Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd. 20192019 Annualannual Reportreport

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd. 20192019 Annualannual Reportreport Stock Code:2421 Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd. 20192019 AnnualAnnual ReportReport Printed on April 21, 2020 Company Website : http://www.sunon.com Taiwan Stock Exchange Market Observation Post System: http://mops.twse.com.tw I. Name, job title, contact phone number and email of the Company's spokesperson and acting spokesperson Spokesperson: William Li Title: Vice President Tel: (07)8135888 Email: [email protected] Acting Spokesperson: Ling-Wen Huang Title: Special Assistant, Secretariat of the Board Tel: (07)8135888 Email: [email protected] II. Addresses and telephone numbers of the head office, branch offices, and factories. Head Office: No. 30, Ln. 296, Xinya Rd., Qianzhen Dist., Kaohsiung City 806, Taiwan(R.O.C.) Tel: (07)8135888 Taipei Office: 4F., No. 356, Sec. 1, Neihu Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 114, Taiwan (R.O.C.) Tel: (02)27992383 Kunshan Plant: NO.168 Nanbang Road Kunshan , Jiangsu ,China Tel: +86-512-57700108 Foshan Plant: NO.5 Xianan 2Road Pingzhou, Nanhai District Foshan City, Guangdong Tel: +86-757-88390388 Beihai Plant: Zone B6,Beihai Integrated Free Trade Zone Beihai Avenue West Beihai City Guangxi China Tel: +86-779-6666888 III. Name, address, website, and telephone number of stock transfer agent Grand Fortune Securities Co., Ltd. Stock Transfer Agent Address: 6F., No. 6, Sec. 1, Zhongxiao W. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan (R.O.C.) Tel: (02) 2371-1658 (Stock Transfer Department mainline) Website: www.gfortune.com.tw IV. Names of certified accountants, address, website, and telephone number of the accounting firm auditing the Company's latest financial report in the most recent year CPAs: Ching-Lin Li, Shu-Man Tsai Name of firm: Crowe (TW) CPAs Address: 27F.-1, No. 6, Siwei 3rd Rd., Lingya Dist., Kaohsiung City 802, Taiwan Tel: (07)3312133 Website: www.crowe.tw V. Overseas securities listing exchange and information:None VI. Company website http://www.sunon.com Table of Contents A. Letter to Shareholders -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 B. Company Profile -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 I. Date of establishment ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 II. Company history ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 C. Corporate Governance Report ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 I. Organization system ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 II. Profile of Directors, Supervisors, President, Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, and Department Directors ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 III. Remunerations to Directors, Supervisors, President, and Vice Presidents in recent years ---- 21 IV. Implementation of corporate governance ------------------------------------------------------------ 30 V. Information on fees to CPA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 57 VI. Information on Replacement of CPAs ---------------------------------------------------------------- 58 VII. The Chairman, President and Financial or Accounting Managerial Officer of the Company who had worked for the Independent CPA or the affiliate in the past year ---------------------- 58 VIII. Share transfer by Directors, Supervisors, Managerial Officers, and shareholders holding more than 10% interests and changes to share pledging by them --------------------------------- 59 IX. Information on the relationship between any of the top ten shareholders (related party, spouse, or kinship within the second degree) -------------------------------------------------------- 61 X. The shareholding of the Company, Director, Supervisor, Managerial Officers and an enterprise that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company in the invested company and the calculation of the consolidated shareholding percentage --------------------------------- 63 D. Funding Status ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 64 I. Source of Capital Shares ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 64 II. Shareholders --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 66 III. Shareholding distribution status ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 67 IV. List of major shareholders ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 67 V. Market price per share, net worth, earnings, dividends, and the related information for the last two years --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 68 VI. Dividend policy and implementation status --------------------------------------------------------- 70 VII. The effects of the stock dividends proposed by the shareholders' meeting on the Company's business performances and earnings per share ------------------------------------------------------ 70 VIII. Remuneration of employees, directors and supervisors -------------------------------------------- 70 IX. Buyback of treasury stock ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 71 X. Corporate bond issuance status ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 71 XI. Issuance of preferred stocks ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 71 XII. Issuance of global depositary receipts (GDR) ------------------------------------------------------- 71 XIII. Exercise of employee stock option plan (ESOP) ---------------------------------------------------- 71 XIV. Restricted stock awards --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 71 XV. Mergers, acquisitions or issuance of new shares for acquisition of shares of other companies ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 71 XVI. Implementation of capital allocation plan ------------------------------------------------------------ 71 E. Business Overview ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 72 I. Business activities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 72 II. Market, production and sales ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 78 III. Employee information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 85 IV. Environmental protection expenditure information ------------------------------------------------ 85 V. Employees-employer relations ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 86 VI. Important contracts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 86 F. Financial Overview ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 87 I. Condensed balance sheet and statement of income for the last five years ----------------------- 87 II. Financial analysis for the last five year --------------------------------------------------------------- 94 III. Audit Committee's review report for the financial statements of the most recent year -------- 98 IV. Financial statements of the most recent year -------------------------------------------------------- 99 V. Parent company only financial statements of the most recent year audited by the CPA ------- 193 VI. Financial turnover status encountered by the Company and affiliates that have material impact on the financial status of the Company ------------------------------------------------------ 282 G. Review, Analysis, and Risks of Financial Conditions and Performance -------------------------- 283 I. Financial conditions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 283 II. Financial performance ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 284 III. Cash flow ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 285 IV. The effects that significant capital expenditures have on financial operations in the recent year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 286 V. Investment policy in the past year, profit/loss analysis, improvement plan, and investment plan for the coming year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 286 VI. Risk management and evaluation --------------------------------------------------------------------- 288 VII. Other important matters ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 295 H. Special Disclosures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 296 I. Profiles of affiliates and subsidiaries ----------------------------------------------------------------- 296 II. Progress of private placement of securities ---------------------------------------------------------- 301 III. Holding or disposal of stocks of the Company by subsidiaries ----------------------------------- 301 IV. Other supplemental information ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 301 Corporate events with material impact on shareholders'
Recommended publications
  • SOURCES of MACHINE-TOOL INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP in the 1990S: OVERLOOKED INTRAFIRM FACTORS
    ECONOMIC GROWTH CENTER YALE UNIVERSITY P.O. Box 208269 New Haven, CT 06520-8269 CENTER DISCUSSION PAPER NO. 837 SOURCES OF MACHINE-TOOL INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP IN THE 1990s: OVERLOOKED INTRAFIRM FACTORS Hiroyuki Chuma Hitotsubashi University October 2001 Note: Center Discussion Papers are preliminary materials circulated to stimulate discussions and critical comments. This paper can be downloaded without charge from the Social Science Research Network electronic library at: http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=289220 An index to papers in the Economic Growth Center Discussion Paper Series is located at: http://www.econ.yale.edu/~egcenter/research.htm Sources of Machine-tool Industry Leadership in the 1990s: Overlooked Intrafirm Factors Hiroyuki Chuma Institute of Innovation Research Hitotsubashi University Naka 2-1, Kunitachi, Tokyo, 186-8603 [email protected] Abstract Through the use of extensive field research and an original international questionnaire, the main sources of the leapfrogging development of the Japanese machine-tool industry in the past 19 years were investigated. Past studies have emphasized the strategic R&D alliance with superlative computerized numerical control (CNC) makers, the extensive use of outsourcing from excellent precision parts’ suppliers, and the extraordinary development of automakers. This paper critically considered these factors and verified their inadequacy in explaining the further development of this industry in the 1990s. Hence, attention was paid to the significant roles of “intrafirm factors” such as: (a) the simultaneous and cross-functional information sharing system at an early stage of new product development processes; (b) the positive and early participation of frontline skilled workers in assembly or machining shops; and (c) the existence of highly skilled assemblymen or machinists.
