Rebirth Tokyo 1986

Chapter 206 More Professional
"Yes, it is Jianlibao. This sports drink has achieved very good results in China."

"If we can acquire a stake in this company, we will have a foothold in China."

After the two giants Pepsi and Coca-Cola entered China, they both acquired various soda factories.

Matsumoto's beverage subsidiary naturally also needs similar protection.

Jianlibao is a very good choice.

Although the company started from a low point, it has embarked on the right development path thanks to Li Jingwei's excellent marketing.

In 1986, the company had a revenue of 1.3 million yuan, and this year it is expected to have a revenue of 3 million yuan.

"Is it possible that people wouldn't agree to develop such a good company?"

Kobayashi Hiroaki looked at his own president and responded cautiously.

"Indeed. But it doesn't matter, we can get acquainted first."

"When this company reaches a bottleneck, or wants to form a joint venture, won't that be our opportunity?"

Now that Jianlibao is thriving, neither Li Jingwei himself nor the government behind him may have any intention of establishing a joint venture.

The future will be different.

In the future, Li Jingwei will think of shares, and the government behind him will think of the performance of attracting investment.

There is a high probability that Matsumoto Manufacturing will gain dominance over Jianlibao.

"Understood. I will immediately arrange for someone to visit."

Matsumoto Manufacturing is now a global company in its heyday, so there is no need to send out the company's CEO at the beginning.

This involves the issue of the company's status.

If the president of Matsumoto Manufacturing is too agreeable, he will lose a lot before the negotiations.

"Yes. In addition to Jianlibao, the company also needs to pay attention to other beverage companies."

“Once you have the opportunity to take over, don’t let it go.”

Beibingyang in Beijing, Asia in Guangzhou, and Zhengguanghe in Shanghai are all excellent regional brands.

If Matsumoto Manufacturing can be won, then at least its development in some regions can be guaranteed.

This matter is also beneficial to China.

Matsumoto Manufacturing is a newcomer in the beverage market and naturally will not learn the hidden brand strategy of the two Cokes.

China's beverage brands can be preserved and the government can make more profits.

After arranging the relevant policies for Matsumoto Manufacturing, Masato Takeshita came to Xinghai Semiconductor again.

The main reason he came this time was to find out about the development progress of the gaming motherboard.

The current game motherboard of Star Ocean Game was purchased from Sega.

The product quality is very good, but it still doesn't meet the requirements of using "Street Fighter 2".

Xinghai Games is eager to have a higher quality gaming motherboard.

In response to Masato Takeshita's question, Kazuto Inoue, the person in charge of the game motherboard development, spoke frankly.

"The development of the gaming motherboard went smoothly, but the cost was too high. Even if we mass-produced it, the price would still be as high as $3000."

"According to Moore's Law, it would be more appropriate for us to wait another year for production."

The young man nodded thoughtfully.

"Is that so? Then it would be more appropriate to wait a year."

The current best price for a new arcade machine is between $2500 and $3500.

If a motherboard costs $3000, the company is not making any profit.

It is better to wait and see until the price of semiconductor components drops.

This gives us more time to balance the various characters in Street Fighter 2.

Then Takeshita Masato asked: "What about the current situation of our company's computer motherboards?"

Inoue Kazuto said with a bit of shame: "Sorry! I'm not sure, the Minister should be more familiar with it."

"Well, then please call Minister Miyazawa for me."

"Hi!"

Soon, Heiichi Miyazawa, the head of the peripheral hardware department of Xinghai Semiconductor, came briskly to the president's office.

"Sit down, what would you like to drink?"

Without waiting for Miyazawa Ping to speak, Masato Takeshita took the initiative to gesture to the middle-aged man in front of him to sit on the sofa.

"Tea, black tea."

What the leader likes, the subordinates will learn.

Masato Takeshita likes to drink black tea, and gradually the entire company began to prefer drinking black tea, which almost became the company's exclusive drink.

"Yes, please."

Masato Takeshita expertly filled his glass halfway, then asked directly, "I came to you this time to find out how the company's computer motherboard business is developing."

So this is what you are asking.

Miyazawa Heiichi felt relieved immediately, and answered with a proud tone.

"The company's computer motherboard business is developing very smoothly, with annual sales exceeding 50 units."

"Not only does it have a very good reputation in the spare parts market, it has also entered companies such as NEC and Fujitsu."

In today's world, annual computer sales are only a few million units.

