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製錶人物誌│鄭順旺 創意締造價值
CREATIVITY VS. ADDED VALUE by founder, Mr. Cheng Shun Wang 專題報導 Interviewed on Jul 20, 2015 |
在這採訪過程中，筆者心中不時會浮現一種感想——我們台灣人常會展現出一種獨特的創意，比如說在工業技術上，以創意解決問題，創造更高價值。這種創意不是Steve Jobs發明iPhone或是Renaud et Papi研發複雜功能的那種純粹設計上的靈感，而是如水銀瀉地般無孔不入的、跟主事者的生命經驗緊緊結合在一起的一種嘗試；鄭順旺在1990年代前後的成功，就很有這種印象。
鄭順旺是在民國62年退伍後才入行的，那時候他是在亞洲鐘錶學習車工。亞洲鐘錶是當時台灣相當具代表性的大型鐘錶加工廠，旗下相關單位眾多，在業內涵蓋的領域也廣，主要是引進日本的製造技術，為日本和香港品牌代工。鄭順旺在亞洲鐘錶做了三、四年後，獨立出來和同為亞洲鐘錶出身的侯有文一起合作、開設他們自己的加工廠。工廠一開始做的是錶殼的車工，後來也為一些台灣的自有品牌做代工，當時主要是在接收亞洲鐘錶轉發出來的訂單，一方面因為那時亞洲鐘錶的業務量太大，自家廠房有時會負荷不了；另一方面則因大公司在作業上的規矩多，比較麻煩，於是一些不容易和大廠配合的小牌子，也就自然轉到鄭順旺他們這裡來了，凡此不難看出當年台灣鐘錶產業的盛況。1980年代初期，侯有文轉往泰國發展，從此錶廠就由鄭順旺獨自經營，據點一路由台南、台北、香港而終於到了中國大陸，產品也從自行研發的腕錶延伸到鋼製的飾品，目前則是以代工零件和組裝成錶為主。
將時間稍微回溯到1990年代。台灣早期鐘錶加工的素材以鋼為主，然而在民國78年左右導入了銅製的錶殼。銅的金屬特性較鋼來得軟，配合熱鍛的加工方式，製程短，速度快，機具也比較不容易耗損，由此讓錶殼的產量大幅提升。基於這樣的生產特性，銅殼原本應該是屬於低價產品，然而鄭順旺他們卻想到利用自行開發款式的方式為產品加入附加價值，由此拉高價格，於是來自台灣本地和香港的訂單應接不暇，儘管原本鄭順旺的業務範圍並不只有錶殼，但當時光是做錶殼就做不完了。
「拱型玻璃」的錶鏡又是另一段傳奇故事了。原本我們所謂「dome式」的凸面拱型錶鏡是以較厚的原料逐漸打磨成型的（這裡指的是玻璃，而非高級錶的藍寶石水晶，雖然兩種素材的加工方式差不多），過程當中會浪費掉大量的原料，機具的耗損也大，良率還不高，本來就是一種很需要加工成本的零件，然而鄭順旺卻想到利用眼鏡鏡片加工的做法，利用加熱的方式讓原本平面的玻璃自行變形成凸面，如此一來，幾乎一掃所有凸錶鏡在製程上的弱點，讓它得以順利量產。這門技術的原理說來單純，實則在具體施作上的細節還是相當細膩，比如說玻璃的形變是整體性的，中央凸起，外徑就會縮小，因此要如何讓凸起的高度和收縮的幅度能夠剛剛好符合所需的尺寸，這都需要經過仔細地計算，凡此都可以看到鄭順旺的縝密發想與執行力。當然，這次的發明也讓鄭順旺獲得一大成功，當時從香港到整個東南亞乃至於遠到中東，都有他們家的產品，而將這段經歷以傳奇稱之，也並非只是修辭而已。
在鄭順旺成功的故事當中，我們已經可以看到現今鐘錶業發展最關鍵的幾個要素，像是設計、創意、技術與附加價值，雖然以結果來說，我們並沒有像瑞士那樣發展成一個自成一格的帝國，不過其中某些決定性的元素，其實我們都已經具備了，並以我們自己的形式，沉潛醞釀、等待著茁壯的時機。
鄭順旺是在民國62年退伍後才入行的，那時候他是在亞洲鐘錶學習車工。亞洲鐘錶是當時台灣相當具代表性的大型鐘錶加工廠，旗下相關單位眾多，在業內涵蓋的領域也廣，主要是引進日本的製造技術，為日本和香港品牌代工。鄭順旺在亞洲鐘錶做了三、四年後，獨立出來和同為亞洲鐘錶出身的侯有文一起合作、開設他們自己的加工廠。工廠一開始做的是錶殼的車工，後來也為一些台灣的自有品牌做代工，當時主要是在接收亞洲鐘錶轉發出來的訂單，一方面因為那時亞洲鐘錶的業務量太大，自家廠房有時會負荷不了；另一方面則因大公司在作業上的規矩多，比較麻煩，於是一些不容易和大廠配合的小牌子，也就自然轉到鄭順旺他們這裡來了，凡此不難看出當年台灣鐘錶產業的盛況。1980年代初期，侯有文轉往泰國發展，從此錶廠就由鄭順旺獨自經營，據點一路由台南、台北、香港而終於到了中國大陸，產品也從自行研發的腕錶延伸到鋼製的飾品，目前則是以代工零件和組裝成錶為主。
將時間稍微回溯到1990年代。台灣早期鐘錶加工的素材以鋼為主，然而在民國78年左右導入了銅製的錶殼。銅的金屬特性較鋼來得軟，配合熱鍛的加工方式，製程短，速度快，機具也比較不容易耗損，由此讓錶殼的產量大幅提升。基於這樣的生產特性，銅殼原本應該是屬於低價產品，然而鄭順旺他們卻想到利用自行開發款式的方式為產品加入附加價值，由此拉高價格，於是來自台灣本地和香港的訂單應接不暇，儘管原本鄭順旺的業務範圍並不只有錶殼，但當時光是做錶殼就做不完了。
「拱型玻璃」的錶鏡又是另一段傳奇故事了。原本我們所謂「dome式」的凸面拱型錶鏡是以較厚的原料逐漸打磨成型的（這裡指的是玻璃，而非高級錶的藍寶石水晶，雖然兩種素材的加工方式差不多），過程當中會浪費掉大量的原料，機具的耗損也大，良率還不高，本來就是一種很需要加工成本的零件，然而鄭順旺卻想到利用眼鏡鏡片加工的做法，利用加熱的方式讓原本平面的玻璃自行變形成凸面，如此一來，幾乎一掃所有凸錶鏡在製程上的弱點，讓它得以順利量產。這門技術的原理說來單純，實則在具體施作上的細節還是相當細膩，比如說玻璃的形變是整體性的，中央凸起，外徑就會縮小，因此要如何讓凸起的高度和收縮的幅度能夠剛剛好符合所需的尺寸，這都需要經過仔細地計算，凡此都可以看到鄭順旺的縝密發想與執行力。當然，這次的發明也讓鄭順旺獲得一大成功，當時從香港到整個東南亞乃至於遠到中東，都有他們家的產品，而將這段經歷以傳奇稱之，也並非只是修辭而已。
在鄭順旺成功的故事當中，我們已經可以看到現今鐘錶業發展最關鍵的幾個要素，像是設計、創意、技術與附加價值，雖然以結果來說，我們並沒有像瑞士那樣發展成一個自成一格的帝國，不過其中某些決定性的元素，其實我們都已經具備了，並以我們自己的形式，沉潛醞釀、等待著茁壯的時機。
