The Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) indicated that Taiwan has ranked among the best in the world in the state of cluster development for the last few years. It is particularly true in the metal materials and fabricated metal products industries, with the steel and fastener sectors seeing the most significant cluster development. On July 10, Dr. Ren-Yi Lin, Chairman of the Board from MIRDC and He-cheng Chen, Chairman of the Taiwan Fastener Trading Association (TFTA), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate in addressing technology transfer problems in the fastener sector. By jointly forming a task force dedicated to training-related work, both parties expect to take advantage of the MIRDC’s capability of assisting various industries in manpower development over the years and foster talent for the fastener sector in a systematic manner. The ultimate goal is to resolve the common problem of talent shortage in the fastener sector and improve its strength and competitiveness.
Since 2005, exports have accounted for at least 92.5% of total production in the fastener sector for 15 consecutive years, with an export value among the world’s top three. It clearly shows that the fastener sector plays an important role in earning foreign exchange for our country. Nearly 30,000 people work in this sector. However, as the number of labor force keeps declining every year, fastener manufacturers have been facing the challenge of manpower and talent shortage. Typical stereotypes towards traditional industries and mechanics have prevented fastener manufacturers from finding workers. Even if they do, the noisy workplace and high technical threshold would make it difficult to train professionals, leading to a gap in techniques. For this reason, finding solutions to talent shortage for the sector will pose a huge challenge.
Dr. Ren-Yi Lin, Chairman of the Board from MIRDC stated that smart production lines and high-value products are the focus of next phase development of the fastener sector; nevertheless, technology transfer and talent demand remain the fundamental issues in terms of development of this sector. With over forty years of experience in offering education and training, MIRDC will plan beforehand according to future demands for knowledge and talent, so as to foster elite professionals for industries. In addition to abundant experience in fostering talent, MIRDC built a fastener industry smart manufacturing demonstration production line as an effort to develop patterns of innovative cooperation in the fastener sector by integrating information about upstream, midstream, and downstream activities of the supply chain and offering tailor-made smart manufacturing solutions.
He-cheng Chen, Chairman of TFTA pointed out that there is a lack of comprehensive and systematic training schemes since most of the training programs currently available in the industry focus on only one technology or subject area. To facilitate sustainable talent development in the fastener sector, he suggested improving organizational management systems, introducing scientific approaches to bridge the gap between education and employment and accelerate technology transfer, and increasing opportunities for people to start working in the fastener sector. The signing of the MoU marked the beginning of close cooperation with MIRDC in promoting talent development for the fastener sector in the future based on the industrial associations’ demand for talent.