Made in USA. Three little words with a not-so-little impact! Read more
In a world where products from every corner of the globe flood our markets, the allure of locally made items, specifically ‘Made in America,’ is experiencing a resurgence. The charm of homegrown craftsmanship, the reassurance of quality, and the boost to our economy are some compelling reasons to rekindle our love affair with products made on American soil.
This blog aims to spark a conversation on the significance of supporting local businesses and how we can make ‘Made in America’ cool again. Let’s delve into this exciting journey of rediscovering and redefining American coolness!
In the last decade, we’ve lost millions of manufacturing jobs to outsourcing. According to U.S. News and World Report, there are now 5.1 million fewer American manufacturing jobs than in 2001. The lure of low wages, tax advantages, and other cost savings has made for a seemingly straightforward calculus, and manufacturer after manufacturer, supported by intricate spreadsheets, has abandoned ship until offshoring has become the emerging mantra of the new millennium. U.S. companies that still manufacture locally have slowly become outliers.
We recently spoke with Randy Kreider, owner of Harvest Array, an online marketplace dedicated to selling Made in the USA products.
Harvest Array started as an idea. They had an idea and worked tirelessly to bring it to life, all while staying committed to a very special mission—promoting products with a country of origin of “Made in USA.”
Their business has caught the attention of many, and we are fortunate to have them as part of the MAM Family.
In this article, we will explore the tale of our newest MAM member, tracing their path from a simple idea to a thriving business that focuses on American-made products. We will uncover the challenges they encountered along the way, their strategies to overcome obstacles, and the invaluable lessons they learned throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
Prepare to be inspired by their unwavering dedication, creative problem-solving, and passion for every American-made product they offer. Through their story, we aim to instill a sense of pride in supporting products with the “Made in USA” label.
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When I wrote the chapter on what manufacturers can do to save themselves for my first book, Can American Manufacturing be Saved? Why we should and how we can, published in 2009, one of my top recommendations was to begin the Lean journey to become a Lean manufacturer.
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Ever since the Leahy–Smith America Invents Act (AIA) was passed in 2011, there have been bills introduced in Congress with the purported purpose of restoring inventors’ rights and fixing some of the problems generated by that Act. None of these bills were passed by both the House and Senate, and most didn’t even get out of committee for a vote. A few of these bills would have actually made matters worse, so it was a good thing they didn’t pass.
Besides changing our patent system from a “first to invent” to a “first to file,” the “America Invents Act” also created the Patent Trial and Review Board (PTAB) which has nearly destroyed inventors’ rights. According to the U S Inventors end of the year report, “The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has canceled claims in 84% of the 2,500+ patents reviewed since 2011 and most inventors do not have a half a million dollars necessary to fund a legal defense.”
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On November 29, 2021, the Peterson Institute for International Economics released a 110-page brief, titled “Scoring 50 Years of US Industrial Policy, 1970–2020,” which reviews “lessons learned from half a century of US industrial policy” with regard to what worked and what didn’t.
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On November 17, 2021, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a virtual public release of its 2021 Annual Report to Congress in Washington, DC. This report provides “a review of economics, trade, security, political, and foreign affairs developments in 2021” with a focus on the “CCP’s economic and technological ambitions, the Chinese government’s evolving control of the corporate sector, U.S.-China financial connectivity and risks to U.S. national security, China’s nuclear forces, Chinese military capabilities and decision-making for a war over Taiwan…”
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Americans already feel the effects of supply chain shortages even before the traditional holiday shopping season starts on Back Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Ads by retailers are advising consumers to do their holiday shopping early to avoid not being able to get the items they want to give as presents. Even if you buy early, holiday shopping won’t be easy this year. Since the supply chain shortage is predicted to last well into next year, the solution is to buy less and buy American.
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Major retailers and thousands of small businesses face a bleak holiday season without Chinese goods to sell because of the long lineup of container ships from China waiting to enter major ports to offload their cargo.
It seems like Americans have to learn lessons the hard way. During the early stage of the COVID pandemic, there was a serious shortage of masks, ventilators, and other PPE equipment and supplies because we had become dependent on China for these goods. Now, American consumers are experiencing shortages in common consumer products at retail stores, and manufacturers are facing long lead times for components, ICs (chips), and other parts and assemblies. These shortages are projected to get worse before they improve sometime in 2022.
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