Inventory 庫存

多美麗的輕井澤之旅...

日本輕井澤想必你一定聽過,或許你已經去過或是想去的地方.回想服務的公司有始以來唯一的一次國外旅遊,也是公司營業狀況最好的時候.並且是營業額步步高昇的時後.那次的旅遊雖在秋天,但也是相當不錯的時候.泡湯活動及呼吸清晰的空氣另人振奮. 然而其中也另我想起一段往事...

產品的生產往往是需要時間,尤其IC元件需要更長,一般3-4個月的時間.公司做的產品,如果不是有一些重量級客戶,預估銷售將很難準確,往往憑藉著業務人員及老板的感覺去抓預估值.這將有什麼後果?運氣好的話,客戶如期消掉生產的貨物;不幸的話,將造成一堆庫存.如果此產品是很單純,成本便宜.就算是庫存,大不了不會構成太大的壓力.但是如果此產品單價高,那可慘了.不僅原先賺的利潤全部泡湯,留下的更是難處理了.就算要便宜銷售,一點都沒機會.因為時效性及市場已都不在.而且如果產品並不是一般消費者必須品的話,那更慘的.當時公司到日本旅遊時,老闆在進日本關時,連絡台灣的客戶後,認為可以追加生產預估量.身為業務負責的我,只好屈就下通知生產單位,增加該產品量.然而3-4個月後,發現市場需求及產品不對時,已嚴重造成呆滯庫存.我也難逃負責的去面對問題的責任.

回想到此一段快樂的旅遊帶來的後遺症,人往往無法記取教訓,如果公司的系統未完成建立,可想而知,問題依然存在的.面對問題的處理態度才是應該去建立及學習的.沒有一百分的解決方案,只有將公司受傷的程度降到最低,才是主事者應該考慮到的.

輕井澤是日本皇室避暑勝地,玩過後仍然希望有機會再去一遊呢.

戰車出入口

如果每個人都這樣做...

"請你跟我這樣做" 是大家耳熟能詳的團康活動,想必你一定有此經驗.有一次去旅遊,路上突然看到此景.不禁請人拿取手機相機,拍下做紀念.每個人對此,勢必有不同的注解:

1.反正避免人家擋路,非給我讓出空間不可
2.我的車是霸王車喔,小心被我咖..
3.此主人勢必氣急敗壞,曾被擋過.故用此招
4.還有什麼可抵擋戰車出入呢?迫擊炮,手榴彈?
...

你有更妙的想法嗎? 如果此地的鄰居各各模仿,恐將出現"軍營區"例如:

"將軍駐所請肅靜", "軍事重地停車檢查", "地雷區走路小心", "內有軍犬請敬禮", ..., 不知是否地名會改成"大衛營"否...

Sunset 夕陽

你能想像工作以來(10-20年),下班時從未看過夕陽的日子嗎?

When you are an IT people, Sales, marketing, and RD. You must have the same experience. I am one of them. The feeling is to push me to cherish the sunset during the weekend. Espeically, when I am the seaside or country side. Sometimes, I just confuse why I had to work so hard at such way? What I can get during those years? I have to pay tax almost 1/4 salery had to pay to government. When your pay getting high, you have to pay out more. It is nonsense if we can't get much achievement.

What is the major faith for me to contunie work at this way. It is determination and enthusiasm. When you have a goal in your mind, you will move it go there. That is why I can move alwasy, and I won't want to be defeated by any frustration. When I got the frustrate, I always consult my good friends, customers. I have some customers to be my good friends during these years. When I upset on my daily job, I always consult them to get a positive recommendation. When I arrived the goal in my mind, I re-set a goal and do the best to move on. No one can help you, if you can't impove yourself.

當我回首這些日子以來,這樣做並非非常值得. 也就是說需多一點思考,否則事業,健康,家庭,樣樣失.

計程車 V.S. 私家轎車

是開玩笑還是真的?
上月到中部旅遊,路上發現一輛高掛計程車牌的轎車.當然從車牌照號碼看是屬於普通私家轎車.
不知路人招手時,它是否會停車並載客?

每當在路上開車時,便會注意路上往來車輛車牌照號碼.如果看到8888時,心情不禁舒服.但如果看到4444時不知心情會怎樣? 8888也許標價高達上萬,那嗎4444是否不需加價,甚至倒貼呢?(聽說監理所沒出此號碼)可見上路前選好牌照號碼是一定要的啦.

生活中有酸.甜.苦.鹹.樣樣不缺,如何去享受,因人而異.
只期待多用點心去體會,必定可以享受你從未得到的樂趣的.

追逐日光 (Chasing Daylight) 一書的啟示

上個月看了一本"追逐日光"(Chasing Daylight)的書,書是KPMG的前董事長暨首席執行官 尤金·奧凱利(Eugene O’Kelly)於2005五月發現腦癌只剩四個月不到的生命時所完成.敘訴他如何在短時間內完成他未完成的事及如何面對死亡的態度.實在令人佩服.書中他的太太 康妮·奧凱利(Coney O’Kelly)的描述:雖然他留下我孤單一人在球場上追尋著陽光，但他早已幫我把球放在了球座上，靜待我打出好球。如此樂觀的看待其丈夫過世的事實,足見她們覵碟勤情深,也顯示尤金在世時做事情考慮的周詳及完整.