During the course of this interview, from time to time, the author comes up with the feeling that we Taiwanese often exhibit a unique creativity, such as in industrial technology, creatively solving problems and creating higher value. This kind of creativity is not just purely the type of pure design inspiration that caused Steve Jobs to invent the iPhone or Renaud et Papi to develop complex features, but pervasive as spilled mercury, this is an attempt to tightly combine it with the life experiences of the principal. The successes of Shun Wang Cheng during the 90's is very impressive.
It was only after retiring from the military in 1973 that Shun Wang Cheng entered the industry. At the time he was studying the mechanics of watches in an outstanding Asia watch company, which were represented by large-scale watch processing factories in Taiwan. With many related units and widely represented throughout the industry, with the introduction of Japanese manufacturing technology, produced OEM product for the Japan and Hong Kong market. After three or four years in the Asian watch company, Shun Wang Cheng started working independently and in partnership with Hou Youwen, an Asian watchmaker, founded their own factory. Initially, the factory concentrated on watch case processing and later did OEM production for other Taiwan brands. At the time, it was mainly receiving orders forwarded by Asia watch company. On the one hand, because the volume of Asia watch company at that time was too large, sometimes their factory capacity was unable to handle it; on the other hand, due to the rules and regulations for large companies, some smaller brands, finding it difficult to cooperate with the big manufacturers, naturally turned to Shun Wang Cheng, making it easy to see the grandness of Taiwan's watch industry in those years. In the early 1980's, Hou Youwen moved to Thailand for development. From then on, the watch factory was operated by Shun Wang Cheng himself. Taking the route of originating in Tainan, and on to Taipei, Hong Kong and finally Mainland China, the products extended from watches developed from own research into accessories, and currently mainly focused on OEM production
and complete product assembly.
Turning back to the 1990's, the material of Taiwan's early watchmaking was mainly stainless steel. However, in the 1990's, a brass case was introduced. The metallic properties of brass are softer than that of steel. In combination with the hot forging processing method, the process is short, the speed is fast, and the machine tool is also less prone to wear, thereby greatly increasing the output of watch cases. Based on these production characteristics, the brass cases should originally have been lower-priced products. However, Shun Wang Cheng employed a self-developed style to add value to the products, thereby raising the price, resulting in overwhelming orders from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Although the business scope was not limited to just the cases, but at the time, that was already flourishing in itself.
