With the plant visits, Taiwan makers hope to address the
issues raised by Thai companies and use it to improve their machines and
technologies. Each
Taiwanese machinery builder was given a chance
to introduce their machine tool solutions and explain how they can help Thai
manufacturers to be more efficient, smarter, and more connected to their supply
chain and customers alike. In return, Thai makers shared their criteria for choosing the right machine tool
equipment they need.
Here's an inside look at the criteria that were discussed
during the meeting, and some of the pitfalls Thai makers underwent during the
process.
Global
Thaixon Precision Industry
Global Thaixon Precision Industry Co. Ltd’s products include
high-precision turning part, high-precision tooling/milling part and
high-precision stamping part. In a job shop environment where parts of a
multitude of sizes and shapes are machined, and where the requirements might
change from day to day, Global Thaixon Precision said that it is important to
select the right machine for a particular operation.
Director and Deputy General Manager Saito Satoru,
explained that with countless multi-tasking machines with advanced capabilities
on the market today, it can be overwhelming when trying to choose the best
solution for their operations. After all, they don’t want to overspend on
unnecessary functions or under invest in a technology that could make them more
profitable in the long run.
“We want a machine that offers
the highest possible performance for our exact needs at the lowest possible
operating and downtime costs,” he clarified.
C.C.
S. Advance Tech
C.C. S. Advance Tech Co. Ltd is a one stop manufacturing
company that provides aerospace components to its Tier 1 and Tier 2 customers,
such as Boeing, Airbus, Rolls Royce and UTAS.
According to Ketan Pole, Chief Executive Officer,
in today's competitive
business world, being innovative in everything you do is the key to success.
“Innovation is really about responding to change in a creative way. One way to
do this is by acquiring equipment or technology that helps you improve your
efficiency,” he said.
Ketan further said that buying the right tools from the start
can be a huge investment, but considering the size of the contract and the cost
of the machine bought to accomplish it, getting into production without delay is
essential.
“If you’re a good business, people will come to you,” Ketan commented.
Aside from aerospace components, C.C. S. Advance Tech is also involved in
one-off, small batch, as well as mass production of high-quality precision
parts for oil & gas, electronics, semiconductors, needle/standard
miniaturized bearings, computer parts and hard disk components manufacturing, fiber optics,
bio-medical and automotive.
Somboon
Advance Technology
Somboon Advance Technology Co. Ltd (SAT) has a long and illustrious history of serving customers in a certain way. It is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of motor vehicle parts for passenger cars, pickup trucks and agricultural machinery. Their businesses were focused on having the right product in the right volume available.
Today, though, the triad of machines, place, and price are
still important, manufacturers are being asked to do more. Business Development
Manager Chanboon Sripramote, said, “It is not enough that we provide access to motor
vehicle parts anymore. Customers are demanding that we give them an edge in an
increasingly competitive market.”
As a result, SAT is looking for machine tool equipment that
will bring increased value for them. They want to partner with a machine tool
builder who has moved beyond the traditional sales model of fulfilment to one
who provides specialized product knowledge, design, and value-added services.
P.C.S.
Precision Works
P.C.S. Precision Works Co., Ltd is a leading manufacturer of auto parts with a unique strength in advanced technology development. It has been accepted by major auto makers in Japan and Europe for over 30 years.
Taiji Ushioda, Interim Managing Director shared some of the
pitfalls they experienced during manufacturing. “Excessive heat, vibration and
noise are usually some of the problems we encounter. A failed bearing or gear
is also an effect of the problems we encounter.”
He added, “While striving to accommodate quality requirements
from our clients, we hold our machine suppliers to the same high standards. We
continue to add new features to our products to increase their value and put
ourselves ahead of the competition.”
Mr. Ushioda revealed that Taiwan manufacturers should move
toward high-end market segments to stand out against low-cost competition from
mainland China.
Jitachai
Engineering Products
Jitachai Engineering Products Co. Ltd’s number one concern when buying a machine is price. They may place high importance on other factors, but in the end, the commercial success of the product depends on meeting margins, which means driving down manufacturing costs where possible. Managing Director Worradet Leelaassawin believes that the lowest price will not necessarily mean the lowest cost, but it's easy to lose sight of this when looking at attractive bids.
Although the company is not in need of a new machine, they
want a partner with the capacity to be there during their "ups" but
also to thrive through their "downs" -- not one that could be
dangerously close to going out of business if their project is delayed or
cancelled.
Jitachai Engineering’s main products and services include:
mechanical parts, mechanical devices, jig & fixtures, mass production of
rubber and metal molds, forming, prototype, test or sample work pieces.
Worradet advised Taiwan companies present during the visit to
continually improve their technologies to create value-added products and
deliver better solutions to customers to stay competitive.
Lenso
Wheel
Mr.
Thongchalaem focuses on improving one area of its business at a time,
rather than tackling an entire process. Ultimately, they improve turnaround
time, efficiency or other aspects of its business. When he learned that he
doesn’t need to buy a new equipment, he saved the money to make other
investments. One example is a system he is carefully developing.
When
asked about Taiwan equipment, Mr. Thongchalaem expects Taiwan makers to create
more value for its customers.
Conclusion
At the
end of the day, Taiwan makers know they can’t compete with machine tool
builders from Germany or Japan on reputation. But they have the unique
Taiwanese combination of quality and price. Chin Fong, Cosen, Equitop,
Everricho, Goodway and Taiwan Takisawa pride themselves on the fact that they
have learned from the best before building their own machines, utilizing
Japanese and German solutions and technology in a low-cost package not
available from those countries. Taiwan is a tiny territory of just 23 million
souls. Talent mobility, above all, spurred the birth of Taiwan machine tool
industry. The people behind Taiwan’s rise, whose vision and determination
turned a little mountain island into a technology engine, are stories less
known.
