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A Trip to Tan Land - Ichitan Green Factory, BM seniors C'2025

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A Trip to Tan Land - Ichitan Green Factory, BM seniors C'2025

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On April 3rd, we departed from Wells to visit Tan Land, Ichitan Green Factory in Ayutthaya. This trip was designed for gr.12 students who have been studying operations and human resource management in their 2nd year of Business Management (BM) studies, and for some, in conjunction with Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) studies, taught by Mr. Chris.

The trip was aimed to give insight into Ichitan’s manufacturing facility. Ichitan is a Thai founded and multinational brand, recognized for manufacturing green tea drinks, herbal drinks, fruit drinks, and energy drinks.

Tan Land is a dedicated and innovative educational facility built around the Ichitan drink factory. It is designed with state-of-the-art methods to expose students to modern and automated production processes.

During this time, BM senior students have been learning about the various aspects of capital-intensive and lean manufacturing. This trip exposed students to the reality of operating a business in an era of groundbreaking innovations and changes in human resource management. Moreover, it demonstrated how businesses are making an effort to meet the great demand of being environmentally, socially and economically conscious - the triple pillar of business sustainability.

Beyond real-life learning connections to BM and ESS, Tan Land truly captured the meaning of Learning with Fun. And this was an opportunity for us to celebrate together and to mark the end of a 2-year journey of IBBM learning.

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The Ichitan Green Factory tour was a very insightful experience. I learned a lot about their production methods and how the company operates on a daily basis. One interesting thing I noticed was that after every 120 to 150 hours, the factory cleans its equipment and switches to producing different products, depending on the schedule. Their batch production system allows each lane to produce a specific flavor, and every step is closely monitored by a few workers to ensure quality.

It was also clear that Ichitan is a capital-intensive business, with significant investment in machinery and facilities. I found it impressive that despite suffering major losses due to a massive flood in the area, the company managed to restore its equipment and continue operations. This really showed me the importance of resilience and good crisis management in business.

Another takeaway was learning about their ethical sourcing. Ichitan uses tea leaves grown in Thailand, which helps support local employment and reduces the need for imports. I also appreciated how environmentally conscious the company is. For example, their merchandise, such as t-shirts, is made from recycled plastic waste, which connects to what we’ve been learning in ESS. I even got to learn about the history behind their tea leaves, which added an interesting cultural layer to the experience.

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It was a dream come true, always dreamt of visiting Ichitan or Oishi's factory. Thank you Ms.Lee, for making it possible. First I just wanted to appreciate their customer care, the tour they have made for their customers to look at their whole production process and history was amusing and interesting. It gave me a deeper insight on how they work as a business and their step by step process. I always thought, they produce all the different flavors at the same time with different belts. But they produce 2 or 3 flavors per time and swap. I learned Ichitan has a batch and mass production combined in their production process. Never really expected that, also learned a new thing that business combine production styles for efficiency and producing optimum quantity. The coolest thing for me was how they utilize technology in their production process. Almost everything from raw materials to store the final product is atomized and they heavily dependent on capital. I saw very little people working on the machines compare to companies I have seen online who produce similar products or at a similar output. They have utlitlze technology very well and produce a high amount of Ichitan bottles. Next time I would love to have a quick chat with Mr. Tan and know why did they decide to use these machines. Im very intrigued in the technology aspect because I am computer science student. Would love to know more about that aspect in their production process.

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This trip to the Ichitan Green Factory was a highly insightful experience that helped me connect to real-world business practices. The factory placed a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility, which was evident through its use of 100% recyclable materials and innovative upcycling initiatives, such as turning plastic waste into clothing.

