Manufacturing in the United States Not Dying, Just Changing

No one will argue that the US manufacturing industry is facing tough times as a result of the off shoring of jobs to countries that pay workers much lower wages than those paid to US manufac­turing workers. But a recent article in Time suggests that we should avoid administering last rites to this once powerhouse industry sector. It points out that the US remains the largest man­ufacturer in the world-although this lead in output doesn't mean that the industry offers the volume of employment oppor­tunities it did in its heyday.

The successful US manufacturing industry of the future will employ "highly skilled workers creating high-value products in high-stakes industries." One such example of this type of worker can be found at Edwards Lifesciences in Southern California. With the help of a microscope, high-tech seamstresses hand-sew the 1,800 tiny stitches on artificial-heart valves in a process that takes eight to 12 hours per valve. These professionals receive up to a year of training in order to successfully perform this exacting work.

Experts believe that the outlook for manufacturing in the United States may be on the upturn as a result of the following factors and trends:
Product Safety. Recent manufacturing scandals in China- such as lead paint in children's toys and tainted milk-have created public demand for safe products. Since the United States requires more stringent safety and manufacturing rules than many coun­tries, consumers are beginning to seek out products that are manufactured in the US.

Research/Intellectual Property. The US has a higher num­ber of quality research colleges and universities, US manufac­turers are seeking to create more research and development part­nerships at these schools-and patent these discoveries under US intellectual property laws, which are considered stronger than those in most foreign countries.

Transportation Costs. Manufacturers are realizing that savings gained by using low-wage workers in foreign countries
are being offset by rising shipping costs. In many instances, it is much more cost effective to build manufacturing plants in the US that are closer to the American consumer.

Visit ManufacturingIsCool.com for more information on man­ufacturing jobs in the 21st century.

(Time)

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