臺中製鞋機械群聚的動態：一個隱形區域的形構

Abstract

隱形區域往往由企業間的關係構成，無法說出明確的範圍，也沒有一定的產業界線，這些大大小小的企業坐落在城市邊緣或鄉間，彼此合作與競爭，雖然這裡沒沒無聞且未受國家政策重視，但在經濟表現上卻又充滿活力。本文就臺中製鞋機械群聚動態，運用新經濟地理學「三位一體」：即技術－組織－領域的分析架構，透過面對面田野調查，多次訪談製鞋機械廠商以及實際造訪製鞋機械廠，瞭解其產業樣貌和發展脈絡、廠商間互動關係，進而探討台中隱形區域崛起與擴張。 研究結果發現：第一，製鞋機械群聚成形的契機來自生產方式改變，外包生產使製鞋機械商與零組件供應商、協力廠商、服務提供者、鞋廠間出現更複雜的橫向與縱向連結，隱形區域即在長期貿易衍生的信任關係、廠商內部的師徒關係，以及親友關係的基礎上崛起與擴張。第二，黑手起家的製鞋機械廠商透過土法煉鋼紮根技術，並透過外語能力與人脈取得先進技術加以模仿。在群聚內部則透過學徒制與人才流動使默識知識和技術流通，逐漸在特定領域掌握核心技術。第三，由組織與技術交織出的製鞋機械群聚領域，透過地理鄰近性發展出信任以及技術口碑為基礎的市場，並隨著外部環境的改變逐步擴張。 結論指出，由台中製鞋機械隱形區域可以看出臺灣工業發展的靭性；臺中製鞋機械群聚在臺灣鞋業發展的輝煌時期中扮演重要的支持角色，然而它卻默默無聞，既不受在地居民歡迎，也未獲國家關愛的眼神。雖然如此，製鞋機械群聚仍在台中紮根，澆灌這片土地的工業地理，並受這塊土地滋養而茁壯。

A hidden region consists by the relations between small and medium enterprises with ambiguous border and vague boundary. These small and medium enterprises locate in the suburbs and countryside. They not only compete but also corporate with each other. Although these enterprises are not understood by public and ignored by the government, their economic performance is active and outstanding. With the aim of depicting the formation of the hidden region by viewing from the dynamics of shoe machinery cluster, this study discusses three aspects, technologies, organizations, and territories, separately under the “new holy trinity” framework of geographical analysis in industry. Based on the interviews of the shoe machinery factories and field research, this study also presents the situation and context of shoe machinery and the interactions between factories and goes a step further to interpret the rise and extension of the hidden region in Taichung. According to the research, we can conclude three results: first, the shoe machinery cluster is derived from the change of production. Manufacturing outsourcing of shoe machinery makes the vertical and lateral communication of suppliers, subcontractors, service providers, customers more entangled. Hence, the hidden region rises and extends based on the trust built of frequent transaction, apprenticeship, friendship and relative relationship. Second, shoe machinery factories not only lay the firm technical foundation by accumulating their experience but imitate advanced techniques acquired by foreign language proficiency and social network. In addition, the core techniques and knowledge in specific field circulate gradually by apprenticeship and flow of personnel inside the cluster. Third, territories of shoe machinery cluster constructed from techniques and organizations extend their markets based on trust and public praise of techniques by means of geographical adjacency and extend progressively along with the change of external environment. To sum up, the hidden region of shoe machinery cluster in Taichung implies the tenacity of the industrial development in Taiwan. Although the shoe machinery cluster in Taichung plays an important role in the flourishing period of shoes export, they are either supported by government or welcomed by local residents. In spite of being unknown to the public, shoe machinery cluster still roots in Taichung and is nourished by this locality.