General Discussion

Tansy_Gold

(17,855 posts)

13. I've done it.

Tue Jan 24, 2012, 01:06 PM

Jan 2012

It's low-skill.

Most of it does not require understanding the product or even how the individual operator's task fits into the grand scheme of the device. Minimal but very task-specific training required, hours maybe, day at the most.

Tansy Gold, who "did it" when high tech electronics manufacturing was still done in the US

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Why the United States Will Never, Ever Build the iPhone [View all] ashling Jan 2012 OP

What "skill" is there to assembly work? ingac70 Jan 2012 #1

You are correct! This is just like the B.S. about companies unable to find qualified Americans rfranklin Jan 2012 #2

I agree... Money making trumps all else... midnight Jan 2012 #33

Yup. We're out there. We don't want to work on their terms. Initech Jan 2012 #37

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #3

Not skilled labor. Sorry. Might be difficlut, but still unskilled. Ikonoklast Jan 2012 #6

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #8

I've done it. Tansy_Gold Jan 2012 #13

Forbes: Cheap Labor, Taxes, Location: Why Apple Doesn't Build Products in the U.S. rfranklin Jan 2012 #36

What, Americans can't learn it? originalpckelly Jan 2012 #69

T1, and are you saying putting phones together is hard? snooper2 Jan 2012 #12

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #14

I wouldn't agree with that..a machinst should be able to make cam or a gear for a Rolex snooper2 Jan 2012 #34

That's an operator, not a machinist. Mopar151 Jan 2012 #61

Tesha's right--those kids are good! nt Romulox Jan 2012 #17

It's their tiny hands that make all the difference. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #27

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #44

No, I agree. Sometimes we need to use children or segregate workers based on race Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #49

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #50

+1 ingac70 Jan 2012 #83

Are you saying that American workers are somehow inferior to those in China? Hugabear Jan 2012 #31

wow we beg your forgivness you have a screwdriver. youre right no one in the us is qualified leftyohiolib Jan 2012 #39

"ultra-fine-pitch assembly work"? joshcryer Jan 2012 #71

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #72

I don't own an iPhone, but flex cables are very very easy. joshcryer Jan 2012 #78

10 years worth, Thanks for asking. ingac70 Jan 2012 #79

My girlfriends employer outsourced to a company in Texas Sen. Walter Sobchak Jan 2012 #92

I can say from personal experience: not that much. eShirl Jan 2012 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #9

and soon robots will be doing all the assembly work. (NT) eShirl Jan 2012 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #46

I don't see that as a problem, I see it as a solution. joshcryer Jan 2012 #75

Not as long as there is cheap human labor. progressoid Jan 2012 #76

I totally agree ThomThom Jan 2012 #47

I, sir, take that as a personal insult. Mopar151 Jan 2012 #60

I used to work in the automotive industry.... ingac70 Jan 2012 #81

Mike the journals, bore guage the saddles, pick the inserts to get the clearence right Mopar151 Jan 2012 #89

Tell that to the UAW. n/t hughee99 Jan 2012 #67

I used to be UAW.... ingac70 Jan 2012 #82

When did assembly work become "unskilled"? hughee99 Jan 2012 #84

Once you work there you become skilled? joshcryer Jan 2012 #87

So the quality of workers hughee99 Jan 2012 #88

That depends on the educational level of the area you are going to.... ingac70 Jan 2012 #98

What does it matter, if they train you on the job to do something that requires no skill hughee99 Jan 2012 #99

Not according to Toyota. ingac70 Jan 2012 #100

they... ingac70 Jan 2012 #91

"Industrial Policy Matters" baldguy Jan 2012 #4

As an aside, but about the iPad... MineralMan Jan 2012 #7

The article eats its own tail. Zalatix Jan 2012 #10

At first glance, one would think it's about skill . . . but further on . . . HughBeaumont Jan 2012 #18

Well said JustAnotherGen Jan 2012 #19

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #48

Tell that to Verizon JustAnotherGen Jan 2012 #57

Psst JustAnotherGen Jan 2012 #58

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #62

Another part of the problem. MattBaggins Jan 2012 #30

They don't need our money, they can print their own. girl gone mad Jan 2012 #85

Its not the money quakerboy Jan 2012 #93

if they were happy to work under those conditions, foxxconn wouldn't have to erect saftey nets frylock Jan 2012 #35

The main reason sharp_stick Jan 2012 #15

........ marmar Jan 2012 #16

Uh, that's cowshit. Tansy_Gold Jan 2012 #20

an A for observation leftyohiolib Jan 2012 #40

I liked it, though! Tansy_Gold Jan 2012 #41

an A for wit leftyohiolib Jan 2012 #42

It's because Apple's fans have no problem defending child labor, neo-slavery. Romulox Jan 2012 #21

In about 5-10 years the assembly will all be done by robots anyway johnd83 Jan 2012 #22

Cheaper than $2 a day? quakerboy Jan 2012 #94

$2 a day is for subsistance peasants johnd83 Jan 2012 #96

"A foreman immediately roused 8,000 workers inside the company’s dormitories, redqueen Jan 2012 #23

"China needs a labor movement" MattBaggins Jan 2012 #25

Exactly. Zalatix Jan 2012 #28

+1 redqueen Jan 2012 #29

Or both! Fearless Jan 2012 #68

Tail ... GeorgeGist Jan 2012 #24

Unfortunately, the trend is moving R&D overseas as well IDemo Jan 2012 #26

Insult to American workers. Hugabear Jan 2012 #32

You mean they have more UNSKILLED factory workers. Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #38

Shit, throw a 10,000 duty on the shit and you'll see a factory in Alabama ASAP TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #43

But a tariff would be 'racist' and 'xenophobic'. LOL! Zalatix Jan 2012 #45

Right on TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #52

What a load of fertilizer! Motorola used to have a ton of maunufacturing plants in the US. retread Jan 2012 #51

It is funny how these Reich Wing/corporate talking points are now Democratic cannon, TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #53

You need to understand the equation. Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #54

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #64

Yes, but Apple is supposed to be a "good" company. Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #65

Often enough it is probably the same site TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #97

I'm disappointed to see that, too... Blue_Tires Jan 2012 #56

It's not even low cost. girl gone mad Jan 2012 #86

Indeed they did - I worked for Motorola in the 1980's Crabby Appleton Jan 2012 #59

That's apple's story and they are sticking to it Blue_Tires Jan 2012 #55

Greed Aerows Jan 2012 #63

"Cheap labor isn't the issue?" It is when the slave labor builds it cheaper than robots. high density Jan 2012 #66

we haven't even gotten to supply chains yet maggiesfarmer Jan 2012 #70

I would buy that if we weren't making the glass or ICs. joshcryer Jan 2012 #73

not saying that labor isn't a factor maggiesfarmer Jan 2012 #77

Well, one reason labor "costs so much here" is we have standards that defend labor. joshcryer Jan 2012 #80

another point, about Chinese companies being so flexible maggiesfarmer Jan 2012 #74

You expect me to believe that quakerboy Jan 2012 #90

They can build it. Who will be able to buy it? aquart Jan 2012 #95