Seiko & Citizen Watch Forum Message Archive

Hi Bob,

I could understand your answer if you are comparing the quality of a manufactured item (not necessarily a watch) indigenous to, say, Singapore with that of a manufactured item indigenous to a longer established industrialised nation. (Like, for instance, comparing a Poljot Russian watch with a Zenith Swiss watch)

What we have here though *(and I stand to be corrected!)* is a case of the established industrial nation (Japan) transferring Seiko manufacturing equipment, tools, quality control, etc, lock, stock and barrel to a country which isn't so established industrially but has a highly motivated, eager workforce.

This workforce is cheaper to run (remember that about 70% of a company's outlay goes on paying its workers), therefore enabling a watch of the same quality to be produced cheaper than it would cost if produced in Japan.

I am making an assumption here BTW; that the Seiko produced in Singapore is made in a Seiko-owned factory, and is not contracted out to an indigenous Singaporean watch manufacturer. Apologies if I do not have a complete grasp of global manufacturing and industry....!

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Regds,

Russell W. B.