Samsung Gyeonggi factory
Samsung's overall operating profit was 53.65 trillion won, another all-time high in four years, with strong sales of servers and smartphones in the semiconductor sector and operating profit accounting for about two-thirds of the overall revenue. Samsung Chief Financial Officer (CFO) ) Lu Xi-zan boasted on January 31 that '(we) have actively responded to the rapid changes in IT (Information Technology) and have developed into a leader.'
However, some Samsung stakeholders also said that "dependence on semiconductors has further deepened their distress." Within Samsung, "different departments are equivalent to other companies," a strong sense of non-staff in the semiconductor sector is not emotional.
Samsung replaced the heads of three major divisions (semiconductors, smartphones, appliances) in October 2017. Three of them will be directors in March and will start a management team that was essentially promoted by vice president Li Li-rong in the first place Of the new system.How the semiconductor sector how to improve competitiveness in order to prevent the deterioration of market conditions, the smart phone and appliance sector can develop a low-cost weapons against the Chinese manufacturers of new products, these will become a topic.
The semiconductor division will introduce the latest exposure technology called 'EUV' in the year 2018. Samsung said it will work with manufacturing equipment companies in the Netherlands to put technologies that will significantly increase productivity into practical use in the world 'On the semiconductor market in 2018, South Korea's SK Securities believes that' will slow down but will continue to grow compared to 2017. 'Most believe that sales of major DRAM products with operating margins exceeding 60% will remain in place in 2018 Maintain a high standard.
The problem lies in the smart phones and appliances 2. In terms of smart phones, Samsung's flagship model sales in 2017 are considered around 40 million, less than the market initially expected 10 million.And the United States Apple's most high-end models, the price is more High but lacking in features that surprise consumers can have an impact on sales.
Takao, president of the Samsung smartphone division, said in the fall of 2017 that it will discuss 'Foldable', a folding smartphone with an organic EL panel, which will be launched in 2018. Foldable is a strong candidate for a new generation of products that can experience large screens without being large Tablet terminal advantages.If it can be listed, will bring a great advertising effect, but there are also sources that Samsung is still trying to ensure its durability, is still unable to judge the real high 'promise' can be achieved.
On the other hand, the TV business is also in a dilemma.Samsung to abandon the organic EL television, vigorously promote the use of higher color rendering of the 'Quantum Dot' technology LCD TV.Allegedly, the panel coated with special materials will make the light wavelength Changes in order to more clearly and vividly show the three primary colors.But back then, the organic EL television market to expand, there are voices that Samsung has strategic mistakes.
Samsung has thoroughly implemented the strategy of "selection and concentration," for example, achieving a profit of 5 trillion yen in the field of DRAMs that Japanese companies have withdrawn from. On the other hand, Samsung is lagging behind Apple in terms of brand influence and is becoming a Tech innovators' reformers. "Because of this, Foldable and Quantum Dots' are very much in-house valued as autonomous technologies' (stakeholders). Can Samsung succeed with unsurpassed technology? Ability will be tested.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Chinese: Nikkei Chinese website) Kenji Yamada, Seoul