U.S. Manufacturing Is Set for Stability and Growth

The Reshoring Initiative has released an infographic titled “New Dawn for Manufacturing Careers in America” in time for Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) 2016, which is scheduled for October 7.

The infographic seems intended for manufacturing decision-makers, arguing that “manufacturing is once again a great choice for career stability and growth.” Two key parts of this argument are 1) that net annual job loss to offshoring is said to have dropped to zero in 2015, and 2) that labor costs have risen in countries historically looked to for offshoring, particularly China. Additionally, the initiative argues that in terms of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), lean product design, automation and shorter lead times can often make it more profitable to manufacture domestically.

The ultimate intention of this infographic is to spur greater attention to be put on workforce development, as MFG Day also promotes. Reshoring Initiative President Harry Moser says “A strong skilled workforce is key to reshoring and manufacturing growth.” In a presentation given at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) a couple weeks ago, he argued that reshoring leads to a virtuous circle of recruitment, productivity and competitiveness, leading in turn to more domestic jobs (along with a reduction in the number of offshore jobs, as the logic goes).

Mr. Moser goes on to say, “By demonstrating that the trend is now away from offshoring and towards reshoring, we make the case that manufacturing is once again a great choice for stability and growth.” While the information in the Reshoring Initiative’s infographic is definitely aimed at business owners (rather than, say, students, who are the primary target of MFG Day events), the argument that U.S. manufacturing is trending away from offshoring and toward stability and growth would seem to meet many parents’ key concerns when it comes to their children’s careers, according to an oft-cited 2014 survey by Deloitte. Perhaps those manufacturers who are persuaded by the Reshoring Initiative’s infographic can repackage the argument for the parents of students this MFG Day.