Comments for Manufacturing 2.0

Comment on Bankrupcy not a Option; Performance Standards Are by MDH

MDH — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:05:32 +0000

No doubt. There will be pain. But too big to fail is, well…..too big.
We all are suffocating under the weight of these behemouths. It’s time to let these big companies fail and see the rise of smaller, more nimble companies with better focus on specific products.
It will be accompanied by the rise of new competetors, new products and smaller, more nimble companies that will rise to success (or failure).
Just like it should be.

Comment on Bankrupcy not a Option; Performance Standards Are by Bob Trojan

Bob Trojan — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:49:17 +0000

Don’t forget, it’s the Democratic Congress that’s in charge and they can’t get their act together, Republicans are OPPOSED to a bailout.
Saw this a.m. that the private planes are being sent back.
I say, they should sell their foreign joint ventures and plants that GM is building in Russia, China and who knows where else.
Union contracts need more work done as well

Comment on Bankrupcy not a Option; Performance Standards Are by Monkey

Monkey — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:37:17 +0000

Thought it was great symbolism that the three auto CEOs flew into DC on their multi-million dollar G4s.

While I sympathize with the downstream suppliers, this proposed bailout is a joke. American car companies have been producing sub-standard cars for year and have had their hats handed to them by the foreign auto-makers. Then, when gas was cheap, they greedily sucked in the profits from gas-guzzling SUVs, with no foresight to think that gas might not always be cheap and,hmmm, maybe we should diversify our product line.

Now, the chickens are coming home to roost and they are appealing to the TAXPAYER for a bailout. If we give them a dime, it better be with strict conditions attached and with some pretty sweet terms so the TAXPAYER will profit if they turn their companies around. Also, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do some housecleaning at the tops of these companies and replace the idiots running the show now.

I just have to laugh at the new Republican philosophy which appears to be “Privatize the profits and socialize the losses.” It’s a sweet deal if you can get it.

Comment on Detroit, we have a problem, or do we? by Bill

Bill — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:40:40 +0000

Ron Gettlefinger needs to realize that the problem with the automotive industry IS the UAW. These people are paid twice the nationla average for their skillset…can anyone else in the rockford area claim to be paid 18$ an hour starting wages as a forklift driver? NO! UAW members are typically overpaid unskilled workers who amount to nothing more than laborers and machine operators, and should be paid as such. the typical total compernsation package for UAW line workers at the Chrysler Plant in belvidere is over 70$ an hour once benefits, and retirement benefits are added in, and for what? Unskilled labor? semi skilled labor? outrageous wages and even more outrages total compensation packages far outweigh executive compensation in this regard..if the auto industry is to survive in this country the UAW will have to make concessions

Comment on Export Opportunity to Sweden and Europe by Bob Trojan

Bob Trojan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:22:45 +0000

Denny;
Good question. I’d suggest you contact Marie-Louis Pettersson at RAEDC. She is an intern from Sweden and in my quick phone call to her this a.m., she did know of the companies. Apparently one is 10 minutes from where she grew up. Here is the information she passed on.
http://www.dafgard.se/
Gunnar Dafgård AB
533 81 Källby
Phonenumber + 0046 510-845 00

You might want to contact he directly at 815-987-8118 and ask for her!
Also, she said that in Sweden they don’t eat Swedish pancakes for breakfast. They prefer oatmeal and other breakfast foods!
Good luck.

Comment on Export Opportunity to Sweden and Europe by Denny j

Denny j — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:22:56 +0000

what is the name of the Swedish company, that makes and packages Swedish Pancakes ? located in Sweden. I would like to visit them. thanks

Dennis Johnson, Stockholm Inn.

Comment on Recession? Let’s start a Revolution! by Bob Trojan

Bob Trojan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:46:57 +0000

I realize that goods now made in China, et al would be more expensive if we made them the way we used to. But when a new business gets started, like the foreign car companies do when they start here in this country, they, like we, could start in “greenfields” using the latest manufacturing technology. That’s what Japan did after WWII and that’s what China is doing now. New plants = low costs.
Now, with the economy 60% or more dependent on the consumer (clothes, toys, electronics, etc.) then we could do well to encourage these industries.

I full agree that we need to invest in technology, infrastructure, etc. but maybe we could re-create some of the consumer product manufacturing, if anything, to give us more competition.

Stimulus money that is given to low-medium income earners will mostly be used for the stuff made, in you know, over there. Yes, maybe some to pay down debt incurred for buying stuff made, you know over there.

As far as who I voted for, this shouldn’t have any bearing on my comments, but for the record, I didn’t vote for Obama.

Comment on Recession? Let’s start a Revolution! by Monkey

Monkey — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:56:16 +0000

I always enjoy the “Let’s Buy Stuff Made in America” threads because they always leave out one little important item; if all this “stuff” that we’re buying were made in America, it would cost 30 to 40 percent more, easily. So, Bob, are you going to start paying 30 to 40 percent more at Target, Wal-Mart, etc., and if you do, how is that going to impact the rest of your family budget?

Let’s face it, like Wal-Mart or not, the savings that American consumers get by shopping there is tremendous and allows people to spend more money in other sectors of the economy.

America has to re-tool and begin investing in infrastructure, high-tech, bio-tech, aerospace and other knowledge industries that create good-paying jobs. The days of us buying cheap stuff made in America are gone and will not come back.

Comment on Recession? Let’s start a Revolution! by joe

joe — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:12:44 +0000

when you were at the mall did you notice what they were buying, most stores giving stuff away just to get you in the doors, like sears tonight they are running Black Friday sales from 6-9pm plus with a extra % off. So you need to look at the big picture befor you right a story. You also voted for Obama too?

Comment on How would you like this Stimulus Package? by bob trojan

bob trojan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:10:29 +0000

My point was how the Chinese were spending the money, infrastructure, export assistance and other real job stuff.