Supply Chain

Does your employer owe you a living?

Sept. 29, 2006

Okay, it's time for a quick polling question. I live in northern Ohio, where the rust in the Rust Belt was invented, and it's a popular sport here to debate the why's and wherefore's of manufacturing. Some point to the loss of millions of mfg jobs over the past decade as evidence of the decline and fall of the American industrial economy. Others point to that same job loss as evidence of America's increased focus on productivity and efficiency, resulting in a robust economic model that is producing more products with fewer people -- leading to stronger and more profitable companies.

So here's the question:

What is the main responsibility of a manufacturing company?
* To make a profit for its shareholders
* To build products for its customers
* To provide jobs for its employees
* To be a good corporate citizen

About the Author

Dave Blanchard Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Supply Chain

Email: [email protected]

Follow on Twitter @supplychainDave

Call: 216-931-9794

Contributing Editor Dave Blanchard provides the IndustryWeek audience his expertise in lean supply chain, reporting on topics from logistics, procurement and inventory management to warehousing and distribution. He also specializes in business finance news and analysis, writing on such topics as corporate finance and tax, cost management, governance, risk and compliance, and budgeting and reporting.

Dave is also the chief editor of Penton Media’s Business Finance and editorial director of Material Handling & Logistics.

With over 25 years of experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2010), and is a frequent speaker at industry events. Dave is an award-winning journalist and has been twice named one of the nation’s top columnists by the American Society of Business Publications Editors.

Dave received his B.A. in English from Northern Illinois University, and was a high school teacher prior to his joining the publishing industry. He is married and has two daughters.