Canon VS Nikon (Chinese Version)

◎ ◎ ◎ --- Canon 篇 --- ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎

◎ since 2005 has Canon on sale of 12 new models DSLR, of which there are five models released have taken place in poor quality.
(350D image disappears, 5D mirror detached, 1D/1Ds MKIII AF, mirrors a problem, 5D MKII black spots problem)
Nikon with the same period a no opponent announced
Produced a smaller number of Olympus and SONY has not yet announced poor quality products.

◎ since 2005 the world market in three years, continued to widen. Especially the DSLR continues to grow an annual average of 25%,
Although several manufacturers are expected to inject power of this market, but simply can not shake the Canon, Nikon 2 strong market share.
In particular, the first of the Canon, even the lightweight DC is also in the world.
In 2007 the interest rate of the camera department is rival Nikon, SONY and so on for nearly double the 26.7%.
DSLR-wide models and includes a digital camera for about 70%,
Is a 100% subsidiary of Canon's Oita facility in Japan produced.
Compared to overseas production or OEM to other manufacturers, this production system is very special.
Canon in the human pieces of expensive Japanese production costs, but also of high interest rates there is overwhelming even more surprising,
But the Canon product is the problem of frequent occurrence,
It is to be believed so long synonymous with high-quality "Made in Japan" should be shaken, the painful reality.

◎ Canon's main camera plant in Oita Prefecture, Japan.
One is the construction of 82 years has been the cause of Oita Canon Aki.
Another operation in the 2005 Oita cause.
In the two factories manufacturing for nearly 7 percent of the Canon cameras.
Low cost compact digital cameras in China and Malaysia, manufactured,
However, in Oita manufactured with all of the SLR.
Oita Canon supports, is usually to the scale of thousands of people working in the manufacturing site for outsourcing workers (outsourcing company employees).
Oita Canon's official staff and staff during the period was mainly responsible for manufacturing management and tools for maintenance and assembly outside the industry

Services,
The actual production and assembly of the overall study by the Japanese industries, Technosmile such as outsourcing the company's staff to carry out.

◎ beginning of the year in Oita, the cause of COMS (image sensor) module assembly line work on behalf of 30 men,
This situation recalls the scene: "From other companies factories to Canon, I felt that clean rooms are dirty and
Although it is not to an alarming extent, but compared with the previous plant, then feel the difference "
His job is to LPF (low pass filter) on the pressure receiving COMS module assembly,
This must not allow the slightest dust in the clean room to conduct operations.
However, in Oita Canon's two cause, the worker did not wear a mask.
It is said that clean rooms, too.
The one hand, according to Canon PR states: "We judge that even if the did not wear a mask, it will not affect the quality", `
However, since the 30 who work in the field on behalf of the outsourcing company employees,
Heard conflicting views and "clean room more than dust. Often when there is dust crimping enter
Resulting module becomes bad. "

◎ Also in Oita on behalf of the cause of the work of 20 women said:
"In the fluorescent light under the eyes sometimes see dust in the air Piaowu."
Although the clean room are required to clean-degree level, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food and other different types according to the manufacturer while the difference between different

Different.
But the camera, in addition to the portrait of photosensitive semiconductor devices (CCD, CMOS) manufacturing projects,
Is not so severe degrees are required to clean.
But there can be no so-called "dust Piaowu of the clean room."
Clean room according to the designer view "the requirements of clean room standards is a measure of the number of 0.5um in the atmosphere of the ultra small dust.
In addition there is a simple "no visible dust" devices, although this can not be called clean rooms.
But seeing dust Piaowu this case, there is simply outrageous. "
Beyond the knowledge of why this situation had been allowed to?
Because in the clean room inside, not the Canon can be regulated.
The contractual provisions of outsourcing is the business entrusted to the company (Canon) does not work on-site outsourcing company staff to make a direct instruction or order.
If the direct instructions, they constitute a pseudo-business process outsourcing (disguised please negative) violated the Worker Dispatching Law.

If it is in 2004, Canon uses a dispatch staff, Canon can do direct instructions.
But in the end of 2008 the present, Canon did not use to send staff.
Because (Japanese law) in the same row operations three years or more to send employees,
Company has direct employment obligations.
Canon In order to conform to the adjustment of production, it is no longer used to send staff.

While leveraging the outsourcing company's human, it means at home and workshop in the presence of its companies,
Although it is Canon's own factories, but the metal frame or tape has become separated from the other side is that it's all the land,
Canon bones, where only a very limited administrative privileges.

