This article is a web-exclusive companion to Home-Run Hitters: Four manufacturers who are confronting globalization--and winning--by maximizing the competitive advantages of U.S.-based production. Here the leaders share additional insights on maximizing U.S.-based production in a global world. They include the following:
Brian Jones, president, Nypro Inc., Clinton, Mass.
Richard E. Dauch, co-founder, chairman and CEO, American Axle & Manufacturing, Detroit
William B. Stockwell, president, Stockwell Rubber Co., Inc., Philadelphia
Dov Charney, senior partner, American Apparel, Los Angeles
William B. Stockwell, president, Stockwell Rubber Co. Inc., Philadelphia
. . . on the future of U.S. manufacturing: "I still think we're going to see new devices, new instruments, new products created in the high-technology areas of the U.S. As long as we're still allowing innovation to occur in this country, and as long as the model still looks like we'll be making the first X number of units or developing the product in the U.S., we'll be fine."
"Frankly, we're probably going to see China and India grow in their ability to create new products, because they are very bright people, they are very bright engineers. I'm not saying we have to play the dominant role, but as long as we're one of the leaders in developing new product technology, I think we'll be OK."
. . . on Stockwell's best customer: "[We] continually search for those makers of equipment [whose] production run might be 5,000 to10,000 units -- but it's a high-value product where the performance of the product is critical, and the role of the gasket or cushioning pad that we make also makes a big difference in the performance of their product."
"My typical customer has needs for very rapid turnaround time in terms of the initial production schedule, and my best customers tend to need us to be really . . . fast in terms of being able to fulfill a sudden change in an MRP requirement."
"None of my best customers tell me that I'm the least expensive out there. What they will tell me is the overall value we provide earns us the business, and that overall value goes beyond the lowest unit-cost production. It's the design assistance, it's the assistance with prototyping, it's the rapid deployment for initial production."
"We cater best to these smaller niche innovative companies that are rather lean in their engineering staffs, where we become an extension of their engineering team."
