Page 35 - Taiwan Machinery 2021-09 Edition

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FEATURE TOPIC

Global and local tr
Global and local trends fueling ends fueling

the mac
the machinery sectorhinery sector

Interview with industry trend expert sheds light on future roadmaps in Taiwan

he current global situation has made it incredibly with traditional American allies, the European Union had
Tchallenging for industries and businesses to maintain adjusted its China policy from a proactive collaborative to
a competitive edge when prices are soaring and delivery a limited approach. The pursuit of a free market has led to
times are unpredictable. In an interview with Industrial outsourced production lines and supply chains, creating a
Technology Research Institute (ITRI) Industry, Science and just-in-time system vulnerable to disruptions like a global
Technology International Strategy Center (ISTI) deputy pandemic, prompting governments to consider industry
head Harrison Hsiung, he touched on evolving trends development policies in a national security scope.
observed in pre-COVID times and in the present, including
those found on the global and local scale. He also offered Global economies are thus reexamining and building
suggestions for Taiwanese companies to consider in these trade relations, turning inward to rebuild domestic
challenging times. manufacturing capabilities. The global chip shortage, largely
caused by revamped demand and fi nite supplying capacity,
Pre-Covid and Current Trends congested shipping ports, and container shortages were
clear examples of how reliant countries are on exports.
In terms of ongoing trends that maintained its progress, Products were not getting delivered to consumers and in
even under a pandemic that has caused unprecedented the upstream, workers were losing jobs as factories closed
disruption, Hsiung named national policies, multinational due to shortages of parts.
trade systems, market demand, and supply chain
operations as four areas that were accelerated after On the consumer side, the pandemic has accelerated
COVID-19 broke out. demand for medical personal protection equipment, at-
home technology and products, transportation, remote
The pandemic had ushered in a new sense of urgency working, and learning solutions. E-commerce also grew,
in terms of bilateral relations between countries. For with businesses choosing to invest even more in online
instance, relations were already difficult between China marketing and e-commerce solutions, and grow their
and the U.S. due to the trade war, however, the outbreak outreach amid social distancing and restrictions.
worsened the situation. Hsiung pointed out that even

Taiwan Machinery 2021 September