寫到此,耳邊正聽著 江蕙的"紅線"歌曲,不經潸然淚下.淚下原因是心情五味雜陳,人生在世,事事無常,只有把握現在才是最真實的.一個人能做的非常有限,不管你是天才或白痴,最終蓋棺論定.反倒是多用點心思在經營自己的生活及讓週邊的親人及朋友愉快還比較實在.也因此影響我成立此部落格,書寫下相關經驗的感想,享受其中的樂趣及把握現在所擁有的.

隨時保有赤子之心,每當自己心情不好或低潮時,便會不自主的想到尤金·奧凱利的故事.最大的影響還是"面對事情的態度".自然每當事過境遷,就不需要怨嘆別人或環境了.

你呢?

部落格

在參閱其他人的網站時,發現許多人都有照片來輔助,以做為吸引一般人流覽.大部份的人每到一網站能停留的時間確實非常短暫,若沒有顯耀的篇幅,則不可能讓人停留太久的.

我把網站部落格當成自己在生活上及工作上心得,書寫出來.一則做為個人這些年來的反省及整理沈思. 在檢視自己的過程中,檢討自己的所作所為,到底哪裡的問題或哪裡做的不好,是否有更好的方案及改進的空間.既有的心得,不怕被笑,該分享就分享.個人心中就只有期待別人能因此更好,那嘛自己也就特別高興了.

一個公司內部有很多種人,一是做事又能言善道及人際關係良好,此種人多半能達成預期目標,且積極的態度得以成大器,在公司得到上司重用及賞識,終就將掌大權.另一類是賣力做事,每件事可以在預期目標中達成.但畢竟缺少向上溝通的能力及手腕.到頭來只能按部就班,無法擔任重責.此種人也只能默默的承受,乾吃冰淇淋,其心境可想而知,大環境不好時,首當其衝,第一個面臨被淘汰的命運.所以平時做點公關及修練一些溝通技巧,和說話技巧一定是有幫助的.

你希望當哪一種人呢?社會大學永遠有學不完的學問,只有你最清楚,加油吧!!

Develop V.S. Trade Product

I met a friend who is sourcing the consumer product from the market. The difference is that they combined more than one product to a set. They plan to sell on the web and the market with their brand series. The profit margin is more than 30%for a set. At this case, I got some clue.

Most of us develop a product focus on single function or specific purpose. We emphasize the single function or specific advantage to competitors. We never consider the application or user's behavior to combine other devices. The difficultly for the promotion is user has to integrate what they want components or parts with the product. Or we develop the product embedded more function in the product. Users can play it as easily. But, it is not easy for today's market. Time to market is important, we develop a new product takes time and risk. Competition is getting complicate since technology is getting mature. Therefore, who will be the winner in the market? The ID housing design, brand name or the advance technology will be. How is easy to have the opportunity for a small or middle company if they didn't have big channel or key player support. Who can quickly source the perfect product from the market and combine it for users? Who can provide the one stop shopping? Then, he will be the winner.

My friend can provide those combination to integrate with different source product together. They provide the convenience to users in the market. The really value is not the cost, but they can keep the latest technology and unit service to users. The product compatibility and functionality is not an issue. Service or maintenance is not an issue as long as they can keep good relationship with the product suppliers. There is also disadvantage, such as they only can keep on niche market. You have no opportunity to sell into main stream market or customers. However, if the company doesn't take much fixed expense, they can survive at all.

I would like to see more progress for my friend's company, since they know what is user wants. On the other hand, the product developer, they only can know sell the unique product with the single function, they never know how to combine with other different product together. I suppose they don't want to, even they know it.

Attractive System

I have a friend, he founded the company for more than 15 years. Most of the employee came from software technical background. The founders are professors with their students in the same college.

They develop the web based authorizing tool. Users can develop their fantastic web site. The company got government project every years. But, the business still keep in small without much progress.

The friend has many elder retire people friends who can provide experience to him. Those elder people are the other field company board members before. They know much much succeed experience and vision. According to their comments, my friend company has the big problem on "system". The company didn't create a system which can provide the company efficiency.

A good system must provide the finance, sales, production, and developing with efficiency supply chain. The communication between the departments are very important. How to avoid the bottleneck for the system, there are some indicators:
1. specific company goal
2. the company culture
3. a training practical
4. planning and execution
5. risk control capability
6. performance review and reward policy
7. an absorbed and persisted enthusiasm

Maybe the friend didn't find the suitable way to improve.But, he has the item 7 attitude, and focus on the target business. I believe that they will be getting better finally.

Profit and Competition

Profit is the major purpose for a company. Most of people must know the concept. Cost is always the enemy for the profit. If you can't cut the cost (operation, personnel, material, etc), there is little profit at all, even got lost.

