Taiwan manufacturers prepare for production - Heading into the flu season, Taiwan・s top companies take proactive measures

Posted by Taiwan Trade... on Friday, December 30, 2005 - 05:59 pm:

Share | Create New | Reply | Edit

In Taiwan, efforts are underway to ensure production continues in the world・s IT capital throughout the flu season.

Taiwan is indisputably the world・s largest manufacturer of high-tech products, ranking as the largest manufacturer of communication products, the largest producer of LCD panels, and the third largest semiconductor-producing country.

However, as the flu season approaches, and scares of the avian flu become daily conversation, Taiwanese manufacturers are taking steps to ensure production continues and orders are met.

Education the first step

Many companies have already implemented their emergency contingency plans to ensure they stay ahead of the flu. According to Mr. Frank Wu, vice-president of administration of LCD manufacturer AU Optronics, his company implemented their contingency plan as early as October.

Wu is also the leader of AUO・s Crisis Management Team. The Crisis Management Team would function as the main information and coordination center for AUO if there were a flu outbreak in Taiwan. According to Wu, AUO views education as the most important step in prevention.

：All 30,000 of AUO・s employees are on this team, because they all play an integral role in maintaining our production during the flu season,； said Wu. ：Earlier this year our Crisis Management Team designed a road show that covered all of our operations sites, focusing on informing staff of the disease and training them on our new flu information module.；

The information module is a software unit that helps regulate and track each employee during the flu season to ensure worker safety. For example, employees must register before traveling overseas, and then input their temperature each day in the module to track possible flu symptoms, stated Wu.

Finding the experts

For some manufacturers, a contingency plan can be bolstered by expert medical advice. According to Dr. Len Mei, senior vice-president of manufacturing, ProMOS Technologies, his company is working closely with health and medical experts, as well as local hospitals, to ensure readiness in the case of an outbreak.

：We have contacted health and medical professionals to assist us in making decisions on our contingency plans,； stated Dr. Mei. Dr. Mei also heads the task force implemented at ProMOS, one of the world・s largest manufacturers of DRAM memory chips.

Dr. Mei indicated that ProMOS has been actively educating its staff since mid-October on the flu, distributing related information and posting materials on bulletin boards. With medical experts on board, the information is disseminated in a clear and easy manner.

Stock buildup

Sunny Han, global brand director of ASUSTeK, stated that ASUS was preparing medical equipment as an integral part of its crisis management standard operating procedures, which were announced internally on October 20.

ASUSTeK, the world・s largest manufacturer of motherboards, is quietly preparing medical gloves, N95 medical masks, ear thermometers, medical earmuffs, full-body protective suits, and bottles of disinfectant for staff.

This disinfection and protective equipment for employee protection would hinder the spread of the flu, stated Han. Han noted in particular that the R&D facilities and factories would be the major areas of disinfection and continual employee education.

Production met

Embarking on these preventative measures has manufacturers from Taiwan upbeat on their next year shipment forecasts. As production will not be disrupted, manufacturers are expecting record years.

According to Wu from AUO, the company has multiple manufacturing sites spread across both Taiwan and China. This production flexibility ensures that AUO will meet all production targets and shipment orders.

Dr. Mei of ProMOS indicated that the company had conducted analyses on catastrophe scenarios to determine potential production disruptions, but noted that two manufacturing facilities in Taiwan lowered the risk of shipment delays.

Han noted that ASUS had implemented a global logistics system for several years, and that the company・s supply hub was scattered, ensuring shipment orders would be fulfilled.

With proactive companies already implementing crisis teams and emergency plans, production is on course in Taiwan and shipments will be fulfilled. Manufacturers are happy with increased revenues stemming from global consumer electronics demand, and indicate that they are ready to satisfy any orders.

Please visit www.taiwantrade.com.tw or www.taiwaninnovalue.com for more information.

---

AU Optronics
www.auo.com
+886 3 500 8899

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
www.asus.com.tw
+886 2 2894 3447

ProMOS Technologies Inc.
www.promos.com.tw
+886 3 579 8308