The Japanese Bubble

摘要

The Japanese are a funny bunch. After visiting the PWB Expo last January, held in conjunction with InterNepcon Japan, I started thinking about Japans business culture—and how it seems to defy the conventional wisdom of global economics. Most Western OEMs and EMS providers have rushed to China and other low-cost manufacturing regions to stay competitive, leaving many Western PCB suppliers scrambling for crumbs. But their Japanese counterparts have stayed put, refusing to surrender their vertically integrated business models. Thus, the country's PCB industry remains strong.