Re:U.S. Manufacturing costs are almost as low as China’s
by Azerb on Sunday June 28, 2015 @04:30PM
(#9794965)
I work in the consumer device space and from what I've seen, the flexibility of in-region supply chain for components and sub-assemblies would be very difficult to match outside of China. It allows for JIT manufacturing and incredibly quick divergences from POR during development when issues occur.
However for more durable goods I could definitely see a resurgence in US manufacturing with the right investments were made in extensive semi to full automation on the design/factory side. China factories are in a tough spot in the regard since employing more people is encouraged by the government, but automation eats away at the low end positions. See Foxconn's 1 Million+ employee count [1] and recently announced slowdown of automation take over [2].
However for more durable goods I could definitely see a resurgence in US manufacturing with the right investments were made in extensive semi to full automation on the design/factory side. China factories are in a tough spot in the regard since employing more people is encouraged by the government, but automation eats away at the low end positions. See Foxconn's 1 Million+ employee count [1] and recently announced slowdown of automation take over [2].
[1] http://www.foxconn.com/Files/annual_rpt_e/2014_annual_rpt_e....
[2]http://www.computerworld.com/article/2941272/emerging-techno...