| If you live in North America, you have probably come | | | | many other nations. These policies are designed for |
| in contact with the harsh reality that blue collar | | | | responsible industrial manufacturing, but they result in |
| manufacturing and industrial jobs are becoming more | | | | more costly operation with a trickle-down effect |
| scarce every day. The fact is, manufacturing within | | | | through he supply chain. |
| the United States of America has been in decline for | | | | Liability is another aspect of doing business in the |
| years. It has only been in the last two decades that | | | | United States. Industrial accidents are at an all-time |
| this decline has become painfully obvious. The global | | | | low, however accident victims are compensated |
| market, that is, trade with foreign nations, is fueled | | | | more here than anywhere else. Liability insurance is at |
| by cheap labor and economic conditions favorable to | | | | a record high with no signs of relief. This is a direct |
| industry growth. Many nations competing for their | | | | result of a record number of lawsuits and legal |
| place in the American marketplace have modern | | | | actions taken against companies. Many of the court |
| economies that are literally in their infancy. China is | | | | battles are justified, but unfortunately many are |
| the prime example. When a blue collar American | | | | simply attempts at working the legal system for |
| worker loses their job to overseas competition, their | | | | easy money. Regardless of the outcome in the |
| first reaction is to blame China. The Chinese economy | | | | courtroom, the costs associated with litigation are |
| happens to be prime for growth, inexpensive | | | | staggering, hence much higher insurance rates. |
| manufacturing, and plenty of available labor. But the | | | | Health insurance costs can also add to the expense |
| Chinese imports are really only the tip of the iceberg. | | | | of American industry. The United States has higher |
| American manufacturing and industrial factories are | | | | insurance costs per employee than most other |
| also in competition with Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, | | | | civilized countries. The reasons for this are complex, |
| Mexico, Taiwan, India, etc. The lower costs of labor | | | | but the result is not favorable for American |
| needed for industrial manufacturing are only one | | | | manufacturing. Add in rising fuel prices, increased |
| factor in the equation of demise for the American | | | | shipping costs, rising utility rates, and of course |
| labor force. | | | | unaffordable property taxes, and we have a formula |
| Environmental awareness in the United States actually | | | | for failure. |
| works against American companies in regard to | | | | American manufacturing needs to use lean |
| overall expense. Environmental awareness is the right | | | | manufacturing techniques, common sense |
| thing to do, however it comes with a price. The cost | | | | management, and strategic marketing to grow their |
| of waste disposal, operational permits, certifications, | | | | market share in relation to overseas companies. The |
| audits, and screenings are not free. American rules | | | | American government must also be diligent in |
| and regulations regarding environmental responsibility | | | | enforcement of fair trade with countries where labor |
| are more stringent than many other parts of the | | | | and economic conditions provide cheap products for |
| world. In North America, emissions into the | | | | the American consumer. Only time will tell if American |
| atmosphere are also heavily regulated at levels unlike | | | | industry can survive the global marketplace. |