    [Show full text]
  • Automation Practices in Wood Product Industries: Lessons Learned, Current Practices and Future Perspectives
    http://www.diva-portal.org This is the published version of a paper presented at The 7th Swedish Production Symposium SPS, 25-27 October, 2016, Lund, Sweden. Citation for the original published paper: Landscheidt, S., Kans, M. (2016) Automation Practices in Wood Product Industries: Lessons learned, current Practices and Future Perspectives. In: The 7th Swedish Production Symposium SPS, 25-27 October, 2016, Lund, Sweden Lund, Sweden: Lund University N.B. When citing this work, cite the original published paper. Permanent link to this version: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-58199 Automation Practices in Wood Product Industries: Lessons learned, current Practices and Future Perspectives Steffen Andreas Landscheidt 1, Mirka Kans 2 1Linnaeus University , Department of Forestry and Wood Technology , Växjö, Sweden 2Linnaeus University , Department of Mechanical Engineering , Växjö, Sweden Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract Wood product industries are a cornerstone of the Swedish industry and contribute vastly to the total Swedish export value. Wood as material itself has a promising perspective of becoming one of the most valuable resources. Sweden in particular has a long tradition and the knowledge of how to cultivate forests. In comparison to the highly automated forest industries, production systems of Swedish wood products industries are mostly characterized by a low degree of automation, tough manual labour and a relative low competency of the workforce. Facing fiercer competition on a global market, Swedish wood product industries are starting to lose touch with wood working industries in other industrialized European countries. Based upon established literature, this paper systematizes the status of automation practices in wood processing industries.
    [Show full text]
  • Mechanical Design in Agricultural Machines
    Mechanical Design in Agricultural Machines 15 riq^mfiii 2557 nm 09.00-12.15 *u. m 'HQ^IIIS^'^II 212 a member of NSTDA nis;vin-3lyitnffitr?iiiiat;i'tifilT4lei3 MTEC nn?'e]'anuiJiJvin>3n^ltiiRi'a>3'^n?n^nn?mi2Fi?] (Mechanical Design in Agricultural Machines) SECTION 1: ARGICULTURAL MACHINE and FUTURE TREND TYPES OF AGRICULTURE According to its dependence of According to the scale of water: production and its relation to the market: Dry land farming Subsistence Irrigation farming Industrial agriculture • As seeking maximum • According to method and performance or minimal use of objectives: other means of production, this will determine more or Traditional agriculture less ecological footprint: Industrial agriculture Intensive agriculture Extensive agriculture AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT AND TOOL Tractor: is a very useful agricultural machine, with wheels or designed to move easily on the ground and pulling power enabling successful agricultural work, even in flooded fields. Walking Tractor: agricultural machine is a single axle and is operated by handles, have median motor power and strength led to horticultural and ornamental work, can work in strong fields, but is preferably used in construction of gardens. AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT AND TOOL Combine: or mower is a powerful engine agricultural machine, comb cutter to cut the plants mature grain and a long rake that goes before the machine and rotates about a horizontal axis. AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT • Farm equipment is a group of devices designed to open furrows in the ground, shredding, spraying and fertihzing the soil. AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT Plough: agricultural equipment is designed to open furrows in the earth consists of a blade, fence, plough, bead, bed, wheel and handlebar, which serve to cut and level the land, hold parts of the plough, set shot and to serve as handle.