◎ Canon employees in principle to enter a clean room.
30 on behalf of the men who had earlier said that, "the upper part of a clean room windows,
Canon is about once a week will be separated from the upper windows to do inspections,
Only then will table in advance so will wipe clean, etc. sort of finishing the work.
Production site is only outsourcing company's people, they are basically the management of very casually. "

Oita Canon ◎ long as the persons concerned are aware of occurred in the October 2007 events.
Aki cause occurred in camera assembly line.
Outsourcing the company's workers in the workplace is prohibited use of fireworks lighter, resulting in volatile solvents pyrophoric.
The spread of the fire breath. 1:00 is also completely shut down production lines.
Working in the field of outsourcing staff to disclose
"In order to cover the flaws in the plastic camera body, to go with a lighter roast of the method is informal there."
Canon PR-pin description of the incident on the matter is: "We know that the fire this matter,
Outsourcing company's management too loose caused by events,
But even such a thing happened, in the lease, Canon can not be physical or carrying goods inspection,
Outsourcing company to rely on self-administration. "Recognition of outsourcing the management of contracts arising from the boundaries.

◎ If the outsourcing company to improve product quality and the attitude, the above-mentioned clean room clean and lighters, the problem does not occur.
End of last year in Oita on behalf of the cause of the work of 20 women revealed that
On one occasion, she was mistakenly connected to the photosensitive element pressure on the crystal plate is loaded upside-down on the negative,
Outsourcing company executives to ask him how to do, the answer is "This is the old models so check the more loose,
So go out bar "also half-jokingly warning:" But, do not say to me reported. "
The quality of the final product did not care.

◎ outsourcing company contracted with the Canon nikken general industry,
There are currently as "product quality abnormal response provides" "error response occurs strapping" and other 20 kinds of operations manuals,
However, these manuals have one thing in common,
The provisions of the handbook is the last one is "Supplementary Provisions of this gist from December 1, 2008 implementation date."
Until the end of February this year, is responsible for manufacturing and out of the absence of outsourcing the management of the old employees to disclose
"As the production line took place last summer, too bad products,
Therefore, nikken in December before the overall industry produced these operations manual, there is no prior operating manual.
But the clean indoor operations manual up to now (point by the end of February 2009) also no "
(That is, until in December 2008. These outsourced employees, without any need to follow the operating procedures carried out under the production

Work)
Even if the outsourcing company operating in the absence of a formal manual under the situation of operation,
Canon can only shut up.
Canon Communications, said: "In the outsourcing contract, the outsourcing company to not outsourced production operations manual is the company's own thing
Canon In addition to quality and delivery time did not speak outside the room. "

◎ assistant in charge of a job is outsourced to 30-year-old female employee to disclose
"The most headache is the screws, sticker-like material (components), will always be good only to we have just the number of
Therefore, there is always a work site what material is not enough. "
But "even if the application to the Canon supplementary materials,
Answer must be defective 『do not have to find ways to utilize』. "
Been beaten down because of substandard products in, there are still available components,
They will break down and reuse.

Should there be a relatively large amount of bad product,
The reason is Canon to provide materials (components) there is a problem, or issue of outsourcing companies, when assembled,
The two sides to conduct meetings to determine who is ultimately responsible, if the wrong outsourcing company,
Outsourcing company must charge the cost of bad products, so their attitudes are tough.
"Both sides do not want to, so it is essentially parallel lines of such negotiations do not result,
Then how to do? It is clear to know the other side on the other side responsible for,
But there are some gray areas (not tell who is responsible?) Products, sometimes just let it passed. "
Because as long as it is passed, it is not bad products, there is no question of who should be responsible.

Canon delivered the bad public relations of the products increase the answer is: "
Each machine are different kinds of reasons, not dust, nor the Operator level.
Even a small problem is that we will be a responsible publication, rather than the recent increase in non-performing products, "

◎ the above problems occur, the most important reason is that Canon thorough cost management.
Leverage outsourcing company, results and create the scene became nowhere near enough information to convey the state.
Ironically, the choice in Japan, domestic production, the result will be more remote from the production site.
In the high-cost domestic production in Japan, but also override it works to maintain a high interest rate of Canon,
In the production system, whether there is unreasonable demand that place?
However, to determine the successive occurrence of adverse product problems, tell us there must be unusual problems.
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◎ ◎ ◎ --- Nikon chapter --- ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎
◎ the ancient capital of Ayutthaya in Thailand (Ayutthaya) about ten minutes to drive downtown area of the suburbs,
Representative of the export base in Thailand, one of the Luo Chana (ROJANA) industrial zone is located.
Honda, Hitachi, Panasonic and other 70 Japanese companies stationed in the factory where.
Nikon is responsible for manufacturing here in Thailand is also a subsidiary of Nikon.
Nikon DSLR, the exchange of the lens into the product by about 9 by the same factory in charge of production.
"D3" professional top-models are still Nikon Sendai plant in Japan,
But be exception.
In other words, Thailand Ayutthaya (Ayutthaya) is Nikon DSLR's main factory.

