[–] yewotm8 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago (edited ago)
It's true. Anybody working in any sort of assembly/manufacturing in North America will tell you that not only are Chinese parts cheaper after freight cost, they're often more consistent and higher quality as well. If your competitors are getting Chinese shit and you aren't, you're probably fucked. Local guys for the most part don't even try to be better at the one advantage they have: they can respond quicker and rework things easier. They constantly do shit that makes you think they don't really want your business, meanwhile Chinese are hungry. It's a huge shitfest caused by a culture that doesn't take pride in making things anymore, vs one that does. Maybe its because too many brown people are hired by local guys, maybe the white guys they hire are apathetic, lazy, and overunionized, maybe management doesn't give a fuck about long term and just wants a quick buck, etc.
[–] prairie 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago
It's a lost opportunity. Way back when China wasn't making this stuff, a company coming up with new uses for things and new products would be an opportunity for manufacturers to invest in equipment and expertise to meet demand, because there was no alternative. Now that China is there with inexpensive stuff, it'll be hard to revitalize industry in the USA since there is already established competition that will always undercut you.
It's like the 'tards pushing for higher minimum wage. They push the development of robotic replacements, and once those exist, there is no going back. Humans will not be able to compete on those jobs, even working for half minimum wage.
[–] crazy_eyes ago
its not production of the screws. its mass production of them. And its not the knowledge to make them its the equipment
[–] Meme_Factory_1776 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
Right on crazy eyes!! Seen this in other machining shops. The goal was not to reduce the smarts it was to reduce the machinery. The machines were scraped and the countries that do this now got new 'different' 'low qaulity (in comparison)' machines.
It's been a long time since I worked in a machine shop but it's just nuts to think of all small shops and large shops that 'disappeared'.
No shops = no classes = lost art.
[–] captainstrange ago (edited ago)
Calling bullshit on this samy.
China just figured out how to make pen nibs. They're only now just catching up, thanks to a great deal of collusion and graft.
If the collusion ended the graft would too and they'd quickly stagnant.
Why?
Because china is a colony of ant people devoid of any imagination.