum University in the field of Industrial Engineering, overcoming grades F and D, developing himself into a full-fledged engineer, becoming a businessman, opening an engineering company, growing continuously from both in Thailand and abroad in the ASEAN region, with a value of more than 200 million.

The starting point of my choice of an engineering career path was when I looked into the future and asked myself, “Are we going to be just a welding professional?” I always told myself that I have more potential than this, and that was a major turning point that brought my life to where I am today.

So I went to consult with a professor who suggested that I find information about the Faculty of Engineering at Sripatum University and specifically suggested that I pursue an industrial engineering degree. He saw that my personality was different from that of my classmates. I thought differently from others in the class, liked to plan, asked questions that others were not interested in, and was interested in things beyond what books had taught me. The professor also explained that being a thinker, a planner, and a problem solver were outstanding characteristics of people who could work well in industrial engineering.

Another reason why you recommended me to study at Sripathum University is because I am someone who studies while working. The curriculum at Sripathum can support this need perfectly. Another reason is that Sripathum University is located in the middle of Bangkok, making it convenient to find a job without difficulty.

For me, studying industrial engineering has given me knowledge of all the important basic engineering subjects, which has allowed me to manage engineering projects better than business executives who do not have an engineering background.

Within Sripathum University, I also had the opportunity to learn with friends from various fields of study, whether in the Faculty of Engineering or from outside the Faculty, of which there were many, such as the Faculty of Architecture and the Faculty of Business Administration.

At Sripathum University, it is like my second home because I am a kid from the province. When I came to study in Bangkok, I stayed in the dormitory. I was able to rely on the facilities at Sripathum University very well, whether it was the library, the gym, or other surroundings such as friends and teachers who were attentive and gave advice without tiring.

After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering, Industrial Engineering at Sripatum University, I intended to be a factory engineer who could help improve the efficiency of the factory. Later, I received an important opportunity from Charoen Pokphand Group to join as a project sales engineer, which gave me the opportunity to work in a variety of areas, covering everything from upstream, midstream, and downstream processes.

I also had the opportunity to work with overseas clients and to contact and coordinate with foreigners on a regular basis. From my perspective, I believe that foreign languages are an important factor in our growth and advancement in the future. In this regard, I have been constantly seeking knowledge and practicing on my own. When the opportunity came, I did not hesitate to grab it.

After working for about 5 years, I had a dream and wanted to do something that was truly interesting and good at. So I went to talk to the executives of the Charoen Pokphand Group and asked if I could be a supplier and work for the company. I was given the opportunity by the executives, so I had the opportunity to have my own company in 2014. CPF, the group of companies I used to work for, and the companies I built have received continuous opportunities from the Charoen Pokphand Group.

I would like to leave a message to those interested in engineering that they should assess their strengths and find their weaknesses because if we don’t know these things, it will be difficult for us to develop ourselves in the right direction. In today’s world, we have to accept that we cannot work alone. If we find our strengths, we will be able to use them to create an advantage over our competitors. It is not difficult, and for our weaknesses, we can choose to find a partner to help manage instead.

Listen to stories, intentions, and determination that will be beneficial to the new generation of engineers from Brother Joe Surachai Saengmuang, Managing Director of Professional Metalwork Co., Ltd., through a storytelling session by Asst. Prof. Dr. Chonlathit Aimworawuttikul, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Sripatum University.