Competitive Analysis of Leading Flat Knitting Machine Companies－Stoll vs. Shima Seiki

• Main Authors: Lo Jan Yun, 駱劍筠
• Other Authors: Cheng, Sheng-Sa
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/76420513566363275099

碩士 === 輔仁大學 === 織品服裝學系 === 93 === Profit is the ultimate goal of running business. To break through is for leveraging brand new technologies to create new opportunities. Hence, it is crucial for a company to sustain its competitiveness or even leapfrog ahead of others in the industry via innovation during drastically and strongly competitive global market. It is so-called “knows oneself and the other side is even-victorious”. Without innovation, a company will be unable to keep up with competitors and destine for elimination. It is therefore, organizational growth and development does rely on continuous product improvement and innovation by acquiring new technologies, product license or patents. Then companies can achieve greater efficiency, lower cost and / or reach higher profit. At the same time, it is imperative for business to value its customers. They have to consider their customer requirement, thinking, focus to achieve customer high satisfaction and analyze market trends for strategic marketing in their product and / or service. With this, business not only can become more competitive in their respective market, but also foster a better understanding of their competitors and also achieve market success. Forasmuch, it is over sixty machinery manufactures in Taiwan. Besides flat knitting machinery makers, there are circular knitting machine, wrap knitting machine, ribbon (crochet) machine, sock and stocking machine and underwear machine makers etc which it is debatably one of the worlds leading, producers of knitting machine. But it is really pity that Taiwanese manufactures have not yet to become leaders in the global knitting machine market. This study explores the technology trend and market of flat knitting machine thru the analysis of two leading manufacturers, Stoll (Germany) and Shima Seiki (Japan). These two companies have established strong global patents based from Jan 1st, 1969 to Dec 31, 2003 in 34 years. To examine the success, survival technique and forecast the differential of strategic development of these two industry leaders, we utilize quantitative and qualitative analysis of patents as tool in four biggest market segments, America, Japan, Europe and China. In order to enable Taiwanese knitting machinery manufactures to increase competitive ability and become the pinnacle of international standard, emphasis especially on innovation, technology development and competitive power are indispensable.