As a precision investment casting (lost-wax casting) specialist with more than 40 years of experience in Taiwan, Waterson Corporation has built a strong manufacturing ecosystem by vertically integrating high-quality local suppliers. Everything, from raw materials and tooling design to casting, machining, and final inspection, is completed in Taiwan, enabling truly one-stop precision metal manufacturing for global clients.
Waterson’s products are 100% exported to Europe, the United States, Australia, and other regions, making the company one of Taiwan’s most recognized international precision casting manufacturers. The brand has earned a solid global reputation for MIT-quality metal manufacturing.
However, the traditional foundry industry has long struggled with challenges such as noise, dust, and heavy reliance on manual labor. These issues are closely tied to ESG principles, including governance, environmental protection, employee health, and social responsibility—and directly impact global competitiveness and long-term sustainability.
From 3K to 3C: A Decade-Long Transformation Starting on the Shop Floor
Over the past ten years, Waterson has undergone a major transformation. Guided by the first-generation founders and the next generation of management, the company adopted three core strategies—automation, clean manufacturing, and standardized processes.
These changes have reshaped the traditional perception of the foundry industry as 3K (Dirty, Dangerous, Difficult) and moved Waterson toward becoming a 3C (Clean, Competitive, Career-friendly) model for modern precision casting.
A senior employee with more than 20 years of tenure shared:
“In all my years here, I’ve never seen the factory change this much. The workplace is cleaner, safer, and you can really feel that the company cares about its people.”
This simple statement captures the heart of Waterson’s transformation journey.
Transformation Begins with Listening: Small Wins That Lead to Real Change
According to a feature report by Business Today Magazine, Waterson’s General Manager, Saflok Chen, the second-generation leader of the family business, faced differing internal opinions and resistance when promoting safety reforms and digital transformation. Instead of pushing for rapid, top-down change, Saflok Chen focused on something more fundamental: changing mindsets and improving management practices.
Saflok Chen began directly on the shop floor:
- Listening to supervisors and operators
- Identifying long-standing pain points
- Solving issues step by step to build trust
- Demonstrating visible improvements to strengthen alignment
Saflok Chen often says, “Every reform must start from the perspective of our employees.”
This bottom-up approach allowed Waterson’s transformation to progress steadily and become a repeatable model for long-term improvement.
Automation and Digitalization: Creating a Safer and More Stable Precision Casting Environment
Waterson has invested heavily in upgrading its production environment across multiple areas:
- Automation solutions to reduce manual risks and stabilize quality
- Clean-process improvements to reduce dust, odors, and noise
- Smart digital systems such as PMS real-time reporting, equipment monitoring, and process tracking
- Enhanced safety standards with unified operating procedures
- Workplace improvements including better lighting, ventilation, and optimized layouts
These upgrades have not only improved factory conditions but have also made precision manufacturing more attractive to younger talent.
Go deeper into how Waterson is achieving Smart Manufacturing: SMU Program Showcases Smart Transformation Success Stories: Key Strategies for Building Efficient, Easily Managed Manufacturing Facilities.
Safety Improvements Are Not a Cost, but a Driver of Competitiveness
Waterson strongly believes that sustainable growth must begin with safety.
For the past decade, Waterson Corporation has viewed workplace safety not as an expense, but as a foundation for long-term competitiveness.
Through continuous investment and institutionalized improvements, Waterson has achieved:
- Significant increases in production stability
- Lower defect rates
- Higher employee retention
- Stronger team trust and organizational alignment
For Waterson, sustainability is not a slogan. It is built through consistent actions, day by day, on the factory floor.
Moving Forward: A New Benchmark for Taiwan’s Precision Casting Industry
Since its founding more than forty years ago, Waterson has upheld the spirit of MIT manufacturing and expanded its global presence.
Waterson continues to prove that: Traditional industries are not sunset industries.
With the right commitment to transformation, they can become some of the most competitive industries of the next generation.
Waterson will keep advancing toward safer, cleaner, and more competitive precision casting—showcasing Taiwan’s manufacturing strength and resilience on the global stage.
How ESG Builds Stronger Manufacturing Competitiveness?
Discover how Waterson leverages safety and sustainability to strengthen global competitiveness: Business Today Magazine (2025/11/25) – “From 3K to 3C: Industrial Transformation Begins on the Shop Floor.”
