Here is an editorial from the Des Moines Register newspaper, prompted by the planned closure of the Maytag plant in Newton Iowa, previously featured here.
I certainly believe that manufacturing is one of the few true “value creating” parts of our economy. The value created from manufacturing drives income that supports many many service jobs that employee most Americans. I'm not sure what the solution is, but we can't give away all of our manufacturing jobs. I don't have a problem with companies making necessary business decisions, nor do I want the government over-regulating these decisions, but how many companies are making bad decisions, chasing “cheap labor” overseas, but increasing total supply chain costs?
I think we need a massive lean education effort in industry and manufacturing… to help make sure any offshoring business case isn't unrealistic.
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Mark Graban
Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker who has worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. His most recent book is the anthology Practicing Lean that benefits the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, where Mark is a board member. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus. His latest book has been released as an "in-progress" book, titled Measures of Success.