China's Outsourcing Appeal Dimming

Washington Post ^ | 9/8/08 | Ariana Eunjung Cha

[Winged Hussar]

Soaring energy costs, the falling dollar and inflation are cutting into what U.S. manufacturers call the "China price"-- the 40 to 50 percent cost advantage once offered by Chinese producers.

[Winged Hussar]

It serves them (companies that shipped American jobs and manufacturing capability to China) right. Henry Ford and Frederick Winslow Taylor developed lean manufacturing to keep jobs in the United States and, if the bean counters who run our companies are too stupid to use it, they deserve whatever they get--hopefully to the benefit of companies that kept jobs in the U.S. Copying and distribution of the following is encouraged.

[Steely Tom]

Only an MBA would miss the fact that Chinese people aren’t going to keep on accepting 35 cents per day forever.

Oh, yeah, and it’s lots of fun having to wait until your kid’s bedtime to catch your Chinese managers when they come to work in the morning. Of course, you can always e-mail them while you’re at work... if you don’t mind a nice 18 hour delay (minimum) turn-around.

[Ancient Drive]

serves them right indeed. I agree with /|\

[Fishing-guy]

Does this mean things will be 40-50% more expensive now? That should send the inflation through the roof.

[Paperdoll]

Just how long will a Communist regime allow American industries to thrive there? Sure, now they are providing jobs to the populace for far less than they paid American citizens, but when will the Chinese people rebel for higher pay?

One way or the other, for a long time I have expected China to nationalize American companies doing business there.