Looking over the past year, IAC was actively invested in CSR innovation R&D, constantly developing new products with very gratifying results.
Whether it was the creation of an internal patent innovation system, training and implementation in 6 Sigma innovation R&D, the awarding of high-tech patents, green environmentalism or R&D in user-friendly products, performance in all these areas was good. At the same time, in technology and products unique or characteristic for IAC, such as major investments in dual SIM/dual standby, language learning, and academic support, a series of products was developed that was accepted and found favor by consumers of all kinds. IAC was very active in promoting the conservation of social resources, the creation of user-friendly products and the concept of green environmentalism.
1. IAC Patent Protection for Independent Intellectual Property Rights
All along IAC has silently been at work on patent protection. To effectively increase its innovation R&D capacity, IAC improved its internal patent system. In addition to monthly meetings where work in this area is publicly cited, individual and department selections for outstanding work are made on a yearly basis, and the scope for awards for writing up and granting patents has been expanded. It has also increased the actual number of patents created so that in 2007 concrete results in this area were quite noteworthy.
On the 2007 list of the top ten patent awardees among the many listed technology companies in Taiwan, IAC ranked 9th, showing that during these few years of activity, IAC actually achieved remarkable R&D achievements with its "lean" R&D budget. In 2007 IAC produced a total of 268 patents with an R&D investment of NT$970 million and an R&D performance index of 28.5, just behind Foxconn Tech, Hon Hai Precision, and Inventec, IEC. This kind of success, for a systems integration company, is an "A team" performance.
In terms of patent application countries, IAC over the last several years has concentrated on Taiwan and Mainland China. Some 1,026 patents were granted from Taiwan, while 775 were from Mainland China. In addition, 104 patents were granted by the US, with an overall worldwide aggregate total of 1,978. As for Taiwan patents, IAC success here also put it in the upper rankings. In 2005 IAC ranked 12th, in 2006 it ranked 11th and in 2007 it ranked 10th.
| Countries |
TW |
CN |
US |
UK |
HK |
FR |
KR |
GE |
EP |
IN |
JP |
KOR |
|
| Patents |
1026 |
775 |
104 |
21 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1978 |
As for types of patents, IAC filed the highest number in the category of inventions (864), then improved and new utilities (577) and lastly new designs (537), turning in a very positive and impressive performance.
Patents, Number and Type
| Company |
Inventions |
New Utility |
New Design |
Grand Total |
| Inventec (Nanjing) |
318 |
116 |
280 |
714 |
| Inventec (Pudong) |
6 |
41 |
0 |
47 |
| Inventec (Shanghai) |
344 |
169 |
214 |
727 |
| Inventec (Taipei) |
196 |
251 |
43 |
490 |
| Grand Total |
864 |
577 |
537 |
1978 |
Faced with global, multinational, transnational and international competition in the marketplace, only by creating brand value can a company get a foothold in Taiwan, aspire to operate in Mainland China, set its eyes on the whole world and bring in increased and higher profits. And patents are a key part to business responsibility and creating corporate value. In addition to obtaining commercial patents with the goal of producing excellent quality products, IAC uses fewer resources in the manufacturing process, and the company's vigorous R&D program, besides ensuring product multi-functionality, ensures as well that these products conform to the concept of green environmentalism. In light of the patent indexes cited above, IAC has in fact achieved its CSR overall goal of "improving people's lives, creating corporate profits and improving national competitiveness."
Aggregate Number of Patents
| Year |
Aggregate Total |
| 2000 |
42 |
| 2001 |
130 |
| 2002 |
273 |
| 2003 |
460 |
| 2004 |
829 |
| 2005 |
1267 |
| 2006 |
1602 |
| 2007 |
1915 |
2. 6 Sigma at IAC--Innovation R&D Concept and Method
6 Sigma is the most advanced quality management concept today. IAC began the full introduction of this system in 2006 and by 2007 had trained close to 600 people in the concept with a financial benefit amounting to more than NT$500 million.
If IAC wants to maintain its market competitiveness, it must constantly innovate and effectively develop new commercial products and services. Thus, in addition to the 6 Sigma traditional DMAIC improvement process, IAC is able to effectively improve design quality and lower costs at the early stage of product development and introduce the DFSS (Design for Six Sigma) to increase its design quality and product competitiveness. By the end of 2008 IAC will have been able to train about 100 people in DFSS and will continue to expand its program for DFSS training of developers.
Product development and, especially, patents are extremely important to safeguard the fruits of innovation. In its introduction of DFSS, IAC at the same time introduced TRIZ (TIPS, “Theory of Inventive Problem Solving,” in English). IAC has increased its training of developers so that through this systematized set of procedures they will be able to solve problems in the innovation process and produce more innovation patents.
