An international comparative study about "Manufacturing Philosophy" formation process and industrial competitiveness

为了研究日本“制造哲学”的发展历程，笔者于2003年进行了初步的研究。2003年的主要活动是对一些日本电子产品生产商进行初步的访谈研究，并通过阅读有关电子技术在制造业中的应用的学术期刊文献、报纸杂志文章和书籍来收集基础数据。2004年，对日本主要电子企业进行了采访调查。访谈之余，作者开始了资料收集和《内容分析》的准备工作。利用在线数据库，报纸上包含“机电一体化”一词的文章被挑选出来并记录下来。在接下来的2005年，作者继续进行了文献综述和访谈研究。在研究过程中，对“机电一体化”这一新概念的起源进行了探索。作者还证实，“机电一体化”的最初含义在1980年代已经改变。在研究期的最后一年，2006年，作者调查了最近日本制造理念的转变。2006年夏天，笔者走访了台湾EMS（电子制造服务）/ODM（原始设计制造商），并对日本相机和家电供应商的数码相机制造分包进行了采访。

For the research purpose, to analyze the process of Japanese "Manufacturing Philosophy", the author have carried out preliminary research in year 2003. Main activities of 2003 were preliminary interview researches for some Japanese electronics producers, and basic data collection by reading academic journal literatures, newspaper and magazine articles, and books regarding the electronics technology application for the manufacturing.In year 2004, interview research for the Japanese major electronics corporations had continued. Beside the interviews, the author started to data collection and preparations for "Contents Analysis". Utilizing online databases, newspaper articles that contained a word "Mechatronics" have been picked up, and corded.In the next year, 2005, the author had continued literature reviews and interview researches. In the research process, the origin of the new concept of "Mechatronics" had searched. Also the author had confirmed that the original implications of "Mechatronics" had been transformed during 1980s.In the last year of the research period, 2006, the author had investigated recent transformation of the Japanese Manufacturing Philosophy. In the summer of 2006, the author visited Taiwanese EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services)/ODM (Original Design Manufacturers), and made interviews about digital camera manufacturing subcontracting from Japanese cameras and home appliance suppliers.