There were two very timely and interesting broadcasts on the MPR Mid-Morning program: Made In America 2.0 and Daniel Pink debunks the carrot and stick approach. First the Made In America 2.0, the guests were Harold Meyerson and Scott Paul the host Kerri Miller. This was an excellent presentation of the loss of America as a Manufacturer and the hope of a renaissance in Manufacturing due to Green Energy.
Take a listen to the entire program, but I found this quote telling:
... time was GM was the largest private sector employer, who paid their workers sufficiently high enough salaries that they could afford to buy their products. Now the largest private sector employer is Walmart, who pays their workers at levels that the only place they can afford to purchase products is at Walmart and/or to go into significant debt.
Part of the American Economic Recovery will require: "An American Renaissance in Manufacturing".
During the question and answer period we also heard from the listeners and guests about incentives, subsidies being given by China and other countries to bring jobs to their shores. I've seen in my career where the many companies outsource their jobs, but leave their overhead costs in the US, creating corporate subsidies for their Overseas operations and a heavier weight for their US Operations to overcome.
Another point that I think gets missed is as Manufacturing goes, so goes Engineering and R&D. Many companies that move their Manufuacturing offshore find that they no longer have the opportunities.
The hosts and speakers never say the word Lean, but one way American Manufacturers continue to be competitive is by implement Lean practices and reducing the costs (inventory, transportation, etc.) and wastes ingrained in moving products manufactured in China back to the US stores.