    [Show full text]
  • THIS STUDY IS an Attempt to Outline the Evolution of Japan's
    Japanese Yearbook on Business History-1999/16 The Machine Industry in the Meiji Period Jun Suzuki Universityof Tokyo machine industry prior to World War I,focusing especially on THISmachineSTUDY productionISANattempt for toprivate-sectoroutline the demand.1Theevolution of Japan'sreason for this special focus on machine production for private-sector demand is that previous research has concentrated on the munitions production aspect of the machine industry in this period and has thus painted a one-sided picture of the situation. Throughout this period the representative large-scale machinery producers were the government-owned army and navy arsenals,the private-sector shipyards,and the railway factories(both government and private).Steamships were an important means of transport for military purposes in Japan,surrounded as it is by the sea,and their manufacture was given the protection of the state.The major ship yards,too,especially from the time of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905),were involved,under the control of the Navy,in man ufacturing warships as well.As a result,a certain percentage of their business operations was taken up by munitions production.2And the 1Basically,this paper is a summary of the author's Meijino kikai kogyo[TheMeiji machine industry](Minerva Shobo,1996);to that extent references to bibliographic sources have been reduced to a minimum. 2Opinions are divided about assessing the percentage of military supplies in ship- 114JAPANESE YEARBOOKON BUSINESSHISTORY-1999/16 shipyards not only manufactured(right from their
    [Show full text]
  • Disentangling the Causes Behind Regional Employment Differences in Sweden
    I NTERNATIONELLA H ANDELSHÖGSKOLAN HÖGSKOLAN I JÖNKÖPING Disentangling the causes behind regional employment differences in Sweden - The case of regional job losses within two sectors of the Manufacturing Industry Master Thesis in Economics Author: Hanna Larsson Tutors: Associate Professor Johan Klaesson PhD. Candidate Johanna Palmberg Jönköping June 2007 Master Thesis in Economics Title: Disentangling the causes behind regional employment differences in Sweden. Author: Hanna Larsson Tutors: Associate Professor Johan Klaesson PhD. Candidate Johanna Palmberg Date: June 2007 Subject terms: Work, employment, regions, growth, regional disparity ___________ Abstract The purpose of this thesis is to disentangle the causes behind differences in regional employment across the 81 Swedish LA regions. Thus, two questions will be answered; which factors causes regional disparity in employment and which where the least and the most affected regions during the economic crises of the 1990’s? The answer to these questions are imposed by certain chosen restrictions, where only the situation within two manufacturing industries will be investigated; the car- and machine manufacturing sectors. Previous research claim that there are specific factors that influence and creates regional growth disparity. Among these factors can be found; education, infrastructure, demography, industry diversity and migration. Statistical data then enables a division of the regions on basis of the change in employment level within the manufacturing industries as a share of total employment. It is revealed that the most affected regions during an economic shock are those areas that have the highest employment ratio within these manufacturing sectors. The empirical findings indicates that in the case of Swedish manufacturing industries especially three factors influence the employment level; population, education and migration.
    [Show full text]
  • Raw Material Wood Wool Data | Facts | Markets
    Raw material wood wool Data | facts | markets Food Logistics Erosion protection mats Evaporative coolers Udder hygiene Raw material wood wool | data | facts | markets | 1. November 201 Author | Hanspeter Frey | Information date | 1. November 2012 © 2012 by Hanspeter Frey | 9620 Lichtensteig | Schweiz | [email protected] The copying and distribution of this pdf. document is expressly permitted, in particular for training purposes. Wood wool | Definition Wood wool is a multi-functional raw material produced mechanically by wood wool machines in the form of fine, elastic, almost dust free wood wool fibres, up . Roundwoodofthehighestquality . nowastewood to 500 mm long and free from wood splinters. It is produced from debarked . freefrom additives hardwoods and softwoods of the highest quality classifications [FSC and PEFC [alsofreefromwoodpreservatives] . freefrombindingagents certified], which - depending on use - is air-dried to up to 13 % wood moisture. chippingtechniqueprotects woodfibres In Switzerland wood wool is produced in conformity with the Swiss Wood . problem-freedisposalofwaste Wool Standard, which came in force on 1st June 2011. However, before this wood raw material, which originally came from the USA, appeared in Europe in the 1880's the expression, "wood wool" had , however, already been used for two quite different products. At the International Exhibition in Paris in 1885 the French architect and decorator Edouard Guichard [1815-1889] exhibited his "jaine de bois" [wood wool] as a cost-effective substitute for shavings of flocking for the production of wallpapers. These were very thin wood shavings boiled in soapy water . In 1883 the surgeon, Gustav Adolf Walcher [1856-1935] described in his thesis how he had produced anti-septic bandages from wood fibres, which he called sublimate wood wool bandages.
