American
Manufacturing.
I
never thought I'd speak for, or about the American Labor movement, but where
I've been for the past seven years and where I see us all going, as we try to
compete against third world countries, makes places like Photochemicals doomed.
Outdated equipment, neglected for decades while the Corporation pocketed profits
rather than reinvest, operated by workers steeped in an entitlement culture,
with supplies of dubious quality at escalating prices, makes this environment,
and all those like it (I'd say, thousands) in deep, deep trouble.
Now,
in Photochemicals, we go to the next magic effort, Work Systems Redesign, and
once again, I'll do what I can, but having been down this path for the past seven
years I'd venture to say the outcome may very well be reduced volumes, leading
to people reductions (lost jobs) and a redistribution of work across more
current plants, probably within emerging third world markets (like, China, for
instance).
This
redistribution will not be limited to Photochemicals, I'm sure, as it's a
global issue, so my recommendation is for us all to learn Chinese as soon as
possible.