Lu Xiaodong, CEO, Neotel Technology

How was business in 2022? What do you expect from the industry in 2023?

We are a Japanese company and have provided products to the world. The global trend showed signs of recovery, but the problem of Russia and Ukraine caused a sharp rise in raw material prices, including the rise in energy prices. Fortunately, however, the demand for our products has not declined, and I feel that it has grown in a slightly positive direction.

Are you planning to launch any new products or services in 2023?

At INTERNEPCON JAPAN 2023 in January, we plan to make several new proposals. One is a fully automatic rework machine. The operator simply places the board in a rough position and supplies the components to the component supply stage, and the positioning, mounting, and heating are all performed automatically.

We plan to make next-generation proposals that solve problems such as labor shortages, increased labor costs, and technical education. In addition, as 5G becomes mainstream, the development of equipment for smart rework of large parts is progressing. Furthermore, as a company specializing in rework equipment, we are always thinking about what we can deliver, such as equipment that has a mechanism to make the most of parts, such as the automatic underfill removal device for which we have applied for a patent.

Has semiconductor and electronic component supply chain shortages caused problems for your company in he 2022. What have you done to mitigate these problems in 2023?

Prolonged delivery of electronic components is a serious problem in manufacturing. This problem still exists with some parts. In anticipation of the number of future orders, we try to keep a large inventory of pre-orders and parts. This allows us to maintain normal shipments of our products and to ensure that our customers receive their products when they need them

Can you hire enough qualified employees? What can the industry do to develop more skilled workers?

Securing human resources can be said to be the most important initiative for companies. This is because it is people who create the quality and corporate value of a company. Depending on the person, the atmosphere of the company and the image of the company you are familiar with will also change. I believe that the attitude of the top management is the key to realizing how many excellent human resources can be secured, nurtured, and maintained. It is also important that executives share these same ideas.

Has your company's business travel returned to pre-pandemic levels, or are you still limiting travel to customer sites and industry conferences in 2023?

Not aggressive about business trips since the pandemic. This can be seen as a new way of doing business born from a single good experience. I think that the communication that can be obtained by actually meeting people nurtures a sensory affinity that cannot be obtained with camera images, but on the other hand, in terms of efficiency in terms of time, cost, and speed.

We believe that the ability to complete the necessary information and situation confirmation with customers far away at the necessary timing and time has greatly changed the way overseas business trips are done. Also, in Japan, web meetings continue to be an advantage for both parties, such as product explanations.