Changhua plumbing suppliers show resiliency with smart manufacturing upgrades
2022/08/15 | By CENS⬛ Plumbing Association of Taiwan
Boasting a membership of over two hundred suppliers, the Plumbing Association of Taiwan is based in the heart of the island's plumbing manufacturing hub, Changhua, housing the 50-plus years of plumbing industry history. This year, the association is actively counseling suppliers to undergo digital transformation and implement smart manufacturing into their production chains to improve resiliency.
The association is primarily focusing on servicing and counseling suppliers in the traditional plumbing sector through industry upgrades, which are especially important measures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, local suppliers experienced a historic high of sales and orders streaming in, yet this year, similar to what many other industries around the world was witnessing, suppliers saw a downturn in performance instead. Showing the adaptability of Taiwanese SMEs, the association has counseled membership companies to carry out industry upgrades and technology transformation, such as implementing smart manufacturing capabilities into its production chain.
The Plumbing Association of Taiwan has worked closely with top research institutes in Taiwan, such as the Metal Industries Research & Development Centre and Industrial Technology Research Institute, to assist suppliers' digital transformation and implement smart manufacturing capabilities, which Changhua's plumbing industry has much to benefit from. Suppliers in the industry work incredibly closely together, with each company focusing on one specific manufacturing know-how, enabling them to offer the highest quality without compromise. At present, with supply chain disruptions at the forefront of business owners' minds, Changhua's one-stop industry cluster can offer even faster delivery times with upgraded technologies.
Taiwanese suppliers have observed that employing smart manufacturing capabilities will ensure that Changhua's plumbing industry not only improve production efficiency but also address talent retention issues that are sure to come in the coming years due to an aging working population, and provide a better working environment for the next generation.
