Skill levels of the workers
While some Taiwanese yards have either moved to Mainland China or opened factories there to take
advantage of cheaper labor, Tung Hwa has concluded that there is no real economic advantage because
the skill levels of the workers are not the same. In addition, it knows that moving and training
all new workers can be highly disruptive, detracting from the company's primary focus of building
quality yachts.
Tung Hwa now employs nearly 200 craftsmen and artisans, many of whom have worked there since the
beginning. A total of approximately 18 Flemings are built each year. Adi Shard, Tony's nephew and
protégé, has worked full time at the Tung Hwa facility since 1998 to ensure the continued quality
of the Fleming brand. He is assisted by Tsai. Duncan Cowie also spends considerable time at the yard
specializing in the design and implementation of modern systems and liaising with suppliers of
related equipment.