Enhancing Quality Awareness - San Shing Displays Full Trading Strengths in Japan

The world’s largest steel nut manufacturer San Shing Fastech Corp. has made great achievements in the manufacturing of auto fasteners and received recognition from carmakers in Europe and the US for its high-tech and quality. Due to that the Japanese auto industry is hit by six factors (namely, 1.the appreciation of Japanese yen, 2.over-high business tax, 3.free trade agreement issues, 4.forbidding of using dispatched workers in manufacturing industry, 5.claiming to reduce carbon dioxide by 25% by 2020, 6.inefficiency of power due to earthquakes and other nature disasters), many automakers move their downstream supply chains overseas. Seeing this as an opportunity, San Shing strengthens its marketing measures in the Japanese auto fasteners market, hoping to gain a good word-of-mouth and experiences as in Europe and the US.

Driven by Three Gears
Going Deep in Japanese Market with High-Tech and Integrated Strengths

“We entered the Japanese market 10 years ago. Now we are the OEM for several famous automakers in Japan. Though so far with a low market share, we are strengthening our marketing measures in Japan, considering that Japanese automakers are releasing their orders to overseas partners,” said Clay Chen, Deputy General Manager of San Shing. In recent years, Japanese carmakers, to reduce costs and risks, are seeking for development in other countries and increasing their purchases from overseas at the same time. This makes San Shing have an increasingly larger share of orders in the Japanese market, laying a solid foundation for San Shing to set up its goals in doing business in Japan. “Facing changes in the international market, we are to exert all our strengths to provide Japanese clients with the best solutions and options.”

In addition to nuts, San Shing also manufactures washers, bolts, and screws and involves itself in wire-rod processing, production equipment and model manufacturing. Technical independence and optimum management are the very two advantages of San Shing. Its goodwill and rich experiences in the industry make San Shing the best choice of many clients. Chen said that there are three “gears” that drive San Shing forward stably and sustainably. The first is “integrated manufacturing” which means the whole production from wire-rod processing to packaging is completed within the factory; the second is the independent development and assembly of machinery for manufacturing of nuts; the third is the independent R&D and production of models. These three “gears” work closely to result in the best quality control for manufacturing processes. Chen stressed that San Shing operates its business in both expansion and depth, meeting all needs of its clients for auto fasteners. To date, San Shing has obtained 150 patent certificates for nearly 30 items. This shows San Shing’s technical strengths. However, Chen also said that though San Shing has gained wide recognition and good word-of-mouth in Europe and the US, it should keep persistent and meet clients’ needs as well as always maintain good quality of its products in Japan.

Introducing TPM, Implementing 5S
Getting Japanese Clients by Supplying High Quality Products

Talking about quality, Chen said, “Our quality is quite different from others.” Being a pioneer in many aspects regarding quality certification, San Shing has obtained multiple certifications such as ISO 9002, QS 9000, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, ISO/TS 16949, AS 9100, etc. It also takes lots of time and energy in quality control, expecting to manufacture products with quality far higher than the standard. “Quality depends on the awareness of the staff.” San Shing has introduced the total productive maintenance (TPM) method and held many interdepartmental 5S competitions for the control of quality and management in order to meet the quality requirements of its clients. Currently San Shing can ensure a zero PPM for its quality mixed materials and threaded and threadless products, which satisfy the requirements of Japanese clients. “By pursuing excellence, we attempt to impress our Japanese clients with quality products, so that they will entrust San Shing to mass-produce their products,” added Chen.

San Shing’s turnover last year totaled NT$6.24 billion. Its production capacity of nuts, screws and washers reached 5,000, 700 and 300 tons per month respectively. 90% of these products were used for auto industry. Looking ahead, San Shing must maintain its market shares in Europe and the US on one hand, and expand its products and services in Japan on the other. This is the goal of San Shing in the next years. In addition, San Shing has, through its agent, Sanmei Works Co., Ltd., launched its optical inspection machine into the Japanese market. Chen said, “We hope in the near future San Shing’s hardworking optical inspection machines will also be accepted and recognized by the Japanese market.”