Article: Guidelines for the creative integration of workforce competency development with intelligent automation in industrial businesses Journal: International Journal of Business Performance Management (IJBPM) 2026 Vol.27 No.7 pp.1 - 30 Abstract: Rapid integration of intelligent automation and digital technologies under Industry 4.0 is transforming industrial production systems and workforce requirements. While previous research has examined automation adoption and digital skill development in advanced economies, limited empirical evidence exists on how workforce competency development can be strategically structured in emerging economies, particularly in Southeast Asia. Addressing this gap, this study investigates organisational mechanisms that support workforce readiness for intelligent automation in Thailand's manufacturing and heavy industry sectors. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining expert interviews and focus group discussions with quantitative surveys of industrial executives. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed conceptual framework. Results identified four key organisational components influencing workforce competency development: skill transformation, collaboration network, SMART organisation, and competency database. Findings show that skill transformation plays a central role in strengthening organisational collaboration, enabling smart organisational systems, and supporting competency management infrastructures for intelligent automation environments. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Guidelines for the creative integration of workforce competency development with intelligent automation in industrial businesses

Authors: Nuttapong Kaewpradit; Thitirat Thawornsujaritkul; Thanin Silpcharu

Addresses: Faculty of Business Administration, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Pracharart Road, Wong Sawang, Bang Sue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand ' Faculty of Business Administration, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Pracharart Road, Wong Sawang, Bang Sue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand ' Faculty of Business Administration, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 1518 Pracharart Road, Wong Sawang, Bang Sue, Bangkok 10800, Thailand

Abstract: Rapid integration of intelligent automation and digital technologies under Industry 4.0 is transforming industrial production systems and workforce requirements. While previous research has examined automation adoption and digital skill development in advanced economies, limited empirical evidence exists on how workforce competency development can be strategically structured in emerging economies, particularly in Southeast Asia. Addressing this gap, this study investigates organisational mechanisms that support workforce readiness for intelligent automation in Thailand's manufacturing and heavy industry sectors. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining expert interviews and focus group discussions with quantitative surveys of industrial executives. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed conceptual framework. Results identified four key organisational components influencing workforce competency development: skill transformation, collaboration network, SMART organisation, and competency database. Findings show that skill transformation plays a central role in strengthening organisational collaboration, enabling smart organisational systems, and supporting competency management infrastructures for intelligent automation environments.

Keywords: workforce competency development; intelligent automation systems; digital transformation; skill transformation; SMART organisation; structural equation model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.2026.154725

International Journal of Business Performance Management, 2026 Vol.27 No.7, pp.1 - 30

Received: 24 Mar 2026
Accepted: 15 May 2026
Published online: 10 Jul 2026 *

Title: Guidelines for the creative integration of workforce competency development with intelligent automation in industrial businesses

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