Time to read: 4 min

As the COVID-19 crisis disrupts the world of manufacturing and supply chain, it challenges our perception of globalization. Governments around the world are acting to reduce dependency on China, with a bill in the United States and Japan providing billions in incentives to move supply chains. What does that mean for manufacturing, and what could a post-COVID new world order look like?

在本周的掩体中，来自CNC以及产品开发和原型世界的两名专家嘉宾丹尼·约克（Danny Yorke）和格雷格·矿工（Gregg Miner）加入了菲利普（Philip）和我，探索美国的制造业，并讨论更短，更具区域化的供应链的样子。很高兴探索美国可用的制造专业知识的巨大广度和深度，并拥有两位客人，他们对制造业有很多经验和热情。

  • 丹尼·约克（Danny Yorke）是约克·普西米（Yorke Precision）的制造经理，他与他的兄弟布莱恩（Brian）一起管理。Brian is skilled in sales, marketing, business development, strategy/planning and, of course, machining. Danny has an MBA from CSU Monterey Bay. Under Brian and Danny’s leadership, Yorke Precision has increased sales every year and plans to expand to a larger location.
  • Gregg Miner describes himself as a Maker, Breaker and Innovator. He is an expert in Product Development, Prototyping and Manufacturing.格雷格（Gregg）被驱使通过出色的设计和工程来制造出色的产品，并与销售和营销，设计，工程和制造等跨职能团队合作，为市场带来惊人的想法。

Before we began our conversation, my co-host, journalist Philip Stoten, shared some of the headlines that caught his eye this week:

  • We are seeing more government intervention in the supply chain and in manufacturing, with the U.S. president signing a proclamation that suspended access to green cards for certain groups.
  • Robots are doing more and more in the workplace and on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, with stories aboutrobots that help get food on grocery store shelves;无人机和AGV被重新用于消毒或监视公共区域；乃至Dr. Spot, the robot dog seeing COVID-19 patients在波士顿的杨百翰和妇女医院。
  • 在行业周中引起我关注的一个标题是“Technology Takes Center Stage As Manufacturers Pivot”。根据最近的一项调查，有49％的企业正在使用机器人技术或自动化来帮助一线工人枢纽生产新产品并应对与Covid-19危机相关的生产挑战。
  • Meanwhile, according to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics,上周有4,427,000人申请失业保险, and more than 26 million have filed for unemployment benefits since the coronavirus outbreak began closing businesses.

From our guests

In the debate around globalization and a return to full U.S. manufacturing capacity, our panel agreed upon a few things. First, there is a demand to reduce manufacturing and supply chain dependency on China. Second, a resurgence in U.S. manufacturing and a more regionalized supply chain is desirable. Third, consumers and brands do not want to pay more. Finally, digital transformation and automation can level the playing field and reduce dependence on low-cost labor.

丹尼（Danny）和格雷格（Gregg）都强调了在选择制造地理和合作伙伴时了解所有权总成本的必要性。许多决策者都在考虑价格，并且不会考虑旅行和联络人周围的所有隐藏成本，更不用说浪费的时间了，这要归功于迭代速度较慢。较短的供应链，尤其是在发射期间，产品的坡道和桥阶段产生了许多经常被忽略的附加价值。

丹尼（Danny）解释说，中国机械师的费用可能仅占美国机械师成本的十分之一，但是由于自动化和机器人处理系统，他可以拥有一名机械师，要管理超过四个CNC车床。他还能够脱机进行所有编程，释放机器和操作员的时间，以更有效地部署和更高的价值项目。丹尼（Danny）的团队一直在24/7全天候运行，以帮助他们的客户在这些挑战时期交付产品。

Gregg agrees that automation can increase the volumes that can be practically and economically manufactured in the U.S., adding a note of caution against trying to build China in the U.S.

The panelists were all adamant that the single-minded and almost lemming-like rush to China has been counterproductive, and supply chain diversity is needed as a correction. In fact, on earnings calls, questions around moving manufacturing from China and creating supply chain agility and resilience are being regularly tabled.

在掩体中提出的一个问题是技能短缺以及它们如何影响美国和其他地方的生产能力的能力足够快。能力是一个真正的问题。当我们谈论从中国转移制造业时，我们应该记得它们的产能在4万亿美元以北，而我们谈论的其他选择等其他选择，但他们的400亿美元制造能占中国的1％。

Here are a few of the key takeaways from The Supply Chain Bunker, Episode #6:

  • Craftsmanship and manufacturing expertise are alive and well in the U.S.
  • Total cost of ownership is more important than price; learn how to calculate it.
  • 美国制造业很有意义，而且数量高达100,000
  • Manufacturing has really rallied during the COVID-19 crisis.
  • 不要试图建立中国在美国;构建something better and future-proof.
  • Do more of what you’re great at.