抄録
International specialization is the predominant model in the electronics industry, both for semiconductors and for the electronic products, such as PCs and digital appliances. Management skills, involving brand, design, business model, and standardization, are now as important as the latest developments in technology. The low return rate of Japan's general electronic products manufacturers, which in many cases hold in-house semiconductor divisions, is caused by insufficient adaptation to three major trends: international specialization, changing differentiation factors, and expanding low-end demand in emerging markets.
In this paper, I analyze the policies being taken to restore the international competitiveness of the Japanese electronic products industry.
I compare the electronic parts and materials industry with general electronics manufacturers, and find that general electronics manufacturers should make a clear distinction between fields in which they can use international specialization to their advantage and those in which they can maintain competitiveness through integration with materials and equipment technology. Different strategies must be developed for each of these areas of business.