One of the most impressive aspects of the visit was the factory’s capital-intensive setup. The production line runs efficiently at 600 bottles per minute, with machines operating continuously for 120 hours before being cleaned to maintain the hygiene and efficiency of the machines. Additionally, their warehouse also runs entirely through an automated inventory system, allowing operations to continue 24 hours a day without human input or manpower. Observing this level of technological advancement made me reflect on how businesses benefit from automation, especially in terms of operational efficiency and consistency. The interactive experience offered during the factory tour also highlighted how much the company values customer satisfaction. It wasn’t just a tour — it was engaging and informative, which made me realize how businesses can build strong brand loyalty by making customers feel involved and informed about the production process. What stood out to me personally was the huge volume of inventory they held. In connection to BM, this made me reflect on their approach to stockpiling and why having extra inventory might benefit a business in terms of demand management or potential supply chain issues. Another aspect that caught my attention was their ethical sourcing practices. Even though some ingredients are imported from Taiwan, Ichitan still sources green tea leaves locally from Chiang Rai, supporting local employment and contributing to the Thai economy. Overall, this trip helped me better understand the practical applications of operations management, CSR, and sustainability — all of which are key themes in BM. It was especially helpful in connecting to Paper 1, as Ichitan shares many similarities with Myt PLC, particularly in the way both companies aim to modernize and adopt greener practices to meet current market expectations. It also deepened my appreciation for how modern businesses are adapting to environmental challenges through innovation, sustainable and ethical practices.

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Our visit to the Ichitan Green Factory was not just another school outing. It was an unforgettable and truly meaningful experience, especially because it marks my last field trip in high school. I’d like to start by sincerely thanking Ms. Lee and everyone who made this trip possible. Your effort gave us the opportunity to not only enjoy ourselves but also deepen our learning in a unique and engaging way. The trip was incredibly fun and memorable. Being with my friends, exploring the factory, and seeing how everything operated up close made it feel special. What stood out the most was how eye-opening the experience was in terms of business knowledge. Throughout the tour, my friends and I constantly found ourselves linking what we saw to business management terms and theories we’ve studied in class. Whether it was understanding the reasoning behind the factory’s location, analyzing the production process, or observing how automation plays a huge role in their operations, it all brought our classroom learning to life. One of the most fascinating aspects was the high level of automation. Most of the machines were self-operated and required minimal human involvement. It was incredible to see such efficiency in action, and it sparked discussions among us about topics like innovation, cost reduction, and operational efficiency. What made the trip even more impactful was learning about Ichitan’s history, especially the major obstacle they faced when a flood severely affected their operations. Despite this setback, the company showed remarkable resilience and managed to bounce back stronger than ever. This real-world example of perseverance and strategic problem-solving was not only inspiring but also served as a powerful case study of how businesses can adapt and overcome challenges. All in all, the trip to Ichitan Green Factory was a perfect blend of fun, learning, and reflection. It gave me valuable insights into the real-world application of business concepts and left me feeling inspired. As my last field trip in high school, it’s an experience I’ll always cherish.

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Visiting the Ichitan Green Factory in Tan land was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to see how business innovation and environmental sustainability can coexist. The factory’s emphasis on “greenovation” (a combination of green practices and innovation) demonstrated how a company can reduce its environmental impact while maintaining high efficiency and product quality. From a BM HL perspective, I observed key concepts such as operations management through their capital-intensive production process and automated inspection systems, which ensure product consistency and hygiene. The traceability of each bottle using unique codes also highlighted effective quality control and supply chain transparency. Ichitan’s CSR initiative “Tan Pan” showed their commitment to ethical and socially responsible business practices, while their sourcing from Taiwan reflected the globalization of supply chains. In terms of marketing, the brand's focus on technology, quality control, and customer experience aligns with a differentiation strategy. From an ESS perspective, the factory’s use of ASEPTIC packaging to reduce plastic by 28.5% and its reliance on solar energy to produce up to 100 million bottles per day demonstrated practical applications of pollution management and renewable energy use. Moreover, their upcycling of plastic waste into clothing highlighted a real-world example of the circular economy in action. This trip not only strengthened my understanding of the interconnectedness of business and environmental systems but also inspired me to think critically about how companies can be both profitable and sustainable in today’s world. It was fun, insightful, and memorable! :) I enjoyed the workshop and the food we had together in a van as well :D

