| Abstrakt: |
Over the last two decades, yacht makers in Taiwan successfully shifted their products from small, lower-value-added yachts to mega-yachts with higher values. I argue that this case demonstrates flexible specialization, which refers to a production model that relies on high-skilled workers who can instantly respond to rapid market change. I obtained the data by collecting relevant documents and interviewing owners, managers, engineers, carpenters, and other relevant actors, which yielded the following findings. In the late 1980s when yacht makers lost the competitiveness in the market of small yachts, many chose to upgrade to the market of mega yachts. Because of the lack of market status, however, Taiwanese yacht makers must rely on customized orders for upgrading. The craftsmanship embedded in the traditional model of production buttressed the development of customized production and facilitated the long-term improvement of quality, but it also prevented yacht makers from adopting the module production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
