Good YT video on trying to make something in the USA

[BHopkins]

What happens if we end up going to war with China and are cutoff from that foreign manufacturing? We'd be screwed. (pun intended) It would take us much longer to ramp up manufacturing to support our military and local economy in a protracted war. China already has the tool and die, as well as the intellect. It's hard enough just to get US sourced raw materials like steel and aluminum.

Do you trust those foreign car companies to convert their factories into wartime production of planes, tanks, etc... like Ford, GM, and others did in WWII? I don't.

What if there is another Covid breakout, and it cripples our economy? What if Mexico raises their minimum wage to match the USA? We can't live by what if fears, over things that may never happen. But I suspect we are much more prepared for such things than most people realize.

The company I worked for had an extensive catastrophe recover plan. I imagine most all major manufacturing companies do. The plan wasn't just empty words on paper, but rather real plans that had been carefully researched, and in some cases, validated. All the big automotive manufacturers wanted to know how we would protect their production in such cases.

China may have tools and dies for many products we buy, an it may take months typically to build replacements. But it is amazing what can be done when needed. I used to think that the American automotive industry would be severely crippled if a critical supplier had a catastrophic plant failure, such as a fire or explosion. This assumption is totally off base. The ability of American industry to recover, or adapt, is amazing. If we had to, we can make our own screws. We just don't because, well, why, when someone else will do it for $.97/hr?

 

[BHopkins]

I mentioned Nucor steel here on another thread like this. They formed out of a bankrupt auto company - some of the management bought a piece out of the bankruptcy filings. They were going to do something else but couldn't find decent steel so decided to start making their own in Darlington SC. They also implemented electric arc furnaces which people at the time said wouldn't work. There now the largest US steel producer.

I said that before and someone said "ya but they can only process recycled steel". Steel is infinitely recyclable, and we have lots of it. Talk about a glass half full crowd.

I worked at the Nucor Plymouth, UT plant for a while. Another great example of what can be done when a bunch of people get together and imagine what they want, design, and go to work making it happen. For a company that operates very lean, it was amazing how quickly that could accomplish what they set out to do.

Oh, and those electric arc furnaces are amazing to watch when they first come on, to start melting metal for a heat. Few have witnessed such intense energy up close and in person. Imagined, designed, fabricated and working in the USA.

 

[JeffKeryk]

China may have tools and dies for many products we buy, an it may take months typically to build replacements. But it is amazing what can be done when needed. I used to think that the American automotive industry would be severely crippled if a critical supplier had a catastrophic plant failure, such as a fire or explosion. This assumption is totally off base. The ability of American industry to recover, or adapt, is amazing. If we had to, we can make our own screws. We just don't because, well, why, when someone else will do it for $.97/hr?

You were right.
The American automotive industry is heavily reliant on imported semiconductor chips, with many manufacturers depending on foreign suppliers for a critical portion of their chip needs.

A key reason we outsource SEMI is lack of qualified talent. Sure, we could build fabs, at the cost of billions in a few years, if there was the will. But who is gonna work there?

If you wonder why companies offshore, consider lack of talent. My career was in SEMI, I am intimately familiar with the industry.

 

[SC Maintenance]

You were right.
The American automotive industry is heavily reliant on imported semiconductor chips, with many manufacturers depending on foreign suppliers for a critical portion of their chip needs.

A key reason we outsource SEMI is lack of qualified talent. Sure, we could build fabs, at the cost of billions in a few years, if there was the will. But who is gonna work there?

If you wonder why companies offshore, consider lack of talent. My career was in SEMI, I am intimately familiar with the industry.

That "talent" as you say used to be created in house. I was hired right out or college into R&D (different industry) knowing nothing, and was trained. The 30 years in people working there mentoring me had done the same thing.

Do you think China and Taiwan walked out of the Rice paddy and turned themselves into experts?

So our lack of talent is 100% self inflicted. We have no talent because we sent the experts off shore 30 years ago to train others. Pay them enough and they will come back. Corporate America got rich doing it. Guess they will get so spend some of that money bringing it back.

 

[JeffKeryk]

That "talent" as you say used to be created in house. I was hired right out or college into R&D (different industry) knowing nothing, and was trained. The 30 years in people working there mentoring me had done the same thing.

Do you think China and Taiwan walked out of the Rice paddy and turned themselves into experts?

So our lack of talent is 100% self inflicted. We have no talent because we sent the experts off shore 30 years ago to train others. Pay them enough and they will come back. Corporate America got rich doing it. Guess they will get so spend some of that money bringing it back.

It's called higher education. Management, engineering and technology across the board.
Silicon Valley companies do create in-house by offering tuition reimbursement and even time off for school. Most of my education was paid for by my employers.

I agree with "self-inflicted"; perhaps a little differently that your thoughts. I have said this many times. America has this false sense of superiority. America does not value education enough. That's my opinion.

I've mentioned the scientific semininars wifey and I attend at the local Universities. Let's just say sometimes I feel like the only pair of blue eyes in the house...