Oriental Union Chemical Corp. (Taiwan, China)

Founded in 1975, Oriental Union Chemical Corporation became a publicly listed company in 1987 and with a current capital of about NT$8.1 billion. OUCC was originally a joint venture with a multinational corporation, and it is now the major petrochemical force within the Far Eastern Group. Over the three decades, OUCC has constantly improved its core ethylene oxide processing technology and has become a major supplier of ethylene glycol and ethylene oxide derivatives in Taiwan and throughout the Asia-Pacific Region. Chemical companies are facing unprecedented raw material costs from the rise in oil prices. In Asian markets there is increased competition from new ethylene glycol (EG) plants in China and the Middle East. In response to these challenges OUCC has developed a multi-pronged strategy involving a series of expansion projects and enhancing its core businesses to maintain a competitive edge in the petrochemical industry. Another tactic is the diversification into specialty products and fine chemicals. The goal is to lessen the impact of cyclical changes in raw material by building on existing talents and skills to increase competitiveness. Other actions aimed at keeping OUCC strong include the introduction of a Six Sigma quality initiative, cost reductions, elimination of production bottlenecks, and adaptive management principles. OUCC places emphasis on product quality, industrial safety, and environmental protection, and has received the certifications of ISO-9001 Quality Management Systems, OHSAS-18001 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series, and ISO-14001 Environmental Management Systems to ensure customer satisfaction and employee safety. Looking to the future, OUCC has committed to diversifying its product lines to encompass commodity chemicals, specialty chemicals, biotech, advanced chemical technology, and material engineering to create value for customers, shareholders, and employees.