Flexible companies change to stay put (Made in America)

The Washington Times ^ | 4-11-06 | Jeffrey Sparshott

[JZelle]

BRADFORD, Pa. -- Zippo Manufacturing, a small-town company owned by the same family since it was founded in 1932, is hiring. Zippo insists on making its iconic lighter, with a trademark rectangular shape and a distinctive slip-click shut, in the U.S. It is starting a production line for a new pocket lighter aimed at cigar aficionados and pipe smokers, and it plans to move manufacturing of a multipurpose lighter, used to light candles and grills, from China to Bradford, Pa.

[JZelle]

"The employees, who average about $15 an hour before health, pension and other benefits are figured in and who do not belong to a union... "

[HamiltonJay]

Companies are going to largely learn the hardway... offshoring is really a money saver when all is said and done... But hey middle managers are lemmings.. just flash a shiny object in front of them and off they go running.

[HamiltonJay]

is really NO money saver..

[HamiltonJay]

is really NO money saver..

[printhead]

I have a friend whose own business (down the street) makes custom machinery. He too is staying put. Zippo is one of his clients. FWIW, Zippo is also Case Knives.

[lovecraft]

I love Zippos's, I'd like to buy a little stock in that company just for sentimental reasons.

Probably the best made lighter in the world. I have several and I have NEVER had one that failed. As long as you got flint and fluid, they'll kast forever.

Plus a cigarette just tastes better after lighting with one.

[lovecraft]

They'll LAST forever....darn fingers.

[zeugma]

The main problem with Zippo lighters is that they freaking last forever! Unlike so many things designed to fall apart after a pre-determined time they are reliable, well made products.

[bkepley]

All the smokers are in China and the non-smokers in the US. Go figure.

[lovecraft]

There's still a few of us here. I would've quit years ago if there weren't so many a-holes telling me I HAVE to stop.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Me too! There's something about social engineering that just gets my back up.

Let me just plug another one of my favorites; the Case Sodbuster. Best pocketknife in the world at any price. Proudly made in USA.

[1rudeboy]

Is the Sodbuster a lockblade? Stupid question, but I need to know.

[lovecraft]

I'll have to try one, my current favorites happen to be anything made by Gerber Knives.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

eBay usually has good listings of new and used ones. (I give them for Christmas presents to the very, very deserving.)

[lovecraft]

Thanks for the heads up, I feel one can never have too many knives.......or firearms! :-)

[NaughtiusMaximus]

No. The Sodbuster does not lock aside from bolster friction. They're a very old fashioned design. The kind of thing you want to use to slice an apple for your grandkids.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

You got me started, I'm going over to eBay in a while and start Christmas shopping. (Of couse, I usually end up keeping half what I buy for myself.)

[dfwgator]

It can save money, but it actually takes management skills to make that happen. You don't just wave a magic wand, and the savings just happen. There are a lot of issues to work out.

[madconservative]

A company can fend off outsourcing on non-commoditized products through lean manufacturing principles. Look at Toyota, manufacturing reasonably priced, highest quality cars (and engines) in the USofA. Most of the time, outsourcing is a cop-out for lack of ongoing capital investment and technological advances. Btw, I specialize in Manufacturing Operational Metrics and Analysis.

[lovecraft]

As one that just dropped almost $400 at the local gun and knife show this past weekend, I know exactly how you feel.

I bought one, just ONE Christmas present, the rest was ALL MINE. LOL