Xinghai Semiconductor has achieved such results not long after establishing its motherboard business, which is indeed something to be proud of.

"Great, have you tried to enter the American market?"

"We are currently trying to contact IBM, but the progress is not ideal."

In the 20th century, IBM was the white moonlight in the hearts of computer users around the world.

If a manufacturer can gain a foothold in IBM computers, the whole world will look up to you.

It is somewhat similar to the Apple chain manufacturers after 2010, which have their own brand effect.

"Well, IBM is very cool. Let's try another computer manufacturer first."

"The company also has arrangements in this regard, and it may take some time."

"Well, it's fine."

Xinghai Semiconductor's computer motherboards are pretty good, but they are not high quality and low price, and there is no brand effect.

If you want to enter the US market, you need a certain opportunity.

But it doesn’t matter, Xinghai Semiconductor has sufficient funds to carry out targeted research and development.

If the first generation fails, then the second generation will succeed. If the second generation fails, then the third generation will succeed.

In 5 years, we can definitely achieve world-class quality while also making our prices cheaper.

When talking about the future of computer motherboards, Miyazawa Heiichi couldn't help but ask tentatively.

"Um, President. Do our computer motherboards really not need a shelf life of more than 10 years?"

The middle-aged man in front of me still hasn't turned that corner. He always thinks that the reason why the product failed to enter the US market is a quality issue.

Masato Takeshita had a serious expression and his body leaned forward slightly.

"unnecessary."

"Remember. We're targeting PCs."

"The PC industry changes very quickly, and you basically need to buy a new one every few years."

"It's enough to guarantee that it won't break down for five years."

There is no need to make personal computers too good, which will only increase costs.

A $4000 computer lasts 10 years.

Use a $2500 computer for 5 years, then buy a new $2500 computer and use it for another 5 years.

Most people would choose the latter.

"Hi!"

Miyazawa Heiichi still didn't figure it out, but he was no longer ready to think about it.

This is also a distinctive feature of Japanese employees.

Except for rare cases of rebellion, most of the time, work is completed in strict accordance with the instructions of superiors.

Even if you don't understand, you still have to follow it respectfully.

After visiting all the chip hardware departments, wafer foundry naturally cannot be left out.

This is Xinghai Semiconductor's second largest department after the disaster emergency radio department, with currently more than 2600 employees.

As for its importance, it ranks second only to the chip design department within Xinghai Semiconductor. "Xiaochi-san, is everything going well? Can the three new wafer fabs be put into production in 90?"

Xinghai OEM must take advantage of the momentum of Microsoft Windows 90 in 3.0.

This is the only way to make more money while suppressing TSMC's development.

In the wafer foundry industry, only the number one can live a very comfortable life.

The second place winner can only drink soup.

As for the third place and above, all they can earn is hard-earned money.

Xinghai OEM must become the number one.

Whether it is seizing the initiative now or investing in the lithography machine industry before, they are all means to achieve the first place in wafer foundry.

In its past, TSMC was able to defeat its competitor UMC in the same field thanks to its leading lithography technology.

As for its subsequent victory over Samsung and Intel, it was a natural progression.

Because neither of them is a professional wafer foundry company.

Only after problems arise do we think about transformation.

But many internal problems cannot be changed just because you want to transform.

Only companies that bet on wafer foundry from the beginning will have the opportunity to go further.

Unless the entire company undergoes a major overhaul and completely moves towards the wafer foundry route.

This is what UMC did at the beginning.

With a heroic attitude, it abandoned the more profitable chip design department and devoted itself fully to the wafer foundry industry.

Unfortunately, neither Samsung nor Intel can do this.

Compared with wafer foundry, chip design is more profitable and is the foundation of the company's development.

Junyoshi Koike is full of energy and vigor.

"Yes, everything went well."

"The earliest it can be put into production is the second half of next year, and the latest construction can be completed by the middle of 90."

"Hitachi City welcomes our investment and expansion and provides a lot of support."

In order to keep Xinghai's outsourcing in the local area, Hitachi City has introduced a series of preferential policies.

They even deliberately blew up several mountains and built several reservoirs to ensure the water safety of the wafer factory.

In other words, Japan is relatively wealthy now, so the local government can be so bold.

In the 90s, even if Hitachi City wanted to do this, it would be powerless.

"That's normal. Most of the domestic chip manufacturing industry has moved to Kyushu. We are the only one in Hitachi City."

"If Hitachi loses us again, it may lose its chance of becoming a semiconductor manufacturer altogether."

