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A resurgence of manufacturing in America is being written about and discussed with excitement, and I am among those who are excited and hopeful about this happening.  I am convinced that manufacturing is of critical importance for the United States in restoring the economy and jobs.  People are not all suited for services roles, either in yesterday’s world or today’s world or tomorrow’s world.  Many of us are naturals at making stuff, working with our hands and our minds to build things.  To make products that add value for people.  To enable our country’s participation in world trade.  Haven’t we all known people who started to take things apart and put them back together as children?  This is only one example of how natural talent is visible in people who love and are good at making things.  Assumptions that the move of manufacturing out of America is inevitable as part of our evolution cannot be correct, because it doesn’t make sense for people, the economy, or business.

And, while the cost of operating in the USA may have been a leading factor in its off-shoring, I am convinced that cost, by itself, cannot be a successful strategy for it’s re-shoring.  We have all learned from experience and from industry experts as well as leading authors that competing based on price is only a strategy for businesses who haven’t determined how they can differentiate themselves with a competitive advantage.  Widely read writers have identified other ways that a business can differentiate itself from the competition, including:

  1. Leading edge solutions i.e. innovation, and
  2. Customer intimacy, which is about customization and customer experience.

Cost is a factor, but by itself, it cannot sustain a business over time.  I am not an expert in business strategy, so I am not espousing my views as “the answer” — rather, my hope is to start a discussion among stakeholders and experts that will help us to enable and support building momentum for manufacturing’s resurgence in America.  I suggest that a manufacturing company needs a competitive advantage that is primarily based on an effective differentiation using technology or customer centricity along with cost performance, in order for the US to win our place as a world leader in global Manufacturing.

Experts, Stakeholders:  Please share your thoughts and opinions.  Together we can figure this out and make it happen.

p.s  2 especially good reads I’ve found on this subject are:

What’s the Right Path for Manufacturing?  By Robert Atkinson, Industry Week

What Kind of Customer Experience are You Capable of Delivering, by Don Peppers, LinkedIn

 

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Rosanna Nadeau, PCLEC

Rosanna Nadeau is a professional, certified coach. With over 20 years in management consulting, designing and delivering custom training programs, coaching and leadership roles in Human Resources, Rosanna is leveraging her experience as a specialist in performance coaching. Rosanna supports businesses who engage her to work with selected individuals at all levels across functions who have needs ranging from performance improvement to developing promising talent. She also works with small, intact groups, to enable unified approaches to leadership and teamwork among front line leaders. In addition, Rosanna supports individuals who want to elevate their own performance, including setting goals, anticipating obstacles, strengthening work relationships and broadening skillsets. For information about Rosanna’s coaching services, contact her at 603-801-2416, NadeauCoaching@Outlook.com, or http://www.RosannaMNadeau.com - Join the new Facebook Group, Friends of Nadeau Coaching, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/405884627320359 or join the LinkedIn Group, Leading Human Resources Managers in Manchester NH Area at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3878371/ .

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