A Tale of Two Types of Contract Manufacturers: A Co-evolution Perspective of the Emergence of Contract Manufacturing Models

專業製造代工模式，已然成為台灣產業發 展與廠商成長的基礎，但是，隨著競爭國家的 仿效、以及類似營運模式（如EMS/CEM ）的 快速擴張，此一植基於國際專業分工結構的營 運模式是否能夠、以及如何能夠持續保持其競 爭優勢，漸漸引起產官學界的關心。 基於過去數年裡對於專業製造代工（尤其 是ODM 模式）與國際分工結構的研究基礎， 本研究採取共同演化的理論概念出發，建構一 個根基於：代工廠商能力基礎策略、委外生產 廠商的策略變革、以及總體環境因素（技術、 競爭與機制化環境）三者的共同演化架構，並 透由此一架構，進行ODM 與EMS/CEM 廠商 的營運模式、能耐差異、與競合機會的比較分析。本研究主要發現包括：國際大廠的委外專 業製造代工趨勢將持續擴大，而EMS 與國內 ODM 廠商在經營模式、發展策略、與經營績 效上，存在顯著的差異；此一結果將可提供對 於兩種重要的專業製造代工模式的系統比 較，以產生競爭標竿的效果，同時，未來這些 廠商產生競合的機會相當大。 綜合言之，本研究計畫不僅在理論上有助 於共同演化概念與能耐基礎策略的觀念整 合，實証結果將有助於國內專業製造代工模式未來策略發展的思考。The business model of contract manufacturing in general, ODM in particular, has been regarded as the foundation for the fast growing electronics and computer related industries during the recent years. However, past success has brought more pressure for growth to these firms. How to sustain the advantage with regard to their competitors becomes a critical managerial issue to these firms. Based on research efforts made on a competence-based growth strategy for the contract manufacturers in the electronics and computer related industries, this research attempts to explore the emergence of contract manufacturing models from a co-evolution perspective. We suggest such a co-evolution model consist (1) the contract manufacturer’s competence-based managerial activities, (2) the outsourcing firm’s strategic change, and (3) macro-environmental factors, including technological, competitive, and institutional factors. Under such a framework, the emergence of contract manufacturing models is a result of organizational adaptation due to the co-evolution dynamics occurred both at micro- and macro-levels. We then suggest a systematic comparison on two types of contract manufacturers, namely ODM and EMS/CEM firms, be conducted for evaluating their respective competitive strengths and business challenges. Such comparisons not only will help us to verify the validity and generalizability of the co-evolution model built, but also will furnish insights concerning future competition and/or cooperation opportunities between these two types of contract manufacturers. Implications of research results are also discussed