The Evolutionary Dynamics of Printed Circuit Board Industry Cluster in Taiwan

• Main Author: 朱兆營
• Other Authors: 李吉仁
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2003
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/59708950311959753233

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 國際企業學研究所 === 91 === The Evolutionary Dynamics of Printed Circuit Board Industry Cluster in Taiwan During the past thirty years, the printed circuit board (PCB) industry in Taiwan has been the third largest output country in the world. In the year 2002, however, Mainland China took over Taiwan’s market position and make Taiwan falling into the fourth place. More critically, the industry cluster of Taiwanese firms, which has been largely located in Taoyuan and neighbor areas, has gradually migrated to Mainland China. This changing industry landscape leads us to explore how the PCB industry cluster has emerged and why it becomes decomposed or duplicated. Based on rich archival data and field interviews with industry experts, this study attempts to explore the dynamic evolution of PCB industry cluster which could reveal reasons underlying the formation, growth, and structural changes of this industry cluster. Based on the definition of Porter (1998), we define the three stages of industry cluster life cycle during 1987 and 2000: they are birth, development and decline. We then identify several key driving factors for the growth of PCB industry cluster in Taoyuan: they are (1) abundant demands, (2) lower cost, (3) relaxed environmental regulation, (4) well developed infrastructure, and (5) strong entrepreneurial spirits of small and medium enterprises. However, there are factors driving the decline of PCB industry cluster: they are (1) series of catastrophe, (2) down stream move to China, (3) the cluster is too denser and the resources are not enough to keep cost low, (4) the overoptimistic investment causing too much capacity and competition in price, (5) competitive convergence and homogeneity among firms. This research postulates several strategic recommendations to both the industry and firms involved in this industry. They are: (1) re-focusing on Taiwan’s advantages, finding suitable market for the PCB industry in Taiwan, (2). focusing on the demands of the target markets, build and strengthen necessary system standards, (3).further reducing the cost to smooth the transfer pressure and speed form product market. Key Words: Industry Cluster, Printed Circuit Board Industry, Evolutionary Dynamics