• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.65-81
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• 2004

Foreign direct investment (FDI) by firms has various motives in terms of the strategy for firms' long-term growth. This research uses the case study of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama to analyze the motives of the Korean auto industry's FDI in the U.S. and the locational factors that determined the selection of the site. This paper starts from the question of why Hyundai made the decision to invest in the U.S., which is not favorable in terms of production cost, especially considering that its exports to the U.S. have been on the increase. The results indicate that the strongest motive for the decision to invest in the U.S. was to ameliorate the trade friction between Korea and the U.S. Given that Hyundai depends on the U.S. market to a large extent for its exports, the foremost motive was to use local production in order to reduce the serious trade imbalance in the automobile sector between Korea and the U.S. in order that trade friction with the U.S. may be avoided and causes for trade disputes may be reduced. Other motives such as improving the access to local consumers were of secondary importance. After the selection of the country in which to invest, however, various factors were considered in the decision regarding the location of the plant, and incentives by local governments ultimately played a key role in this decision. The results imply that the Korean manufacturing industry's investment in the U.S. cannot be explained by traditional FDI theories and instead was greatly driven by a strategic defensive motive. In addition, the results confirm that the design of an appropriate incentive structure by host governments is important for attracting FDI.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.159-177
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• 1993

One of major research issues in cellular manufacturing is studing factors that are fovorable or detrimental to the conversion of traditional functional layouts to GT cellular layouts. Among many factors, this paper explored plausible relationships between the scope of plant conversion and the manufacturing cell design processes and outcomes. The cell design practices of 28 U. S. plants were surveyed through a mail questionaire. While most relationships were not statistically significant, some interesting findings and insights could be drawn. With this researhc, we can better understand a part of relationships between the company's conversion strategy and the cell design strategies and outcomes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.625-626
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• 2006

Nowadays, the increasing global competition forces manufacturing enterprises to apply new technologies method of their products. To save time and cost in assembly process and to increase the quality of products, it is very important to choose an optimal assembly system. We propose a methodology that generates an optimal assembly system by using the Digital manufacturing.

• Proceedings of the Korean Ceranic Society Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.193.2-193
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• 2003

• 기계와재료
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• v.9 no.4 s.34
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• pp.62-71
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• 1997

• The Magazine of the IEIE
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.32-38
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• 2011

• CDE review
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.24-37
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• 2013

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Industrial Systems Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.259-269
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• 2006

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.19-65
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• 2000

This study analyzes the development of technological infrastructure(TI) and technological infrastructure policy(TIP) to enhance the technological capabilities of small and mid-sized manufacturing enterprises(SMEs) in the U.S. and Korea in terms of the technological system(TS) concept, which is composed of technological infrastructure, industrial organization, and institutional infrastructure. In order to analyze the internal dynamics of the system, such as incentive mechanisms, the interaction among economic actors, and the policy implementation process, we compare the MEP(Manufacturing Extension Partnership) system of the U.S. and the Joong-Jin-Gong system of Korea. Among many similarities, contrasts, and insights from each country's effort to construct TI and TS, the main findings are as follows. (1) Both the MEP system and the Joong-Jin-Cong system are TI-led or government-led type TS. However, the nation-wide picture is different: in the U.S., most TSs including the MEP system., are classified as TI-led type; in Korea, many TI-assisted or private sector-led TSs have been developed since the early 1960s. (2) the MEP system, as a representative case of the U.S., is less stable than the Joong-Jin-Gong system of Korea in terms of financing and political cycle. (3) The MEP system is a more complex and cooperative network than the Joong-Jin-Gong system. NIST, as a critical mass, generates the system, bridges various institutions, and influences the development of the system by providing funding. (4) Regarding TI components, TSs in both countries focus on utilizing off-the-shelf technologies rather than advanced technologies. However, the direction of movement is different: in the U.S., TSs have come to emphasize existing technologies to counterbalance an innovation system that has been highly focused toward new technologies; in Korea, TSs have been moving from focusing on a higher diffusion rate of imported process technologies to stressing new technology development. (5) Personnel and staffing, embodying technological capability, is an important concern in both countries. But the human capital infrastructure of the U.S. system is more efficient and industry-oriented than that of the Korean system due to a more flexible labor market. (6) While the U.S. has a strong tradition of state and local autonomy in constructing TI and TS to fit SMEs's specific need, Korea has a centralized and bureaucratically-led policy implementation process.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.89-104
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• 2006

Though weight manufacturing has in national gross production is decreasing, it has still a decisive role in economic growth of Korea, and foreign competitiveness of manufacturing has a great influence on our whole economy. Therefore, as this study speculates export competitiveness of manufacturing item by item, the results can be used for selection of strategic export-oriented products. The results of the analysis are summarized as follows: first, products that are found as competitive through analysis of trade specialization indexes are plastic, rubber, fabric, home electronic appliances, computers, communication equipment, automobiles and their spare parts. Second, electronic-electric industry such as semi-conduits, communication equipment, home electronics, computers was decided as advantageous through analysis of comparative advantages at present, while paper, print and publishing, and leather industries were classified as comparatively disadvantageous. Its political implications are presented as follows: Private corporations should develop more advanced technology and government should give more support to secure export competitiveness of manufacturing toward America. Governmental policies should be prepared to induce consistent and daring investment to technology-intensive products for export products with high-added value.