Masato Takeshita was able to acquire the wafer factory in Hitachi City because of the general trend of semiconductors moving to the Kyushu region.

Compared to the Kyushu region, the crust in Kanto, where Hitachi City is located, is very unstable.

This instability will add a lot of unnecessary costs to the wafer fab.

Xinghai's outsourcing will also be transferred in the future, but that will be after the 21st century.

In the current 6-inch era, and the 8-inch era that will come soon, young people are not ready to leave for the time being.

Because even if Xinghai OEM moves to Jiuzhou now, it will not be taken seriously by the local government, so it is better for it to stay where it is.

"Yes, the president is right."

Masato Takeshita shook his head and said helplessly, "How come you have learned to flatter others, and you are so stiff at the same time?"

Matsumoto Manufacturing's market value of more than 200 billion US dollars has not only impacted the outside world, but also the internal structure of Xinghai Group.

Everyone knew before that the chairman was very rich, but since the company was not listed, there was not much real sense of it.

It’s different now, we are facing super-rich people with assets worth tens of billions.

Everyone became more reserved, and even those who didn't know how to flatter started to learn how to flatter.

"Uh, hehe."

Atsushi Koike was embarrassed, but didn't know how to respond.

Takeshita Masato frowned, sighed slightly and said, "Forget it, don't do this again in the future."

Then he quickly changed the subject and asked, "Are all the company's lithography equipment purchased from Nikon?"

“Only 12 units have been booked so far, and the rest are still on hold.”

1988 was a bad year for photolithography machines.

So far, no company has purchased it except Xinghai OEM.

It can be said that most lithography machine manufacturers are losing all their money.

This is also a major factor why China is not developing the lithography machine industry for the time being.

If the products cannot be sold after production, it is better to invest in more effective industries such as steel, automobiles, and machinery manufacturing.

As for China spending a lot of foreign exchange to buy luxury goods such as cars, it is completely a rumor.

China does spend a lot of foreign exchange on buying vehicles, but most of them are large trucks for transportation.

These trucks have made a great contribution to China's economic development.

The small number of cars are mostly concentrated in departments with strong demand, such as diplomacy.

You can't have foreign guests coming and leave them without a car to ride in.

As for why we don’t use domestic cars, there is nothing we can do.

Although China had its first car in 56, the product was very backward.

Until the early 80s, there was only one practical vehicle, and its various modifications.

But even so, it's a mess.

The flagship car Hongqi has so many quality problems that it is impossible to ride.

Not to mention other cars.

In desperation, we can only choose to import.

"Go ask Nikon if they can sell us the same level of lithography technology as Canon."

"If you sell it to us, all the lithography machine orders for the next five years can be given to Nikon."

The manufacturers of lithography machines are all living in dire straits, so naturally they want to take advantage of the situation.

China's most advanced lithography technology is only at the level of the United States in 79, far behind the world.

"We, the photolithography machine?"

"Well, then, use this technology to directly invest in the lithography company I just established."

Photolithography machine manufacturers urgently need the support of wafer factories.

This is especially true for lithography machine manufacturers with backward technology.

There is no way. Apart from our own company, other companies will not buy it.

ASML is a typical example.

Although Philips is a very despicable company, it sincerely supports your development.

When ASML was about to die, it was able to come back to life thanks to orders from Philips.

In addition to providing Xinghai Semiconductor Manufacturing Company with a backer, Masato Takeshita is also considering the future of Xinghai's foundry business.

Lithography machine manufacturers need the support of wafer fabs, and wafer fabs also need the support of lithography machine manufacturers.

Later, TSMC, Samsung, and Intel defeated Japanese semiconductor companies, which was also due to factors related to lithography machines.

Before the 21st century, there were differences between different companies' lithography machines, but the gaps were not big.

I can't buy Nikon's most advanced lithography machine, but the slightly backward ASML lithography machine will do.

Things are different after the 21st century.

ASML was the first to develop a water refraction technology lithography machine, breaking through the bottleneck of light source.

This is a unique business that Nikon simply cannot do. From then on, ASML and Nikon have had a huge gap.

Companies such as Samsung, TSMC, and Intel are all ASML shareholders and can obtain equipment produced by ASML first.

Japanese semiconductor companies are being besieged by semiconductor forces, mainly from the United States.

If you cannot buy ASML shares, you will not be able to purchase related equipment in the first place.

One step behind, every step behind.

Japanese semiconductor companies naturally gradually declined.

(End of this chapter)