Since 2007 America has lost 2 million manufacturing jobs

[Saxon X Seaworthy]

Originally Posted by metroxian

If U.S. the manufacturing industry gets more high tech it won't be with union (or non) labor. It will be robots. There will be two parts to the work force, those who paid attention in school and achieved, and everyone else.

It's going to be robots that 'tote that barge and lift that bale'.

Same thing in China. You can expect to see a drop off in manufacturing labor there.

[TrapperJohn]

And yet the shelves are still full of merchandise, most of it cheaper than it was in the 60's on a marginal utilization or productivity basis.

[Saxon X Seaworthy]

Originally Posted by TrapperJohn

And yet the shelves are still full of merchandise, most of it cheaper than it was in the 60's on a marginal utilization or productivity basis.

It isn't just stuff-that-ends-up-at-Goodwill that's remarkably cheap.

I saw a sale at the drugstore today for 12 packs of Pepsi x 3 for 11 bucks. Maybe double from 40 years ago.

Of course, automation will effect the production of poisonous industrial chemicals just like it will toaster ovens.

[BobNJ1960]

Our manufacturing GDP is higher than ever. Technology has allowed us to do it with far fewer employees.

At my last employer, one subsidiary made more product with about 85 production employees than the same firm made with 350 production workers 20 years ago.

[ColoGuy]

"How it's Made" is an interesting show. I can usually make a close guess as to the year the show was made by considering the man hours of relatively low tech labor the product took.

We are never going to be able to compete with Chinese labor. That is the difference between Now and Then when we were able to compete with Japan/Korea/Taiwan.

Now the elite are gleefully opening up India. Another black hole to fall into.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

Our manufacturing GDP is higher than ever. Technology has allowed us to do it with far fewer employees.

At my last employer, one subsidiary made more product with about 85 production employees than the same firm made with 350 production workers 20 years ago.

Just look at GM and how many cars they make with now many fewer employees. I realize that many of those people worked at captive subsidiaries (AC Delco for one).

[tickyul]

So much of the manufacturing process is now automated......CNC-everything is a truly revolutionary advent when it comes to manufacturing.

A properly set-up, state of the art manufacturing-facility can turn-out quality products in a lot of different parts of the world.......most of them being cheaper and better than Murrrrca!

[texdav]

In time we will lose many more in basic assembly to Chinese and others that can do same cheaper. Western world cost requires being in skilled in place postions more and more.That is why service industry has grown so much.

[middle-aged mom]

Between 2000- 2010 the U.S. permanently lost 15% of manufacturing jobs to technology.

Manufactures that survive will not be your daddy's factory and will employ only a fraction of manpower that once was necessary.