The development of the PCB industry is facing major circumstantial disadvantages such as the US-China trade war and stricter environmental protection regulations. Lee Chang-Ming, general manager of the PCB Division with Unimicron, has just been elected as the new chairman of the TPCA (Taiwan Printed Circuit Association). Lee Chang-Ming believes that Taiwanese manufacturers should continue to strengthen the management of their factory operations. As viewed, Industry 3.5 can be considered to be the best hybrid strategy for the PCB industry.

        In view of the development for the entire PCB industry this year, Lee Chang-Ming reckons that although the global market share of Taiwanese manufacturers has amounted to 31.3%, it is still top in the trade, whereas the competition from the industry must not be underestimated. He suggested that Taiwanese companies should first concentrate on strengthening their follow-up operations and management of factories. For instance, measures to be employed should embrace the introduction of "smart" operation, reducing labor costs, and improving quality to lower production costs, thereby enhancing competitiveness.

        As for whether 5G will be the next business opportunity for PCB, Lee Chang-Ming said that 5G devices will be launched at the end of 2019 in steps, but growth is expected to be seen from the applications of telecom (3C) and its wide-ranging infrastructure and applications only until 2020. For applications of 5G on self-driving applications, since personal safety still has problems that require high-reliability technology to overcome, it is estimated that 5G will become more advanced in self-driving after 2022. In addition, issues such as high-speed, low-latency technology, signal stabilization, and heat dissipation problems for 5G high-frequency demand remain to be the key factors and challenges that the PCB industry will have to confront and deal with.

        In addition, Lee Chang-Ming pointed out that the current PCB industry is only situated at the stage of Industry 2.2, but not all the enterprises have to gear towards Industry 4.0. In the case of small and medium-sized enterprises, Industry 3.5 is considered the best hybrid strategy, and the many existing PCB factories of the PCB industry in Taiwan are to be torn down for reconstruction. Hence, it is best that we be smart and efficient in conducting measures through the pragmatic and effective use of resources. After all, it is better to do the "optimal " than to do the "best," a view that has also echoed to the value and spirit of Industry 3.5.

        As the new chairman of TPCA, Lee Chang-Ming hopes to assist member companies communicate more closely through the platform of the association, inherit the long-term needs from various aspects of the TPCA white-paper for investigation, and also strive for government support so that it can run through the diversified platforms of the association to integrate resources and achieve the vision of “2020, trillion dollar industry.” As such, it should help the PCB industry of Taiwan to continue with sustainable development, enhance its competitiveness, and maintain its stance at the pinnacle of the world.

        Lee Chang-Ming said that 5G business opportunities are currently in full swing around the world, while the TPCA has also been constantly monitoring the related 5G issues. The "International Exhibition of Taiwan Printed Circuit Association (TPCA Show2019)" is scheduled to be held at the Nangang Exhibition Hall in Taipei from October 23 to 25. Given the fact that 5G NEXT has been chosen as its main theme, we look forward to connecting the upstream and downstream industries of the trade to join hands to break loose from the challenges of the new generation. (News source: Commercial Times)