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Liu: Well, I think that really depends on what kind of investment the customer wants to make. I would say for high-end manufacturers, like some or our Korean and Taiwanese customers, that they are really eager to introduce this system. For these customers, we started two years ago and some of them have already integrated whole areas. There is even one flexible manufacturer in Taiwan who runs the whole factory.
But we're actually facing a big problem at this moment because all the equipment suppliers are using different formats of language. So for us, it's very difficult to connect each other into one. Especially the big players of equipment, they are not willing to open their source code to us, and this causes a barrier. So, if you're asking for a time frame, I would say from now we can do it, but it all depends on the other suppliers cooperating.
Starkey: I am sure that if they have a good vision of the future all the major equipment manufacturers will be happy to cooperate, because if they don't cooperate, in the longer term they will be left out of the game.
Liu: Yes, correct. It also depends on what kind of organizations show support. Right now in Taiwan, the TPCA are really supporting this idea. They are promoting that equipment from the Taiwan market is unified on the same platform first.
So this is a good start: to talk to the customer, especially in this area, and say "Hey, we've got an association in the background and we're going to support this kind of idea." It doesn't have to be months but we are inviting all the language platforms to cooperate. It will benefit all the players in this area and I think that this is a good approach.
Starkey: Yes, I can see how the trade associations can be a major force in encouraging all of this cooperation in the future.
Liu: The other incentive is the physical cost saving. Feedback from customers we have already introduced is that there is a real saving in labor cost, especially as labor cost is getting higher and higher. We always make a joke, “If you control by computing, the computers don't have emotional problems. They don't slow down because they broke off their relationship. They don't slow down because they are hungry. They don't need to go to the toilet.” It's also really good to bring everything to a constant, and for the engineer, that's my dream come true. I joined this industry, starting as an engineer, 25 years ago. I agree with how you described the way it was in the past, but now I think my dream will come true because everything will be controlled by computing. So everyone can reach the same quality, and I think that's the biggest thing.
Starkey: Well, Alex, that's been a very interesting conversation.
Liu: Thank you very much, Pete.
Starkey: Thank you very much.
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