Success factors of Nidec Corporation from the viewpoint of the modularity trap

A case study of spindle motors for HDD

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the competitive advantages of Nidec Corporation from the viewpoint of the modularity trap. At first, we investigated the trajectory of the product architecture integrity in HDD motors. Secondly, on the basis of the trajectory analysis, we examined the competitive advantages of Nidec Corporation from the viewpoint of the modularity trap. In the result, it is concluded that the competitive advantages of Nidec Corporation are established from not only avoiding the modularity trap, but also setting a trap to the competitors intentionally, and additionally taking ex post actions such as patent strategy and low price strategy.