    [Show full text]
  • Changes in Mechanization in Selected Manufacturing Industries
    This PDF is a selection from an out-of-print volume from the National Bureau of Economic Research Volume Title: Mechanization in Industry Volume Author/Editor: Harry Jerome Volume Publisher: NBER Volume ISBN: 0-87014-026-4 Volume URL: http://www.nber.org/books/jero34-1 Publication Date: 1934 Chapter Title: Changes in Mechanization in Selected Manufacturing Industries Chapter Author: Harry Jerome Chapter URL: http://www.nber.org/chapters/c5242 Chapter pages in book: (p. 55 - 119) CHAPTER III CHANGES IN MECHANIZATION IN SELECTED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES EVEN if full information were available, limitations of space would prevent us from attempting a complete recital of recent changes in technique and equipment in American industry. In the technical books and journals there is a vast volume of literature dealing with such changes, but even it falls short of giving a complete picture. Nevertheless it does appear worth while to present a brief statement of the nature of changes taking place in selected industries, particularly where the changes can be set forth in quantitative terms. Thus we may get a better basis for understanding the gen- eralizations in subsequent chapters concerning the nature, rapidity and effects of changes in mechanization. Accordingly in this chapter we give brief summaries of the labor-saving developments peculiar to the processing operations of selected manufacturing industries. The two following chapters are devoted to similar summaries for non-manufacturing indus- tries and for the handling of materials which is
    [Show full text]
  • Cargo Handling Equipment How to Reduce Air Emissions
    CONTAINER HANDLING CONTAINER HANDLING CARGO HANDLING EQUIPMENT HOW TO REDUCE AIR EMISSIONS Peter Söderberg, Vice President R&D, Kalmar Mobile Equipment; Ari Hirvonen, Product Manager, Intelligent Horizontal Transportation Solutions; Heikki Salonen, Product Manager, Intelligent Crane Solutions, Kalmar This paper addresses common causes New developments such as handling equipment such as reachstackers, of airborne emissions in container ports. electrification, hybrid technology, energy it is reasonable to expect that diesel power Container terminals utilise a wide variety of regeneration, and process automation will eventually be replaced by other power container handling equipment. This can be have significant potential to reduce or sources. divided into horizontal transportation such as even completely eliminate on-site air A major contributor to mobile equipment straddle and shuttle carriers, terminal tractors emissions caused by container handling electrification has been the transition from and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs); yard equipment, but the choice of a horizontal traditional lead batteries to batteries using cranes including Automated Stacking Cranes transportation system itself has a major rapidly progressing Lithium-ion (Li-ion) ASC) and Rubber Tyred Gantries (RTG); Ship- impact on emissions. A terminal concept technology. Manufacturers are also looking To-Shore (STS) cranes; mobile equipment based on terminal tractors will necessitate into fuel cell power for mobile equipment, including reachstackers, empty container a
    [Show full text]
  • Mechanization in Industry
    This PDF is a selection from an out-of-print volume from the National Bureau of Economic Research Volume Title: Mechanization in Industry Volume Author/Editor: Harry Jerome Volume Publisher: NBER Volume ISBN: 0-87014-026-4 Volume URL: http://www.nber.org/books/jero34-1 Publication Date: 1934 Chapter Title: Introduction to "Mechanization in Industry" Chapter Author: Frederick C. Mills Chapter URL: http://www.nber.org/chapters/c5239 Chapter pages in book: (p. -11 - 2) INTRODUCTION THE machine has been the foremost factor making for eco- nomic and social change in the western world during the past hundred and fifty years. It has impinged upon man's modes of living in diverse ways. The means by which his productive energies have been utilized, and the directipns in which those energies have been expended, have been sub- stantially altered. The productivity of his labor has been increased; his standard of living has been advanced. The physical features of the world in which he works and lives have been changed, and a transformation has occurred in the character of the commodities entering into daily con- sumption and use. After generations of slow change, the skills essential to economic survival have been profoundly modified. Under the pressure of mechanization men have had to learn to do new things in new ways. All this is commonplace enough. That the machine has worked great changes in human life is no discovery of the past few years. For more than a century social observers have commented on the progress of machine industry. All men alert to the currents of social change have known that major shifts in the modes and manners of living were in process.
