Smart Manufacturing ever more important in an age of uncertain trade relations

Spring has just arrived with warm breeze, but the recent situation considering international trade is not peaceful. The first and second biggest world economies are at the edge of a trade war, while the machinery and electric appliances are among the largest category of products that are to be imposed tariff, with nearly 34.2 billion USD, 60% of the total amount.

These approaches will formulate huge impacts for the global machinery manufacturers – it indicates a rearrangement of rules and usual orders in the trading sphere. That being said, the strategies to implement upgrade strategies in the manufacturing sector can expect to be without dramatic changes mainly because it is the only way to improve the technical capacity and original innovation power of the sector. With the empowerment of smarter machines and high productivity systems, these equipment would be able to break through the protectionist wall.

In recent year Taiwan has carried out several plans under the ‘5+2 industrial upgrade plan’ to facilitate the policies for boosting development of intelligent and precise machinery. Plans include the establishment of the Smart Machinery office in 2017, and the USD 700 thousands budget from MOE to distribute 9000 or more Smart Machine Box to be embedded in machines across the island. At the same time, Taiwan has proved from its latest performance on machinery export that the efforts from the sector are showing its effect. The output value soared from 33 billion USD in 2016 to 37.4 billion USD in 2017, while the total export value reached 25.6 billion USD last year, with a 21% growth compared to 2016. The Executive Yuan also announced that it will pass down 1.3 billion USD to invest in smart manufacturing projects for the next 4 years. Just at the beginning of this year, some confidence in Taiwan’s machinery sector has already been shown on the export performance, with the export value of 4 billion USD in January and February, it has grown 13.5% than the same period of the previous year.

On the journey of achieving goals on smart manufacturing Taiwan is not without global partners. In Asia with the emphasis of China 2025, and Japan’s Society 5.0, all are advocating on embracing a smarter future for the industry. These ideas across borders will create more innovative ideas. iMTduo is approaching, cherish the opportunity to find your own strategies for smart manufacturing and knock on the door of new markets with quality equipment and products.