Moulding in Taiwan

Kuo Lin Bih-Lian, 75, is a well-respected and very successful woman.A former schoolmate, the First Lady of Taiwan is one of her close friends.Kuo also is the chairperson and president of a growing custom mouldingcompany. She has piloted her moulding company into new applications indemanding global markets, like notebook computer housings, and into modernmanufacturing technologies, like automation and gas assist. She has helpedit to maintain its reputation among its multinational clientele for just-in-timedeliveries of reliable, high-quality products at a competitive price. YetKuo took over the helm of her company less than two years ago with no priordirect experience in managing a business.

Kuo inherited her company, Kuender & Co. Ltd., from her husband, aneconomics graduate from the Imperial University in Tokyo, who died in 1996.For nearly 20 years, since its opening, Kuo had worked in and around Kuender& Co., and not just in the administrative offices. She had worked side-by-sidewith employees out on the shop floor, learning first-hand what it takesto run a moulding operation, and helping to grow the company from smallbeginnings to the NT$ 500 million (US$ 15.6 million), 14-machine operationit is today. She has come to consider Kuender & Co.'s 50 or so employeesas her extended family. This management approach, she feels, has been hersecret for maintaining her company's successful growth.

"I manage my employees with a mother's heart," Kuo explains."I care about them deeply and treat them as my family. For example,if an employee has been with us for more than 10 years, I will give themmore than what is expected, like jewelry, for instance. Real jewelry."Employee turnover at Kuender & Co. is negligible, largely because thefamily feeling at the plant is shared by all. Many have been with the companysince it opened for business and have helped Kuo make the transition intoher management position.

Like most mothers, she expects the best from her family. "We haveto get things done without delay in our business, and I expect us to beefficient," she says. "Efficiency is my emphasis." Still,Kuo believes that treating her employees with respect and caring inspiresthem to want to be efficient. As a result, they strive to get the bestout of their moulds and machines, to make suggestions to correct any inefficienciesthey see, and to be willing to take an extra step to ensure that thingsrun smoothly. And they do. You can see for yourself by joining us on ourtour.

Automated Efficiency

Located on the Northwest coast of the R.O.C., close to the shore, theinternational airport, and a small town nearby of about 10,000, Kuender& Co.'s manufacturing plant is a short walk away from its separateoffice complex and conference center. The main manufacturing floor is spotless,airy, and extremely well-lit by banks of overhead lights in the plant'shigh ceiling and by windows everywhere. Employees bear direct responsibilityfor keeping their work areas clean, and they do.

Kuender & Co. operates two 5-ton cranes and a 10-tonner for mould changesand maintenance. Smaller tonnage machines are situated laterally with injectionunits facing the main aisle, and clamps, under the crane, facing the plant'sbulkhead. Its larger 1,000-ton and 1,600-ton Chen Hsong presses are arrangedend-to-end under the bigger crane. The company has some 300 to 400 activemoulds out of 700 sets. Mould changes are frequent, supporting just-in-timemanufacturing and delivery. Machine utilities are underground and out ofthe way.

Domestically built machinery is preferred to facilitate maintenance andservice. That goes for its computer-controlled injection moulding machinesand for its peripherals, like its materials handling systems and robots.Speaking of robots, all of its 14 moulding machines are equipped with partsremoval robots, mostly traverse types. The moulding machines operate inuncomplicated, self-contained workcells, usually involving robots and partsconveyors. When it can find no suitable auxiliaries to suit its automationengineering, Kuender & Co. designs and builds its own.

Behind the big moulding machines, a long, automated conveyor transportssome parts, like monitor bezels, through painting, drying, and inspection.Some parts also are pad-printed prior to final inspection. Buffer inventoriesof packaged finished parts are arranged in neat rows across another aislebehind this conveyor system. Kuender & Co.'s full-service manufacturingcapabilities also include assembly and heat welding of inserts, and itsubcontracts further decorating and finishing services, if required. Thecompany manufactures some 300,000 sets of computer housings alone eachmonth, with a total internal scrap rate of less than 3 percent. And itsupports its quality control with a laboratory well-equipped with analyticalinstruments. These include a glossmeter, electronic scale, digital thicknessgauge, and spectrophotometer.

Old Virtues, New Ideas

Upstairs, behind a window looking down over the entire plant floor,is Kuender & Co.'s nerve center. Production is monitored by computers.Its software assists in production monitoring, machine scheduling, andthe company's sales activities. Downstairs, scheduling for the entire plantis presented on a board with easy-to-understand colour-coded magnetic chips.There also is a parts showroom upstairs. Among the more notable parts ondisplay are notebook computer housings, a moulding job recently broughtin, and a huge 84-cm screen bezel for a multimedia computer television.The latter was moulded using one of the company's two Phased Process Controlgas-assist units supplied by Hitron Technology Inc. of Taipei. One unitcan be used on up to four moulding presses.

Kuo also has an office upstairs. It was there, after touring her well-runplant, that IMI asked her if she has encountered any difficulties in beinga woman in charge of a manufacturing operation. She admits that some long-standingstereotypes still exist in Taiwan. And she acknowledges that she, herself,continues to embrace traditional customs and virtues when it comes to women'sroles. Yet, she confesses that she has learned to use the old stereotypesto her advantage in her business dealings.

"I stick with the old virtues, but I have adopted new ideas,"she says. "I have no problems whatsoever dealing with customers. Respectand trust are all that really matter, with customers and with my family.With customers, being a woman can be an advantage. I believe women canbe softer when dealing with customers, whether they are new customers orold ones. That is very important. And besides," Kuo adds with a knowing,motherly smile, "women can negotiate better than men."

Contact Information:
Kuender & Co. Ltd.
Ms. Kuo Lin Bih-Lian, Chairman and President
5-10 Hsia Chung
Tzu Pai-yu Tsun
Kuanyin Hsiang Taoyuan
Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: +886 (3) 473-2311
Fax: +886 (3) 473-2316
e-mail:
[email protected]
website:
www.pidc.org.tw/kuender/eindex.htm