Service is the major profit source for a company. The service covers different types, such as technology, product, labor, sub-contract, and so on. How a company has profit? It depends on the service competition. The more competition in the market, the much more profit will be. Whatever they did, the major purpose is to get the profit from the activities.

Define a good service or product is much more complicate. For an advanced company, such Apple did, they are a creator. The type of company create the new feature and business model for market. They are pioneer and depends on the users' need.

The other type of companies focus on better quality on service (such as customization for users), provide efficiency business model for users. But part of companies, they are followers. They still can get the profit, due to they can develop a cost-effective product or service. They follow the market leader, improve the product function or spec, and get an attractive cost to get much profit from the market. There are also many companies just use the cheap solution or fake functionality deprive the normal product market share.

Bad money drives out good money. This is popular in the consumer market. Most of product life cycle is very short from three to six months.

It will be important, if you can provide the competition and differential service or product to users. You will win the customers from the market.

Process and Culture for Management

A start up company or organization always came from founders with few major followers, or a project team leader with his team members. The advantage for the organization is moving fast, i.e. every activity can be adjusted by task purpose. The task will depend on the project, product, technology, or customer's priority.

I didn't deny such as model of operation, since it is the best efficiency for any task. I joined two start up companies after left school. The most impression is I worked with boss for customer project more than 16 hours a day frequently. We had no specific process for every day's activities. We quickly to solve customer's issue without any more process. Since we focus on the customers' issue, and take back the money from the customer. It works fine for few people company with no operation problem.

When the company is growth up to more than 50 people or 100 people. The communication is getting problem. The condition will be worse if the boss with much hands on intention. Since he can't trust others can make the task smoothly. He became a bottleneck for more and more task. It is hardly to find a best way to help the situation. Most of condition is to set up a "better" process to improve the condition.

Process, is a very easy "word". It looks not much difficult. From my personal view, it is a very big job and task to define it. The most important is "culture" in the company. People is the major for an organization. Unless people, there is no any company or organization can commit to their customer. Therefore, "Process" will relate to "People". "People" is a group of person with the same interesting, hobbit or mission plan to move to the "Goal". The company culture will help people to move to the goal, since they treat it as personal important to do. What I emphasize is the process and culture relationship.

Unfortunately, most of company, even it is more than 10 years still take the effort to improve or fine tune the process. Why? The major issue is the CEO or key man change. I didn't say it is bad. The issue is how much effort have to take with new process change? How much impact from the change? And how much benefit will be? My most of experience the process change is fail due to the company top boss can't have passion. And he always won't give up to have a new process change policy.

I will write down more about the topic and share to you as long as you are interesting.

An Interesting Path for a Company

I work for IC design house for more than 10 years. During the 10 years, I enjoyed the life from a company start up, growth, down, and how to recovery from the worst season. We enjoyed the company at record high sales revenue and upside down during the economic depressing.

There is a interesting path for the company operation. The first stage is growth period. The company came from start up at 1998, there was only few people. Everyone focused on the product developing. There was no any sales revenue for the first year, there was only one NRE fee from a customer ASIC. But, the feeling was very well, since small size company and few people worked together, all of us were such as a family. When the product released, it was hot issue for product testing and smell the right channel, partner and agents for the product sale. The product chip cost was around $0.5, but we sold at more than $10. It was really high profit. The key point was at "right application", "few competitors" and "Niche Market".

The second stage for the company, we considered to develop the more and more product for next generation. And company IPO for the public stock market. We start the plan for more product with more engineers resource. Become a more and more human resource and "project", not a "complete product" during the stage. It took for around 5-6 years operation. It was the peak sales and the peak human resource cost. It became a a risk starting for a company.

The Third stage, the company stat to recur more and more consultant for the operation. The major issue was the company didn't alter the RD engineers management was important. For an IC design house, RD developing capability and product spec is top important. Product release schedule is very important, otherwise, competitors will jump into the market quickly. Therefore, the market will be getting bloody and impact the selling price. Of course, profit would be an issue at that time. How to cover the company expense got into very tough.

The fourth stage, company revenue was going down. We start to cost down, included to frozen the new product developing, and cut down the human resource, and expense... What would be the impact, there was no new product be announced, and no more sales resource. Of course, there won't be no more profit to cover the expense, even we start to layoff people.

The fifth stage, we faced the world wide economic going down from 2008. Every company start to impact if they were not strong enough. We are lucky, though we don't have new product, but we control the cost up to balance. Hopefully, the sales revenue didn't improve much, but profit can cover the cost. The most important is we keep the cash on hand, and didn't much investment others business. We survive and start to recur the new team to change company operation flow again. We hope to have opportunity to going to second growth after the fine tune operation flow.

Up to now, the company had been took more than 10-11 years. I would like to share experience from my Blog and record those stuff what I did. I hope to share personal opinion for my friends or you. It is a long stage for me. During the period, there are many times of opportunity that I missed. It will help me to think about what is the next step to me?

At Start

This is the first time to me to create the blog in my life.

A-Life means a simple life. It is starting to become a brief concept and experience. We always thank you the people who help you today, and look for new comers in coming day. The most important is to appreciate people.

A-life is the easy way to keep the life easy.