Abstract
The electronic connector industry in Taiwan has been developed for over 30 years. The products are mainly used in consumer electronics equipment and products, aviation and aerospace industries, military equipment, transportation, automobiles, and industrial applications. In recent years, due to the rise of emerging connector manufacturers in China and the magnetic effect in China, and the fact fewer competitors in high-end connectors and the gross margin of low-end connectors continues to decline, the Taiwan connector industry must upgrade itself and be freed from only focusing on low- and medium-level connector products in the past. Therefore, the main research purpose of this dissertation is to explore the current status of the connector industry in Taiwan, explore the strengths and weaknesses of the Taiwan connector industry, and explore the obstacles currently facing for the development of the Taiwan connector market. In this study, qualitative interviews were conducted with experts in the connector industry. The research findings revealed that Taiwan's connector industry possesses many advantages and opportunities. In order to respond to internal disadvantages and external competitions, it is necessary to develop a strategy. The disadvantage of the Taiwan connector industry lies in its lack of patented personnel., R&D technology lag, small business scale causing slow production capacity expansion, small business size which leads to constraint of sales expansion, high cost material can only be imported, high valued, high-end product technology is behind; the threat of Taiwan's connector industry is: China's labor cost advantage disappearing, government policy changing, more strict environmental regulations, high material costs, lower profitability, faster product price deduction cycle, low-cost competition from Chinese manufacturers. To sum up the opportunities and threats that the Taiwan connector industry is facing, the strategic solution for developing Taiwan connector market is: strategic alliances, dedicated R&D, intensive research and application for key patents, and research and development of high-end products.