Why doesn't Japan make/import monitors to USA?

[MrCoyote]

Not that it really matters I guess, where my next monitor is made, as long as the screen looks good and I have no problems with it, but...

I've looked at numerous brands of monitors here in USA, and none are made in Japan. Even Sony monitors are made in Mexico. At least all of the ones shipped to the USA. Other monitors I looked at were made in China, Thailand, Korea, etc. Throughout the 1980's, the U.S. market was flooded by very high quality electronics made in Japan. But now it is rare to find anything electronic made in Japan! Does anyone know why? Is it because it's cheaper to make in the other countries? Or is it because Japan is a very small land-mass country with a lot of population, and there is no room for industrial buildings and growth?

I must add, that I respect the other countries too that make electronics, because it looks like the USA is last in technology because all we can make ourselves are food and personal goods like hairspray, deoderant, and things like this.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

I believe Eizo monitors are still made in japan.

 

[Archknight]

Yes, it is cheaper to make in other countries, mainly labor. And it would make sense to ship from Mexico than Japan. Another problem Japan facing is that most of the raw materials have to be imported.

I think even though is not make in Japan, those Japanese company have their standard.

 

[NuovoTech]

BTW my 19" Iiyama VMPro450 was made in Nagano, Japan...

 

[Gosharkss]

Very few companies can afford to manufacture in the U.S. or Japan any more. Cost of labor is to high. When you can get a 17" monitor for under $200 and a 19" for under $300 these days, there is very little money left to be made.

The manufactures migrate to places where labor and shipping is cheap and convenient. Basic economics at work here. Manufactures moved from Japan, to Taiwan now they have moved to China, Thailand and other countries. Does it make a difference? The country No. The skill of the labor force absolutely yes. The quality control processes at the factory and the factory philosophy play a big role. Some factories have incentives to pump out volume, others are more focused on quality.

Unlike many electronic devices, Monitor assembly and alignment is mostly a manual process. Since humans do most of the aligning, variation is inevitable. For example: The training of the operator adjusting convergence varies person to person.

I have visited and inspected (I'm also a trained ISO-9000 auditor) most of the major monitor manufacturers factories in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Mexico and China. Yes I have alot of frequent flyer miles. You would be surprised to find out who is actually doing the manufacturing of your favorite monitors.

Jim Witkowski
Chief Hardware Engineer
Cornerstone / Monitorsdirect.com

 

[tasslex]

<< I have visited and inspected (I'm also a trained ISO-9000 auditor) most of the major monitor manufacturers factories in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Mexico and China. Yes I have alot of frequent flyer miles. You would be surprised to find out who is actually doing the manufacturing of your favorite monitors. >>



Well, coming from that standpoint, what brand monitors do you buy?

I haven't purchased a monitor since like 1996, so I have no idea what's good anymore.

 

[Gosharkss]

tasslex

Please read my signature. I do not keep it a secret that I work for Cornerstone so obviously I have Cornerstone monitors.

Jim

 

[Hawk]

hahahaha, true...but you know, some people, for example, work at Nissan and drive a Toyota! =)

 

[chexi]

My iiyama visionmaster pro 450 is also made in Japan.

 

[Mday]

does that mean i can get a cornerstone monitor and bitch to you if it dies?

 

[Mem]

My own LG Flatron 915FT is made in Korea,I live in the UK so it`s all down to labour &amp; profit as the other members have mentioned,maybe in 100 years time we might be getting monitors &quot;made on the moon&quot; who knows .

 

[Gosharkss]

Mday

Yes you can. We are not perfect, far from it, we have an occasional monitor go bad, however we think we have great customer service and support. We offer reasonable priced extended warranties on top of our 5 year standard warranty on our professional series monitors. If you buy one and something goes wrong you know where to find me.

Jim Witkowski
Chief Hardware Engineer
Cornerstone / Monitorsdirect.com

edit: cant spel

 

[Kingofcomputer]

<< My own LG Flatron 915FT is made in Korea >>



LG is a Korean company, that's good as getting a Japanese brand made in Japan.