TFTA Visits NCSIST

by Murphy Chen, Fastener World

 
In order to elevate the R&D and product innovation abilities of Taiwan fastener industry, the N. Chapter president of Taiwan Fastener Trading Association (“TFTA”) Cindy Wang brought a group of TFTA members to the Dual-Use Technology Development Center of Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) on July 25. Through the bilateral exchange in an informal discussion, participating members all learned a lot and could not wait to turn the experience they have learned from the highest R&D national level unit into technology they can use in the fastener industry

■ NCSIST as a Pioneer 

NCSIST is an R&D unit for national defense and has been implementing the “technology projects plans”of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs since 1995. Through the creation of “Dual-Use Technology Development Center”, it helps Taiwanese companies to upgrade their technical level, extend reach to the domestic/foreign markets and improve their product innovation abilities, which has built a bridge between the national defense and livelihood industries.

For a long period of time NCSIST has been dedicated to the cooperation with the industry and the academia. In addition to giving informal discussions with non-official institutes, it also establishes cooperation platforms with superior companies in order to realize mutual benefits. For example, in the year end of 2016 NCSIST held the “2016 Dual-Use Technology Development Results Exhibition & 2017 Industry and Academia subcontracting Explanation Session”to share their R&D results and technology. They advocate “Full Dedication to Dual-Use Technology and Industrial Business Opportunities Expansion”, which has drawn the attention of many enterprises coming to visit. President Wang also observed in this field so many rare opportunities and contacted NCSIST directly expressing her will to arrange the visit this time.  

■ Introduction of High-end Technology for National Defense to Create a Win-win

The fastener export volume of Taiwan represents a great portion of the global total export. In recent years, Taiwan fastener industry has been trying really hard to get rid of its previous image of “OEM”and heading toward the development of high value added products. Many of Taiwanese companies are even trying to tap into the supply chain of the aerospace industry. The current project plans of NCSIST are also aligned with the development goals of the fastener industry, which include two major points: (1) aerospace components technology and (2)　helping companies to become a leading brands.

Aerospace technology has been always considered a promising industry and screws and other fasteners are indispensable parts in aircraft manufacturing. Without them, the components cannot be assembled, even though one has the state-of-the-art technology. Furthermore, as Taiwan is one of the major fastener exporting countries, the development of products compliant with aerospace and military standards/specifications has become one of the essential issues concerned by the fastener industry. Since 2012 Taiwanese government has been promoting the “SME Rising Plan,” which guides domestic Taiwanese companies to increase their international competitiveness. NCSIST also plays a leading role in releasing key technology to fasteners, hardware and motors industries, cultivating their product manufacturing abilities and taking them to shine on the international stage.

■ One Small Step for NCSIST, One Giant Step for the Fastener Industry

President Wang added that NCSIST is the highest-level military science & technology research unit of Taiwan, which owns many high-end technologies the current fastener industry does not have yet. She quoted the famous words of former U.S. astronaut Neil Alden Armstrong “That’s one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind” to illustrate what she had learned from this visit, which means though it is still a long way for the fastener industry to reach the same R&D level as NCSIST, these advanced technologies have broadened the horizons of all TFTA members and can help them achieve a brighter future.

In addition, she also hopes that her comrades in the industry could dedicate themselves to learning the R&D abilities of NCSIST and utilize the 80/20 rule to focus on the R&D of high value added products, in order to gain powerful efficiency and create higher value.

NCSIST continues to cooperate with industries and provides them with assistance in technology R&D and Taiwan fastener industry also has a long history and unlimited potential. Through the informal discussion this time, participating companies all benefited a lot. It is widely expected that Taiwanese fastener companies will get rid of its stereotype of “OEM” shortly and will follow the steps of NCSIST to tap into the international commercial aerospace supply chain and make the reputation of “Made-in-Taiwan” shine again on the international stage.