When It's Time To Scale, US Manufacturing Hits a Wall

curtwoodward writes "MIT researchers looked at 150 of the school's spin-out companies in manufacturing businesses over a decade, and found many of them hit the same chasm: Once it was time to ramp up to large-scale production, they couldn't find domestic investors and had to go overseas. The bulk of the research will be published later this year, but it raises an interesting conundrum — if an MIT-pedigreed company has serious trouble ramping up production in the U.S., how much harder is it for the 'average' business that wants to grow? Is it even still possible to do high-tech manufacturing here — or should it be?" Intel seems to be doing OK with U.S. manufacturing, but they have the advantage of established operations.

Comments

Re:where are they!!!?

[Tablizer]

Where are all the Job Creators!! I hear so much about the favorable treatment they deserve.

Indeed. I just kicked a dude in the face. I helped create a job for both a surgeon and an orthodontist. It feels so good to be a job creator.

Re:I'm that guy on my block

[CncRobot]

Yea, with a username of CncRobot its probably a good guess I would have no idea what a CNC Router could do.

Re:Spoiled Americans

[rve]

Go ahead, take your plant to the Netherlands (or wherever), you'll be back in five years, looking for qualified steel workers!

How can a US based company ever compete with a low wage, low cost of living country like the Netherlands, where employees aren't entitled to any benefits and will work 12+ hours a day for a basic meal?