• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.277-289
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the cross-sectional association of company size and self-rated health using representative data on Korean workers. Methods: We used the data from 2,884 wage workers collected by Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (17th). The association between company size and self-rated health was analyzed using logistic regression with covariates including demographic characteristics, work environment, job satisfaction, and health-related behaviors. Resulst: Odds ratio (OR) for better health status among workers in large-sized company was 1.351 (CI. 1.054~1.731), compared to workers in small-sized company. We performed three separate models stratified by firm size (small, medium, and large companies). Occupation variables showed different effect on health depending on firm sizes. OR for better health of white-color job (referred to blue-color job) was 1.693 in medium-sized company model but it was 0.615 in large company model. OR for better health of the workers working shift work showed 0.606 in large company model but it was not significant in small and medium company models. Conclusion: We found that small-sized company workers have significantly poor self-rated health compared to large-sized firm workers. This study revealed that there exist differences among health related factors depending on firm sizes.

• Journal of East Asia Management
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.29-49
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• 2020

In an intensively competitive global market, small-and medium-sized firms are puzzled about how to develop sustainable competitive advantages against global rivalries, thus leading satisfactory economic performance. However, despite the roles and contributions of such small-and medium-sized firms in the local community and national economies in Japan, little guidance has been offered to the practical issues related to their strategic behaviors toward global management. To fill this notable knowledge gap, this study aims to investigate the conditions in which how Japanese small-and medium-sized could dominates global market, which is one of key challenges in the literature of small business and entrepreneurship. To obtain better insights to this research area, this study undertakes an in-depth interview survey with I.S.T (Industrial Summit Technology) Corporation that shows off the highest global market share (40 per cent) with seamless polyimide tube product widely used in office automation equipment (e.g., copiers and printers). This method of survey is designed to deeply understand historical considerations about how I.S.T Corporation could dominate in the global market of such seamless polyimide tube product. Based on findings drawn from an interview, this study identifies five major factors enabling I.S.T Corporation to be a competitive global hidden company: vision sharing through founder's entrepreneurship, core competence, strategic network, risk management, and employee engagement. Specifically, to become a global hidden champion, sharing the vision motivating employees to partake in shaping company's future will be the first step on the road to global success through founder's entrepreneurship. However, in order to achieve such a vision, the importance of company's core competence cannot be overemphasized, which differentiates your customer solution with those of competitors. As such, a group of experts will be naturally formed and demonstrates your expertise in the global market, thereby building sustainable competitiveness. On the other hand, to maintain sustainable competitiveness, it is necessary to make up for the weaknesses small-and medium-sized firms suffer from competitive resources while strengthening their own strengths through strategic networks with external organizations. Here, every company has to understand the critical role of risk management, which is essential in this process of being global company so as not to lose your own strengths. Last but not least, do not forget the significant effects of employee engagement in firm performance. To enhance employees' engagement, a company has to create an ideal organization culture which fits into company's history and personality. In doing so, such organization culture can allow the vision and strategy to be implemented into detailed business tactics while facilitating employees to challenge the status quo by experimenting with creative ideas.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.93-103
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• 2022

This study investigated the method of continuous improvement of small-medium company production processes through POSCO's QSS(Quick Six Sigma) activities. QSS is a field operation technique that encompasses the advantages of Six Sigma, TPS(Toyota Production System), TQM (Total Quality Management), and IE(Industrial Engineering). Through this, POSCO not only encourages activities centered on related small and medium-sized partners, etc., but is also expected to contribute to the continuous improvement of the company's own production process through QSS activities. In this study, rather than unconditionally carrying out activities according to the needs of large companies, the research is to help the continuous improvement of the actual production process of small and medium-sized enterprises by effectively applying and spreading QSS activities in consideration of the characteristics and environment of the company. For this purpose, empirical research is conducted on the process improvement activities and QSS activities of company Y, which has less than 100 assembly and production quality and inspection processes among SMEs. The changes in the production process improvement of SMEs through the application of the final QSS were investigated through empirical studies.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.90-108
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• 2003

