Greg:

Unfortunately you have struck a nerve on this subject.  I have worked in
contract manufacturing, electronic distribution, big business (Rockwell
Automation) and with an up-and-coming start-up company.  The problem is
simply labor costs and unfortunately, nothing can be done with the exception
of import tariffs.  Back when I worked at a rather large contract
manufacturer, our test technicians were getting paid the equivalent of
McDonalds and other fast food chains.  Unfortunately, to have skilled labor
and low costs is not capable here in the US.  People can respond to me
either on or offline if they can dispute this statement, but I can not see
room for dispute.  Quality and process efficiency requires skilled labor and
adequate technology.  The US may compete on prototype and/or low volume but
high volume can not be achieved at our labor rates.  Quality costs money and
no company wants to pay up front for it.  They would rather fix the wheel
then buy a better wheel.  Good luck with the article and sorry for the
negativity!

I would very much like to see your article upon completion!

Ken


-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Greg Jones
Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 4:10 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] US Competitivness--No Tech Content


I am working on an article/editorial for the Sept issue of an electronics
assembly publication.  The topic is the need to improve domestic (North
American) process efficiency and quality to retain a viable domestic
electronics assembly industry.
I would appreciate any comments, offline, on or off the record, on the issue
in general and specifically on what needs to be done to achieve this.
Thanks,

Greg Jones Ph.D.
Special Projects Manager
775.322.0158
KIC--Innovation That Works
www.kicthermal.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
To temporarily halt delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET
Technet NOMAIL
To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to
[log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm for additional
information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700
ext.5315
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
To temporarily halt delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL
To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm for additional
information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------