When the President talks this evening people will snicker when he mentions jobs… but the encouraging reality is the rebound of manufacturing in the US is bringing back regional sourcing and associated jobs
Regional demand looms large in sectors such as automobiles, machinery, food and beverages, and fabricated metals. In the United States, about 85 percent of the industrial rebound (half a million jobs since 2010) can be explained just by output growth in automobiles, machinery, and oil and gas—along with the linkages between these sectors and locally oriented suppliers of fabricated metals, rubber, and plastics … The automotive, machinery, and oil and gas industries consume nearly 80 percent of US metals output, for example.
Like many U.S. companies, Kimray has to contend with a shortage of skilled machinists. Instead of offshoring, the company, which has $230 million in revenue, offers an extensive in-house training program emphasizing math and technology to get new hires up to speed, plus continuing education. It also helps fund college tuition for interested full-timers. "I'm willing to invest in them if they will invest in themselves," says Hill.
And finally, Inc has a very nice article on the backbone of Germany – its Mittelstand – small manufacturing shops and they never gave up on regional sourcing and provide US manufacturers even more of a model to emulate