    [Show full text]
  • Industrial Machine Production “Teaser” Industry Report
    Industrial Machine Production “Teaser” Industry Report Industry Analysis Industrial Machine Production Q1 2012 Industry Overview Industrial machines play a crucial role in the modern day economy for these equipment enable industries to mass produce commodities, as well as facilitate delivery and transport of goods and services across geographies. The origins of the industrial machinery industry date back to the 18th century, when industrial equipment and tools became the engine of the Industrial Revolution. It was during this period when major changes were introduced in manufacturing, mining, and transportation through the introduction of early industrial machines. Machine technology advanced to the development of all-metal machine tools early in the 19th century, resulting in machines to make other machines, which enabled many parts of the world economy to move from the art of hand crafting products to the routine manufacture of consistent products. Today, the industrial machine industry encompasses a vast range of products, ranging from huge industrial turbines costing millions of dollars to the common lawn mower, but all machinery has one common defining feature: it either reduces or eliminates the amount of human work required to accomplish a task. Industrial machines are critical to the production of many goods and services of an economy because nearly every workplace in every industry uses some form of machinery. From the farm tractor to the commercial refrigerator in use in a restaurant, industrial machines are necessary for the way people live today. Thus, while most people never use or even see the industrial machines that make their lifestyles possible, they use the products they make every day.
    [Show full text]
  • Working Paper No. 12, Technological Convergence and Institutional Evolution in the Energy Sector
    Portland State University PDXScholar Working Papers in Economics Economics 5-27-2019 Working Paper No. 12, Technological Convergence and Institutional Evolution in the Energy Sector James Bennett Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/econ_workingpapers Part of the Economic History Commons, and the Economic Theory Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Citation Details Bennett, James. "Technological Convergence and Institutional Evolution in the Energy Sector, Working Paper No. 12", Portland State University Economics Working Papers. 12. (27 May 2019) i + 14 pages. This Working Paper is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Working Papers in Economics by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Technological Convergence and Institutional Evolution in the Energy Sector Working Paper No. 12 Authored by: James Bennett A Contribution to the Working Papers of the Department of Economic, Portland State University Submitted for: EC446, “Institutional Economics”, 27 May 2019; i + 14 pages Prepared for Professor John Hall Abstract: Over a span of more than a hundred years, fossil fuel production could be considered as a long-standing ceremonial technology in the Veblenian sense. However in recent times, due to rapid innovation through technological convergence, renewable energy is becoming just as cost effective and threatens to replace fossil fuels. Robert McCullough observes this change in renewable energy costs, in his report “The End of Big Iron”. Thorsten Veblen’s dichotomy between ceremonial and instrumental technologies, and his thoughts on institutional change can also aide in explaining this recent struggle between “ceremonial” fossil fuels and “instrumental” renewable energy technologies.
    [Show full text]
  • Mechanical Engineering Way of Thinking in a Large Organization
    AEDS 2005 WORKSHOP 3 – 4 November 2005, Pilsen - Czech Republic MECHANICAL ENGINEERING WAY OF THINKING IN A LARGE ORGANIZATION A Case Study in Paper Machine Industry Kalevi Nevala Keywords: engineering thinking, mental representation, task definition window. 1. Introduction This paper is one part of a search into the core phenomena of mechanical engineering design, namely, the thinking processes of the engineers who make plans for implementing mechanically functioning artifacts; or as it is in most cases technological improvements for them. These processes comprise a wide range of engineering deliberation, from the levels of business strategy planning through the detailed design of the required equipment and components eventually to the aspects of marketing, production, delivery, operation, maintenance, repair, renovation and even disposal of the machines. I will call this ensemble of thought processes mechanical engineering way of thinking, irrespective of the organizational position or education of the thinker. Research on thinking is difficult. Objective data is hard to acquire. We cannot even trace our own thought processes reliably due to the subconscious and unconscious elements of thinking. That is why psychologists have denied the scientific status of introspection for about hundred years [see for example Boring 1929/1957, pp. 641-653]. On the other hand, investigating the thought processes of another person necessitates always indirect inferences. Behaviorists rejected totally the importance of mental processes. According to them only measurable stimuli and observable behavior can be used as scientific data. By the rise of cognitive psychology and cognitive science since 1950’s [see for example Bechtel & Graham 1998] the significance of mental processes has been somewhat rehabilitated.
    [Show full text]