MANAGERS AND executives who want to advance their careers in the manufacturing sector should take a close look at the excellent opportunities offered by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
While big-name companies are an obvious attraction, job seekers shouldn't forget that the vast majority of Chinese companies are classified as smaller enterprises and account for about 60 per cent of the country's gross domestic product. Therefore, a managerial position with a successful SME not only allows someone to make a real impact, but can also offer them much faster career advancement.
York Star, a Hong Kong-based manufacturer of leather goods and fashion accessories, is a good example. The company produces goods for luxury brand names and is looking for up to 16 managerial staff to work in China. They will oversee corporate growth and a plan to increase total headcount from 2,200 to 4,000 by 2009.
Established in 1985 as a four-person business retailing leather goods, the company branched out into manufacturing in 1989 and has grown steadily ever since. The management team, which has expanded from 30 to 55 in the past two years, will relocate from a
25,000 square metre factory in Dongguan to one six times the size by the end of next year.
Director Eric Wong Chun-pong said it was necessary to strengthen the management team further during the next 12 months, with the addition of department heads and assistant heads responsible for quality assurance, production management, purchasing, sales and warehousing.