Bob said:
> Winding this thread down is probably the best thing to do right now.

Bob - would you like to comment why.
It looks potentially net positive to me.
Sure it has risks, but that's a given.

Joe's first comments were not, I think, properly thought through, but
I'd have thought that his subsequent material was largely along the
lines that you'd be thinking, identified something that can be fixed
or done better, and may catalyse some positive action from someone
reading this.

For example, If Steve J did in fact say that an iPad could be built
(assembled) for $50 more in the US (and if that's manufacturing *cost*
and not selling-price increment then it's fatal) then might not it be
viable to actually sell two versions - with one costing more and
having clearly identified additional US content - the buyer pays
directly for the US labor etc and everyone wins (value of buyer's rosy
glow of satisfaction is priceless.)

I have recently been involved as a bit player in investigations
relating to bringing previously foreign manufactured products back "on
shore" (your shore, not mine) - to what extent tbd.

So I've got some idea of how US costs and pricing compares with that
in a few other countries**. My sample size is small but I may be able
to add some useful perspective even at this remove. But, only if we
have the conversation. ** eg plastic molding with ABS - in Asia
material cost dominates, in US labour cost dominates. How can this be
best addressed? Are there any positive aspects that can be taken
advantage of? (eg in Asia doubling the material; cost vastly increases
component cosat. In US the % rise . is far less. So use of a eg filled
premium material may be more attractive once decision is made to
manufacture onshore. )


I'd hope that questions like - "what do we need to do to manufacture
here?" and "what factors are addressable?" etc were worth asking in an
EE forum, as long as the boundaries were sensibly explained in
advance. The alternative seems to be "don't see, don't tell" on an
industrial scale.  No?


           Russell

PS: Maybe this is an occasion to catch up on overdue bracing and
inspiring offlist missives
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