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The Ichitan Green Factory tour was not just a field trip but rather an interesting and insightful experience. I learned many things from the experience and was able to draw connections to many things that we learned in BM. Firstly, I noticed that they employ batch and mass production techniques. They produce one flavour of the drink and switch to another flavour. They do this for around 120 hours and then switch the machines off to clean them and this shows their commitment to quality. Next, I also learned that they have automized 100% of their processes all the way from raw materials storage to storing the finished products. Having the chance to look at how this was actually executed was completely different than imagining it. There were not many people working like how they do on traditional factory lines. Infact, many of them were just operating the machines and inspecting the quality of the products. Additionally, I also like how they ethically source their tea leaves. All of their tea leaves come from farmers in Chiang Rai which supports local businesses and boosts the Thai economy. Overall, this experience has been an insightful one for me because it has helped me draw many connections to the course and also learn about how factories operate and how they are atomizing their processes. This was also our last field trip ever and I am glad that it was not only fun, but it was also helpful and contributed to my understanding.

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The Ichitan Field Trip has personally increased my understanding of the business operations of how businesses produce goods and store their goods or stocks. I could easily find connections with BM terms like Mass production. Based on the video we watched, Ichitan was using mass production methods while producing their products as they created a large output of products. Additionally, Ichitan reminds me of CSR as they are using solar energy to produce their products, which is a part of CSR to protect the environment. Moreover, Location is interconnected as Ichitan has chosen a specific location in Ayutthaya to produce their products. The main reason would be that it is accessible to raw materials as there are a lot of areas where they can obtain natural resources like lemons, wheat, etc. Lastly, I was impressed by their Cradle-to-Cradle design and manufacturing (C2C) as they were using recycled and biodegradable materials in their production. In addition, for example, when we watched a video of Ichitan, our seats were made of boxes, which shows that they are considering recycling.

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The Ichitan field trip was not only an entertaining experience but rather very constructive and applicable to various BM theories. Firstly, getting the opportunity to see mass manufacturing techniques and automated systems upfront (such as the huge warehouse) was simply mesmerizing therefore I would like to thank everyone who helped organize this trip. In terms of connections to BM, specifically operations management (location, production methods), CSR, and sustainability. During the introductory stage of the tour, we learned about the history of Ichitan and the factors that enabled them to stand out from competitors: best technology, quality control, and the overall Ichitan experience. These factors along with the innovative process of cold aseptic filling allowed Ichitan to be more cost-effective. Their production process overall was very capital-intensive, heavily utilizing automation, which improved the operational efficiency of the factory. Another interesting aspect is the sustainable and ethical nature of their operations which included: sourcing local tea grown in the north of Thailand, utilizing solar energy as well as the recycling of their bottles to produce t-shirts. The tour ended with an interactive workshop where we got to make drinks. To conclude, this trip allowed me to see up close and connect BM concepts from the classroom with real-world businesses. I would really recommend having this trip again for future year groups. Thank you.

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Ichitan field trip was an interesting and valuable experience. I learned a lot about how a real business operates, especially in the beverage industry. Ichitan is well known for its green tea and other beverages like Yen Yen and Bireley’s. During the trip, I saw how they combine technology, innovation, and sustainability to become one of the leading drink brands in Thailand. One thing that stood out to me was their production process. They produce up to 600 drinks per day using mass production methods, and their warehouse runs 24 hours automatically without any manpower, which shows how much they rely on technology. I was also surprised to learn that they change the flavor or clean the machines every 120 hours to maintain quality, which shows their strong commitment to hygiene and quality control. Ichitan also focuses on sustainability, which connects to what we learned in BM class. For example, they use solar energy and are able to produce up to 1 billion bottles. This shows that they care about the environment and want to reduce their carbon footprint. Their vision and mission are also inspiring. Ichitan wants to be a leader in quality drinks and help society by being a responsible company. They also support their workers to grow and be proud of their work. This connects well to the different stakeholder interests we studied, like customers, shareholders, employees, and society. Overall, the field trip helped me understand how actual companies apply the business concepts I have been learning. It also helped me prepare for the paper 1 exam because Ichitan shares some similarities with Myt PLC, especially in areas like production methods, sustainability, and innovation. I am happy that I had this opportunity to learn outside the school and see business in action.

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Best of Luck Seniors of C’2025 in the upcoming IB examinations and your continuous learning journey in university and life...