Man, does that story ever look familiar. My guess is they tried to go too far, too fast, with too little expertise in the right place: Project management.

I saw that almost happen at a plant that shall remain unnamed, because that one actually eventually succeeded with previously-unheard-of levels of automation and is still in operation to this day. It was a bold endeavor at the time.

When I was sub-sub-contracted to consult on the project I found a disaster. There were seven different firms working on different parts of the project. None of them had anybody aboard that understood anybody else's technology. Finger-pointing abounded. The project manager was dedicated, but, not well-versed in any of the technology. They couldn't make anything work. Progress had ground nearly to a halt.

I don't recall how long I was there--most of an entire summer, but, by the time I left they were beginning to get product through the entire line.

The causes for some of the problems they'd been encountering were so elementary I could hardly believe what I was seeing. E.g.: The very first problem I trouble-shot for them was transducers producing erratic results because the equipment rack in which the analog-to-digital converters were installed had inadequate grounding.

It actually sounds a bit like focusing on the short term may have cost them in the long term. It sounds like they were starting to make some progress towards the end. They said that socket production actually was on track. Perhaps if they didn’t overextend themselves in some of their other business endeavors this plant would have worked out. It just seems like if they were able to take some more short term pain that they might have been able to be successful in some of their main desires with this plant. Perhaps given some more time they could have turned this plant into an innovator throughout the industry, but unfortunately we will never know.

I’ve gotten so militant about supporting US manufacturing that I refuse to buy anything Craftsman anymore. I buy used, quality US made tools when feasible to add to the collection, and if can’t find what I desire used then I buy new U.S. made Proto, Wright, SnapOn, Mac, and Matco. I do like some German tools like Knipex, and even some of Japan’s Koken ratchets for example, but tools are still an area where you can mostly avoid China made products. I’m happy to pay more for quality US made tools, even if it means I have to wait a little longer to buy what I want. Currently I’m in the process of getting rid of all of my Craftsman sockets and replacing them with SnapOn, and some Wright and Proto. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with my Craftsman sockets, and they’re all old enough to have been made in the USA, but I no longer am proud of the Craftsman name. Also, if I ever break one it will get replaced by a made in Taiwan version and that’s not good enough for me. So I’m concentrating on replacing with products made by companies that aren’t going to be off shoring those tools in my lifetime.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
The idea that a company is doing something wonderful by bringing back manufacturing to the USA and then making stuff with a fully automated factory is just shameful.

I agree, but what's the reality? That most of the people willing to do the work probably would have been from Latin America?

We're in a bad spot. Unless it's a small shop premium brand (price) type company, "Made in America" usually means by robots and illegal aliens.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
The idea that a company is doing something wonderful by bringing back manufacturing to the USA and then making stuff with a fully automated factory is just shameful.

Yeah. It'd be better if they just kept making the stuff offshore somewhere--Asia or whatever, and used no American labor at all.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
What we need are manufacturers who give skilled jobs to American workers who can make a living not far from their home, and be proud of their work.

Problem is: American workers have priced themselves out of the job market.

Belarus?!?
They went to Belarus for a machine...what skills/expertise are in Belarus that they were unable to source in North America or, the Western world?
I'm guessing the Belarusians were the only one's who were dumb enough to say yes or, were cheaper than the second-place proposal, when the Stanley people came to them with their machine idea.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
Belarus?!?
They went to Belarus for a machine...what skills/expertise are in Belarus that they were unable to source in North America or, the Western world?

I'm glad you pointed that out. That's one of the first things I noticed in the article.

My former employer did some cross-border outsourcing, and support it was a pain in the butt.
Custom machinery is a complex thing, and we don't find that at every corner store. But Belarus??
I'm sure an American company could have done that automation job, and supported it better.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by patw:
I have quite a few Craftsman tools from long ago

I've got a few.
This drill is about as old as me, and it's a horse. Runs like a champ. Heck, I took it to work last week to get a job done that the company's drill wouldn't do.

I have that monster too. Reduced gearing, torquey as hell. Did you lose the 90 degree handle too ?

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
based on the provided story, it sounds like they were thinking like democrats

How many times do we have to go over this?

How many times do I have to say that interjection of politics into apolitical threads is entirely unwelcome in this forum? I have said this countless times. There is no excuse for a member who has been here 15 years and has thousands of posts to pull this shit.

I'll tell you what, guys- since I have to keep saying this- on average two or three times a month, I'm going to start handing out disciplinary action. Since I cannot get some of you guys to think before you post, and you drop this tired old shit into threads for no reason, and you simply will not hear what I m telling you, I'm going to start handing out suspensions.

wrightd, there is no excuse for this stuff.

Apologies Para, thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
I have that monster too. Reduced gearing, torquey as hell. Did you lose the 90 degree handle too ?

I think that handle is floating around in the bottom of the tool box drawer. I'll have to look now... haven't ever used it.

I ought to go get a pic of the "matching" circular saw too. Equally old, equally durable. I may never need to buy a new circ!