◎ factory covers an area of Thailand is the biggest camera assembly engineering,
To enter the factory must be put on the overalls clad body, and then wear a hat and mask.
Majority of manufacturing production lines, arranged in a row of women employees in accordance with shell, light-sensitive components, modules, circuit board assembly of the order of the camera.
2 liner for about 23 hours a day production time.
Although the pipeline, but do not use the conveyor belt, but by hand delivery.
Operation time, there are regular rest periods,
Then light will first play of the pop music, is 3 less than one minute song.
When the music began to rings, all the stoppage, with the cleaning work.
The hands holding a blue or pink swab cloth, wipe the lamp, table and then the ground,
With a different tune, changing the local wipe, then before going to bed.
This group of cleaning work to be done five times, two shifts a day is equal to do so 10 times cleaner.

◎ Nikon Thai employees from the plant by the end of February at the point of time there are about 10000 people,
Of which are members of about 8,000 people, others are sending their members,
The dispatch of members is to adjust the regulation of employment of the gate,
The busiest period of the dispatch was as high as 7,000 members,
However, since last fall due to diminished sales are now reduced to 2,000.
Japan has said there is no outsourcing staff.

◎ approximately 8,000 members of the Thai people are not just mere factory workers, and
Management is also Thai.
Each member is responsible for managing the command post is about 10-20 members of the Operator.
When the manufacturing site out of position, the need to immediately to resolve.
Compared to the Japanese outsourcing company that complex chain of command,
Here is a simple, clean too much.
Management level of the 76 people, 45 were Thai.
Are all long experienced in this work, staff,
Even the ministerial level also has three were Thai.
For example, in lens manufacturing department, commanding 2,300 men is a 36-year-old Thai director.
Nikon Thailand was established in 1991,
Work-years more than 10 years are members of about 800 people,
Staff mobility is low.
There are a lot of that has been hailed as Thailand's Chulalongkorn University, East large (Chulalongkorn University) Department of Mechanical Engineering background

Excellent technical staff.

◎ Japan Nikon members not only to Thailand to teach technology,
There are also reverse interaction,
When the new products began to research and development or starting phase,
It will send about 30 workers in Thailand to manufacture and production of professional models check the machine in Sendai, Japan Nikon training,
Residence time of 3 months to six months.
In addition to practice and is responsible for the assembly of new products on the latest technology,
The production site will also be reflected to the R & D department,
For example, the time allocated for a variety of assembly processes whether it is appropriate
The various components in the assembly to produce the position of the scene to see if reasonable, etc. reflect the views of the production site to the R & D department.

Because of this interaction, Nikon Thailand has also gradually grow strong
For example, when the production of the camera automatically adjusts the inspection machine or device, etc.
An important factor affecting the product quality device.
The past, these devices are all manufactured in Japan, Sendai Nikon, and then sent to Thailand to use.
But years of engineering graduates are now members are beginning to self-made.
Although mainly based on relatively simple devices, but such basic equipment manufacturing cameras,
Nikon Thailand about two described as self-made.

In order to retain production in Japan is also a symbol of the purpose of the site,
Nikon Sendai Nikon did not turn off the target.
However, with the Thai workers in Japan, a high degree of technical skills training and the accumulated experience into the process.
Sendai, Japan, or the past, need to hold hands walking Tochigi factory in Thailand plant
Are now gradually began to be able to work independently of the.

◎ people pieces of fees in Japan and China and other Asian countries than it would probably be close to 10 times.
Japan's manufacturing sector, basically all overseas production.
But for Nikon, is not the case.
Looking back at history, Nikon is a manufacture of munitions started,
Of World War I erupted,
Japanese military from Europe scheduling range finder, binoculars and other optical instruments difficult.
In 1917 by the Japanese Imperial Navy's requirements,
Mitsubishi zaibatsu Iwasaki Koyata founded the Japanese optical industry is now Nikon.
Therefore, Nikon has traditionally been the technological capabilities of pride,
Will see higher priority than cost performance.
Therefore, the main factories to move overseas,
Negative than its factories.

