Pat:
Thx for the compliment.
I have no expertise in operations mgmt. in the electronics ind. However, I have worked in intntl op's mgmt. in the chemical ind.
On the surface, it may seem simple to pull all the pieces of a product together from outside sources, assemble them, put the product in a box and ship it off. In practice, managing all the human relationships, costs, timing, accountability for quality, inventories etc, etc, is exceedingly complex and time consuming. This is esp. true when the process occurs accross intntl boundries where culture, language, laws taxation and business ethics vary.
I doubt that I can be very specific in telling amtx what to do, for its product, in its industry. But, I would like to feel comfortable that they understand the complexity and are putting the people and systems in place to cope with their problem.
Re. my perception of the tech. advant. of amtx at this point in time.
I know I may get landed on here by others much more knowledgeable about the electronics ind.. However, I guess I feel that, since amtx is required to license the tech., under reasonable terms, to other mfgrs., the first advant. is the dif. in cost that exists between amtx and its license holders by the existence of the fee itself. At this point, amtx is prob. at a sig. cost disadvant., in the cost of mfgr of the product itself, to a well estab. mfgr of these types of devices (i.e. usrx). Economy of scale and scope, along with the learning curve, are the reasons. Certainly, these are daunting challenges.
Whether the favorable cost pos. resulting from the license is enough to offset the disadvant. of actual mfg. cost, I don't know, but I have my doubts. Obviously, if they are at a net cost of mfgr. disadvant., they must be able to offset cost with qual. and perf. advantages from that of their comp. and to be able to effectively comm. those advant. to the buyer/s. Otherwise, they are dead.
It may well be that the most important thing that amtx has going for it is the knowledge that exists in the firm about the tech. and its application. Hopefully, that knowledge and know-how will enable amtx to provide qual. and perf advantages. And, equally important, to stay ahead of the pack by continually introducing new and better itterations of the concept and, ultimately, to invent the replacement technology. Successful implementation of such a strategy requires very smart people, with enormous energy, who are motivated by more than the money itself.( i.e. Bill Gates ain't workin' for the dough anymore.)
Let me ask you; from what you have seen and heard at the annual meeting, do you think the above description accurately describes the mgmt. of amtx?
Comments anyone?
Rgds:
Cliff |