The doomed crystal is another legendary story. The convex curved crystal,originally called a "dome", is gradually replaced by thicker raw materials (this
refers to the glass, not the sapphire crystal of modern watches, although the two materials are processed in the same way). A lot of raw materials were wasted in the process, the wear and tear of the machinery was also large, and the yield not high. Originally, this part required high processing costs. However, Shun Wang Cheng came up with the practice of using eyeglass lens processing, whereby the original flat glass is transformed into a convex surface through heating. In this way, almost all of the disadvantages of the convex mirror in the process are removed, so that it can be mass-produced smoothly.
The principle of this technology is simple, but, in fact, the details of the specific application are still very delicate. For example, the deformation of the crystal integrity, the central protrusion, and the reduction in outer diameter. So how to produce the correct height of the protrusion and the extent of the contraction so as to form the required size, needs to be carefully calculated. Anyone can see Shun Wang Cheng meticulous thinking and execution. Of course, this invention also brought him great success. From Hong Kong to Southeast Asia and even to the Middle East, there are products of the family. It is not just rhetoric to call this experience legendary.
In the success story of Shun Wang Cheng, we can already see the most important elements of the development of the watch industry today, such as design, creativity, technology and added value. Although in terms of results, Taiwan has not yet developed into an empire like Switzerland, but some of the decisive elements, in fact, we already possess, and in our own way, waiting for opportunity to thrive.
It was only after retiring from the military in 1973 that Shun Wang Cheng entered the industry. At the time he was studying the mechanics of watches in an outstanding Asia watch company, which were represented by large-scale watch processing factories in Taiwan. With many related units and widely represented throughout the industry, with the introduction of Japanese manufacturing technology, produced OEM product for the Japan and Hong Kong market. After three or four years in the Asian watch company, Shun Wang Cheng started working independently and in partnership with Hou Youwen, an Asian watchmaker, founded their own factory. Initially, the factory concentrated on watch case processing and later did OEM production for other Taiwan brands. At the time, it was mainly receiving orders forwarded by Asia watch company. On the one hand, because the volume of Asia watch company at that time was too large, sometimes their factory capacity was unable to handle it; on the other hand, due to the rules and regulations for large companies, some smaller brands, finding it difficult to cooperate with the big manufacturers, naturally turned to Shun Wang Cheng, making it easy to see the grandness of Taiwan's watch industry in those years. In the early 1980's, Hou Youwen moved to Thailand for development. From then on, the watch factory was operated by Shun Wang Cheng himself. Taking the route of originating in Tainan, and on to Taipei, Hong Kong and finally Mainland China, the products extended from watches developed from own research into accessories, and currently mainly focused on OEM production
and complete product assembly.
Turning back to the 1990's, the material of Taiwan's early watchmaking was mainly stainless steel. However, in the 1990's, a brass case was introduced. The metallic properties of brass are softer than that of steel. In combination with the hot forging processing method, the process is short, the speed is fast, and the machine tool is also less prone to wear, thereby greatly increasing the output of watch cases. Based on these production characteristics, the brass cases should originally have been lower-priced products. However, Shun Wang Cheng employed a self-developed style to add value to the products, thereby raising the price, resulting in overwhelming orders from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Although the business scope was not limited to just the cases, but at the time, that was already flourishing in itself.
The doomed crystal is another legendary story. The convex curved crystal,originally called a "dome", is gradually replaced by thicker raw materials (this
refers to the glass, not the sapphire crystal of modern watches, although the two materials are processed in the same way). A lot of raw materials were wasted in the process, the wear and tear of the machinery was also large, and the yield not high. Originally, this part required high processing costs. However, Shun Wang Cheng came up with the practice of using eyeglass lens processing, whereby the original flat glass is transformed into a convex surface through heating. In this way, almost all of the disadvantages of the convex mirror in the process are removed, so that it can be mass-produced smoothly.
The principle of this technology is simple, but, in fact, the details of the specific application are still very delicate. For example, the deformation of the crystal integrity, the central protrusion, and the reduction in outer diameter. So how to produce the correct height of the protrusion and the extent of the contraction so as to form the required size, needs to be carefully calculated. Anyone can see Shun Wang Cheng meticulous thinking and execution. Of course, this invention also brought him great success. From Hong Kong to Southeast Asia and even to the Middle East, there are products of the family. It is not just rhetoric to call this experience legendary.
In the success story of Shun Wang Cheng, we can already see the most important elements of the development of the watch industry today, such as design, creativity, technology and added value. Although in terms of results, Taiwan has not yet developed into an empire like Switzerland, but some of the decisive elements, in fact, we already possess, and in our own way, waiting for opportunity to thrive.
鄭順旺分享道:台灣鐘錶業發展技術最關鍵的幾個要素，像是設計、創意、技術與附加價值大體皆已具備等待深潛後出發
Cheng Shun Wang, company founder