Is America Suffering From Manufacturing Complacency?
But by the end of the 1980s, something had changed. Overseas competition had forced American manufacturers to go back to the table and formulate new strategies. Lean manufacturing and just-in-time methods became the norm. Focus was redirected on quality, rather than volume. By the end of the 1990s, American manufacturers were once again on top. Now it seems like everything is well and good. But is it?
“My fear is that we've peaked and now are starting to slide back,” says Dan McDonnell, president of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME). “After the debacle of the mid-80s, American manufacturers started to concentrate on quality and innovative manufacturing methods. So much so, that it was the prime focus in the battle to stay competitive.