Switch to the mobile version of this page.

Arkansas Times

Arkansas Blog

Archives | RSS

« Hot summer parches state fairs | Open line rain edition »

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Economy Can tech assembly jobs be brought back to U.S.?

Posted by Max Brantley on Sun, Aug 5, 2012 at 7:20 AM

WHY NOT IN THE U.S.? Couldnt Chinese factory work be done here, too?

www.blissful-wisdom.com
WHY NOT IN THE U.S.? Couldn't Chinese factory work be done here, too?

The New York Times takes an in-depth look today at whether the story of luring foreign car manufacturers to the U.S. could hold a lesson for bringing tech manufacturing (think iPads and other consumer electronics) to the U.S.

For years, high-tech executives have argued that the United States cannot compete in making the most popular electronic devices. Companies like Apple, Dell and Hewlett-Packard, which rely on huge Asian factories, assert that many types of manufacturing would be too costly and inefficient in America. Only overseas, they have said, can they find an abundance of educated midlevel engineers, low-wage workers and at-the-ready suppliers.

But the migration of Japanese auto manufacturing to the United States over the last 30 years offers a case study in how the unlikeliest of transformations can unfold. Despite the decline of American car companies, the United States today remains one of the top auto manufacturers and employers in the world. Japanese and other foreign companies account for more than 40 percent of cars built in the United States, employing about 95,000 people directly and hundreds of thousands more among parts suppliers.

It's a complicated topic. Tariffs, trade practices, tax breaks, work ethic and lots more figure. But it's important as the U.S. gropes with ways to enhance the manufacturing sector.

Tags: manufacturing, iPads

        
Tweet
Share

Comments (37)

Showing 1-37 of 37

Add a comment

Subscribe to this thread:

By Email

With RSS

Showing 1-37 of 37

More by Max Brantley

Mark Pryor: Worse than Tom Cotton on gay rights

A campaigner for U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor told me weeks ago there'd be moments undoubtedly when people of my political persuasion would be unhappy with some of the positions he took in his re-election campaign.
- by Max Brantley
- Mar 28, 2013
Arkansas Children's Hospital gets gift for burn treatment

Dr. Charles and Cindy Fuller, whose daughter Rachel was fatally injured in the 1999 crash of American Airlines flight 1420 at Little Rock National Airport, have made a gift that will allow Arkansas Children's Hospital to create an endowed chair in burn . Their gift, with a match from the hospital foundation, will provide $1 million for Burn Center equipment, program support and education activities.
- by Max Brantley
- Apr 23, 2013
More »