70 years in Taiwan, the establishment of Canon's first overseas production bases
Production began to disperse out of the camera overseas
But the Nikon in Thailand in 91 years to set up its first overseas factory,
And the first 10 years is only the general level of production lens.
At most as the main factory Mito, Japan, Sendai and other auxiliary plant Bale.
To really upgrade to the main factory plant in Thailand is only the 2,3-year thing.
D70 until the start of 2004 production in Thailand.
So far even the D300 high-level models are produced in Thailand.
Nikon Thailand in 2007 turnover has also expanded to eight times in 2000.

Nikon President Michio Kariya, CEO, said:
"Check the machine or automatically adjust the camera, etc. The basic equipment is manufactured by the Japanese sent over, and
Production of new products, but also from the Sendai sent to guide, together with Thai people are very serious, and Japan is no different from the production, "

"Thai people's loyalty high, surprising.
For example, in the same industrial area, such as Honda's salary is much higher
However, there are actually a lot of people in Thailand for many years Nikon Retention, there is no quit.
Let such a person to produce the Thai-made products, the quality difference is absolutely impossible. Even better than the Japanese system. "

"03-04 years, when, D2H, D70, etc. have taken place in non-performing products, as
But then almost no similar problems, and
In 2005 into the production plant in Thailand 履 歴 Management System (サ Bldg & Suites Ritz-リ Te ィ ー シ ス テ ム,
Each product when, where, that the production line that lot,
Even where the repaired, all can be found.
When a problem occurs when the quality of surface and immediately to reflect improvements to the production site.
And 80 years when I was in quality control departments compared to
Now the product during the warranty failure Correction rate has dropped to 1 / 10 of the.
Obviously Nikon product quality is improved. "

"No matter where the product is Made by Nikon is constant."

◎ ◎ ◎ --- concluding chapter --- ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎
Nikon President Michio Kariya, CEO in 2005 after he took office.
Introduced D40, D3, D300 and other models have been well received,
The world market share in 2006 from 38% in 2008 increased to 39.5%.
The first of the Canon in the same period fell 40.7% from 47.4%,
Substantial gap between the two plants closer.

70 era began overseas production of the Canon, in the sudden change in policy in 2005 return to Japan.
On the other hand, 91 years before they began to set up factories abroad, to 2003 with the DSLR until after the popularity of the promotion of overseas production in one breath

Nikon.
Two competitors to take the production system of strategy, can be said that comparison.

But the findings to the Canon of the exchange rate sensitivity (the impact of exchange rate changes on the performance degrees) than the other quite a lot of high-precision industry peers

.
When the yen 10 yen to the dollar exchange-rate appreciation, the company-wide operating profit will be reduced by how much?
Canon is to reduce the 56.9%
Nikon is to reduce by 18.2%
Olympus is to reduce the 28%
Ricoh is to reduce the 13%
(Data for Japan Morgan Securities survey results)

When the Japanese over USD 1 = 120 yen today's era of low-yen,
Domestic production in Japan, the Japanese export-oriented enterprises in terms of how much significance?
Japanese Morgan Securities analyst Hisashi Moriyama Road:
"Depreciation of the yen in 2005, in Japan, domestic production, the
R & D and production site is close, and logistics costs can be reduced and so can improve the efficiency of.
But 5,6 years, IT environments have well-developed,
R & D and production site of the physical distance than in the past have so much influence, and
The significance of manufacturing in Japan are increasingly no "

However, Canon also has more ambitious strategy,
Canon's goal is to close no automated factory.
Robots to produce as long as the establishment of a system, you can not care about human pieces of fees to set up factories.
Canon products demand in Japan and Europe and the United States and other advanced countries.
If we can set up factories in these parts costs Gaoren high consumption countries, the
Not only to reduce logistics costs and changes in demand can quickly counterparts.

Now Canon's Oita plant is in a transitional period towards automated factories,
But last year after the autumn of rapid yen appreciation,
Coupled with the informal end of last year due to staff reductions in the issue by Japan's domestic critics.
Towards the ideal that no one before the chemical has been poured cold water on.
People are also keenly aware of Japan's domestic production of products in the high threshold.

In the end of manufacturing in Japan is also sustained,
Canon has been exposed subject,
Right (still persist in the Japanese-made) Panasonic, Sharp is also common.
"Made in Japan" can be said to face unprecedented resistance.
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In order to pursue interests in product cost down a bit done in the first CANON
Even the flagship 1Ds series, there are problems with the quality of
Compared to Nikon were still own the production, actually has that quality of output, so that quality control
Canon actually higher than 20% profit margin
Take a look at the number of practitioners, Canon or Nikon full-time staff actually 1 / 3 of nothing .. really make a ruthless big
How worthy of support as many users of Canon



After reading this story

Take my advice is to

Canon to buy shares
Then buy a Nikon product