July 2007
In the early 50s, production workers quietly changed the course of the world. Lean whichever way you will, but this is a Ronald Reagan story.
As host of “General Electric Theater” on CBS (1954–62), Reagan was contractually obliged to tour GE plants, and he supposedly visited 135 research and manufacturing facilities and met some 250,000 individuals. It was largely a PR campaign for GE and for Reagan as well—until he listened to some of those 250,000 men and women.
He heard, individually, from pro-union people and secretly from anti-union people. He heard from a woman who thought her child’s education was lacking but felt unable to move far from her work. He heard from people who wanted to know what GE’s plan was for five years and 10 years down the road. There’s a great shot somewhere of Reagan standing by a shut-down production line, surrounded by production workers, listening intently as one fellow makes a point. Reagan found GE management indifferent but found himself profoundly moved.
He listened to the workers and, in his way, admired them.
We come across government a few times in this issue—with state government providing incentives to attract manufacturing, eight governments coming together at the G8 Summit and making policy for industry, and Senate Democrats hosting the
Big Three automakers.
It’s very valuable, of course, to have the presidents of Germany, Russia, and the US talking about emission standards, and to have Democratic policymakers listen to Tom Lasorda of Chrysler talk about healthcare costs. But I believe they would gain even more by stepping onto the factory floor, without handlers or photographers in tow, sitting on folding chairs in a circle with production workers, and listening intently. Who can tell you more about healthcare costs than a mother or father facing job loss? Or the upside and downside of emission standards than a US autoworker?
Sounds simplistic, I admit, but policy should be simpler.
Dann Maurno - Editor
The Manufacturer editorial guide
Interview
Lead Story
Do you really want to retain this guy?
Staff retention maintains a company’s institutional knowledge, but it can also be destructive, finds April Terreri
28 Jun 2007
Latest Features
Attitude adjustment: judges' views of auditors take a dive
Reprinted with permission of the W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University
After Enron imploded and WorldCom bit the dust, one question topped investors' minds: Where were the auditors?
11 Jul 2007
Guess selects the tradecard platformand SourceView suite to optimize global trade
NEW YORK, July 10, 2007 – TradeCard Inc., the leading provider of global trade solutions for financial and physical supply chain automation, has announced that leading global brand and retailer Guess has signed with TradeCard to implement the TradeCard Platform and SourceView visibility suite for deductions management, goods receipt and supply chain scorecarding.
10 Jul 2007
The Internet grows up: What Web 2.0 means to business
The new-and-improved Web 2.0 means more than connectivity to consumers: it means profit to business, find the experts at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
05 Jul 2007
HR: The Gen-X friendly workplace
A few days ago we reported on
This keenly entitled bunch doesn't like to get its hands dirty. But its teenaged siblings, called Generation X, are even more entitled and less patient. Author Deanne DeMarco explains why.
02 Jul 2007
Do you really want to retain this guy?
Staff retention maintains a company’s institutional knowledge, but it can also be destructive, finds April Terreri
28 Jun 2007
Recap: The Manufacturer LIVE
Two very gratifying days brought together the best in manufacturing, government, and thought leadership
28 Jun 2007
Articles
Clockin’ Out: Play hooky from the School of Hard Knocks
It’s easy to make mistakes in the bidding process, with competition as stiff as it is. G.O. Batten has written several dozen bids and offers his wisdom
28 Jun 2007
Economics: It’s not your fault
Outsourcing is making us look richer and more productive than we really are, believes economist David Blond
28 Jun 2007
Lean Journey: Zealots—Who needs them?
Anand Sharma believes that extremism in lean leadership is no vice
28 Jun 2007
Tiny perfection
Nanotechnology is poised to revolutionize energy transfer, mechanics, optics, and data storage, but it started its revolution in medical devices. Ruari McCallion takes a very close look
28 Jun 2007
States race to capture lead in alternative energy
But Pamela H. Derringer finds that the cost are often high; a little federal R&D money would help
28 Jun 2007
Mobile computing sets workers free
“Not in the office” does not mean non-productive in a wireless world, finds Matt Bolch
28 Jun 2007
Five myths about wireless LANs
If it can connect a nation of Web surfers and emailers, can it connect an enterprise?
28 Jun 2007
The G8 plans for industry
It’s been called a “paper tiger,” but the US tends to keep its resolves. So what does the G8 want from industry?
28 Jun 2007
Opportunity zones: SEEDS for success
Linda Seid Frembes learns how USS Real Estate, the State of Pennsylvania, and the surrounding communities are turning one plant closing into multiple global plants
28 Jun 2007
Manufacturing in a Service-Oriented Enterprise
A service-oriented transformation starts with IT, but it should shape the enterprise as well By Jan Winters and Gary Baldwin, Capgemini
28 Jun 2007
Act fast! CPOs have little time to deliver big results
With the weight of worldwide success on their shoulders, purchasing officers are feeling the pressure, find these supply chain experts
28 Jun 2007
US trade potential huge, not guaranteed, says UPS CEO
At the Americas Competitiveness Forum, UPS CEO Mike Eskew described what gets in the way of trade among neighbors
28 Jun 2007
Employment practices liability insurance
Think you’re covered? Look closer. EPLI is like car insurance: it varies in its coverage, says insurance industry veteran Mark Fitzgerald
28 Jun 2007
Continuous flow at its best
Don’t stop till your customer says “Bravo.” For Signicast, John Harney learns, that customer was Volvo
28 Jun 2007
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