This study deals with a case analysis on the implementation of ISO 9000/14000 Integrated Management System. The intention is to provide some general guidelines, in particular, to small-to-medium-sized companies that are planning to introduce the Integrated Management System. First we briefly review each of the ISO 9000 series, ISO 14000 series and Integrated Management System. We then investigate the case of a small-sized company that have built and is successfully operating the Integrated Management System. We start with introducing the company, and then examine the background and the procedure for implementing the Integrated Management System. We investigate effects of the Integrated Management System, which are the main focus of this paper. This study is meaningful in that, to our best knowledge, it is the first field report appearing in the literature in regard to the actual implementation of ISO 9000/14000 Integrated Management System in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2011

This paper investigates the quality determinants in the consulting service for small and medium sized company. The results of the analysis show that the quality dimension is composed of two factors, consulting skills and interaction, and consulting skills are composed of understanding, expertise, and reliability. Also, this paper examines how the quality factors affect customer satisfaction and loyalty using a structural equation model. The result shows that all consulting skills affect customer satisfaction and customer satisfaction affects customer loyalty. The consulting results have an effect on customer satisfaction but have no direct influence on customer loyalty.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.12-17
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• 2003

The basic concept of an improved business and productivity for Small and Medium Sized Enterprizes, which makes use of an information portal, is to assure competitive power, increase the production quantity through the interchange of a company and the outside environment, and to build cooperation. To reduce the charge of the equipment, as well as to introduce and information program, it should build an information environment from inside the company by suing the information portal ASP(Application Service Provider). This portal is already built by the basic information infrastructure through the Internet.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.49-70
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to investigate the process and its influencing factors of technological capability building in a small and medium-sized capital goods sector. This paper first reviews the influencing factors of accumulating technological capability-technology trajectory, technology sources, technological capability, technological learning, technology strategy, and entrepreneurship. The paper then presents the integrative model of technological capability building. The experience of Mirae Corporation, the first generation of venture company in Korea, is also discussed as a case in point to analyse the process of technological capability building in a small and medium-sized capital goods company. Finally, the implications and limitations of the study arc discussed.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.33
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• pp.311-343
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• 2007

At present, more than 80% export made by Korean small-medium sized companies is OEM(Original Equipment Manufacturing). But OEM export of made-in korea products has been facing limitations from 1990s. Some leading companies among those small-medium sized companies which have been fulfilling OEM export are transferring their exporting strategies to Own Brand or ODM(Original Development/Design Manufacturing) and some of their strategies successful. However, most of small-medium sized OEM exporting companies are still groping for some ways to upgrading to Own Brand or ODM exporting strategies. Therefore, this article deals with how the leading ODM exporting companies have been transferred from OEM to ODM exporting strategies. It also discusses the primary factors of success and barrier and how to develop the ODM exporting strategies based on investigating literature and interviews with the leading ODM exporting companies.

• IE interfaces
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.418-426
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• 2007

This study is to suggest the government's support direction for the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by examining the relations among technology level, innovation factors, entrepreneur's characteristics, and start-up reasons. The management bottlenecks and the necessary fields of government's support are also investigated across the company's growth stages. Empirical analysis was conducted based on the 318 Korean SMEs' data receiving the Venture and/or Inno-biz certification. Results show that managing difficulties of the company have typical pattern according to the stage of growth. The characteristics of an entrepreneur such as age, education background and past experience affect the early stage of starting business. We also found that the technology level is closely connected with operational innovation activities and circumstances, entrepreneur's characteristics, start-up motives, and technological innovation activities.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.206-216
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• 2019

The present study identified several antecedents that create perceived resistance to supply chain management (SCM) change. This work particularly emphasizes SCM change, which is notable given its central role in reacting market orientation and varied environmental and managerial conditions. A careful case study on a small and medium sized food production company in South Korea leads to the formulation of our framework including one second-order construct of 'resistance' as well as eight first-order constructs of 'implementing the payment terms', 'balancing of business process', 'fear of responsibility', 'business sustainability transparency', 'past experience of failure', 'competence of work personnel', 'cooperation with third parties' and 'sharing personnel information with partner'. The hypothesized relation of first- and second-order construct was validated using survey sample data collected from 350 respondents who completed their questionnaire instrument. Results from confirmatory factor analysis revealed that nomological validity was established at statistical significance level by identifying six first order constructs of 'implementing the payment terms', 'fear of responsibility', 'business sustainability transparency', 'past experience of failure', a conbined construct of 'competence of work personnel/cooperation with third parties' and 'sharing personnel information with partner'. The findings from our work are expected to provide important insights to the strategy for SCM risk management for small and medium sized company.