A Kingdom at Sea: Jong Shyn Shipbuilding/雄霸一方中信造船集團
A Kingdom at Sea: Jong Shyn Shipbuilding
◎English translation: Peng Hsin-yi
◎Photos courtesy of Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Group, Pao Chung-hui
This is a rags-to-riches story. Mr. Han Pi-hsiang –a few decades ago no more than a penniless young shipyard apprentice –is now an influential shipbuilder who oversees six shipyards in Kaohsiung City's Cijin District. In 2011, his shipbuilding operations earned more than NT$30 billion (about US$100 million).
The founder-owner of Jong Shyn Shipbuilding Group, like many self-made entrepreneurs, started humbly. But he had a clear vision, and worked to turn that vision into reality. His company, which has been in business for over 20 years, has branched out, making fishing boats of all kinds, speedboats and yachts.
Recently buyers have reined in their spending, so many shipbuilders are suffering. But not Jong Shyn: the company is working at full capacity, with an order book that will keep it busy for two to three years. Mr. Han says that Jong Shyn is able to lead the industry because its business model emphasizes diversity.
Taiwan is surrounded by deep oceans, so it has natural advantages when it comes to the development of offshore fishing. Kaohsiung is south Taiwan's maritime gateway, and the way it has grown to become the capital of shipbuilding is almost organic. Jong Shyn started as a builder of fishing boats, completing more than 100 in a three-year period. When the government began to regulate the number of fishing boats being built, Mr. Han sensed how the market was changing, so he accepted orders for commercial vessels. He also took government orders and orders for military vessels. Jong Shyn then began a new chapter in its history, and progressed toward another era of prosperity. Mr. Han never takes things for granted: Every time he receives an order, he gains some new insight which helps him plot the company's next moves.
Mr. Han says he believes the company's future depends on the continuous renewal of its equipment, technology and workforce. Mr. Han spares nothing when updating the 14-hectare (35 acre) main shipyard, continually bringing in cutting-edge equipment and the most advanced processes in the industry.
He also believes in innovation. Jong Shyn has patented the only mirror-coating technology developed in Asia. This technique gives finished boats a very high-end look and feel, and sharpens the company's competitive edge in the luxury vessel market. The best evidence of Jong Shyn's success in this market is that it won a contract to build a yacht for Louis Vuitton's CEO.
The appearance of a vessel is important, but Jong Shyn's reputation is not built on looks alone. Their ships are built using aluminum alloy, as enduring as steel but lighter. The company also takes care of everything from the moment the order is placed until delivery, including design, production, registration and other details. Each ship takes two to three years to complete. Yacht buyers like to customize their orders, so such cases usually take longer because the company has to communicate with the client until he or she is completely happy with the design. Technology and technique are just two elements of Mr. Han's management philosophy. His leadership style is what makes the company really unique; he arrives at work at 8 am every morning, and works as hard, if not harder than anyone else in his 1,000-strong enterprise. The core value of the company is "Shared Responsibility." Everyone contributes to the company's success, and everyone is responsible for the quality of his or her work. Under Mr. Han's leadership, the company is tightly knit. Staff turnover is very low, and strong human resources are key to the company's competitive edge.
The shipbuilding king is looking forward to passing the scepter onto the next generation. Reflecting on the future of Taiwan's shipbuilding industry, he says the country is definitely among the best in the world, and there are still many opportunities the industry can explore. He says the government must recognize the potential of the marine leisure industry, and ease restrictions on sailing and other activities at sea. The government could support this new industry by adding yacht docks to port infrastructure. Mr. Han is very optimistic about this trend, believing that if people could experience marine leisure activities, the industry would grow rapidly.
雄霸一方中信造船集團
◎文/林旻伶
◎圖片提供/中信造船集團、鮑忠暉
從一名造船廠學徒,到如今坐擁旗津六間船廠、2011年營業額達新台幣30多億元,站穩台灣民間造船業龍頭地位,中信造船集團創辦人韓碧祥以過人的膽識與魄力,秉持著一步一腳印的信念,逐步拓展事業版圖。成立20多年以來,跨足傳統造船、遠洋漁船與遊艇製造,在這波金融海嘯影響之下,廠內滿檔的訂單已排至二、三年之後,韓碧祥表示,中信造船集團憑藉的是多角化的經營模式。
台灣四面環海,遠洋漁業發達,南部門戶重鎮—高雄的造船產業亦隨之蓬勃發展。中信造船以製造漁船起家,全盛時期曾締造3年製造100 多艘船的驚人紀錄,然而漁船限建政策的推動,造船業開始走下坡,此時韓碧祥看準市場轉向,轉型接下商用船、公務船及軍艦等訂單,開創事業新顛峰,近年來也將觸角伸入遊艇產業。難能可貴的是,從每次的訂單中,中信造船總能得到些新方向。
韓碧祥表示,中信造船有能力承製多種類船隻,有賴於設備、技術與人力的不斷提升。「工欲善其事,必先利其器。」韓碧祥深諳箇中道理,在硬體設施方面,他大手筆投資,總佔地14萬平方公尺的廠房引進最現代的造船設備,並在製造技術上持續領先,研發出亞洲唯一的鏡面塗裝專利技術,大大提升金屬表面質感至另一個層次,而拿下LV總裁遊艇訂單更讓中信造船聲名大噪,建造遊艇實力更上層樓。
中信造船另一項獨到之處,在於船隻以堅固耐用的鋼鋁合金材質打造,從設計、登記入船籍、切割、組裝到出船,採一貫化作業,製造一艘新船約需花費二、三年光陰,尤其遊艇製造為完全客製化服務,光是與船東溝通各項細節就近乎耗去大半時間。設備與技術都到位了,在人力管理上韓碧祥也自有一套哲學。他每天早晨八點前就抵達公司與一千多位員工一同打拼,共榮共享的概念落實在每一位員工身上,營造出向心力極高的工作環境,人員流動率低,競爭力自然提升。
目前這位豪氣十足的台灣船王已準備交棒予年輕一輩,談及造船業未來展望,他表示,台灣的造船技術不輸外國,海上休閒產業是一股新趨勢,政府應放寬海域諸多限制,並規劃遊艇碼頭等相關硬體設施。