Enhancing Smart Manufacturing Between Taiwan and Japan With Semiconductors

The push to connect Taiwan's smart manufacturing and smart machinery industry globally, become Asia's high-end production hub, and strengthen ties with Japan, was on the table over a remote smart manufacturing forum on Sept. 3.

Taiwan's Smart Machinery Promotion Office, Taiwan Electronic Equipment Industry Association, and Kumamoto Industrial Federation hosted the 2020 4th Taiwan-Japan Smart Manufacturing Forum remotely this Thursday. The forum centered around high-level semiconductor smart manufacturing technologies and business collaboration for the global supply of surgical masks.

The Taiwan-Japan forum is one such example of the former's "smart manufacturing industry promotion initiative" to bolster international collaboration in the last four years. Results have borne fruit from the cooperation between the two countries through this forum, Vice Economic Minister Lin Chuan said. Taiwan's semiconductor was also up for discussion due to its global reputation, specifically smart manufacturing in the semiconductor industry, such as AI, IoT, and 5G application.

There are hopes that Taiwan's semiconductor would leverage its advantages and expand smart manufacturing collaboration with domestic firms and Japanese suppliers of semiconductor equipment and materials. Future partnerships would further Taiwan's semiconductor industry chain.

As the smart manufacturing industry promotion initiative already has fruitful results in intelligent manufacturing for aerospace, PCB, and hand tools, the government is looking to further partnerships with Japan.

Approximately 120 Japanese smart machinery suppliers and Taiwanese firms attended the forum, Industrial Development Bureau said. Representing firms include Mitsubishi Electric Group, Hitachi High-Technologies, Asia Pacific Telecom, Advantech, AblePrint Technology, Chroma Corporation, and Autoland Technology.

Large-scaled Japanese enterprises are more willing to embrace the global production chain in recent years, which helps lessen the impact of disrupted supply chains. In light of a post-pandemic economy, Japanese firms are looking to return or split-invest due to transferred orders. Thanks to years of cultivating ties, the forum is the most suitable chance for deeper supply chain partnerships in smart manufacturing, equipment, and materials for the semiconductor industry.