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My husband works at a manufacturing plant in Eugene that makes heavy machinery for the recycling and wood products industry. They are doing well internationally at the moment because of the weakness of the US dollar. (It is a non-union shop.) The workers are skilled and have worked lots of over-time through the years. Several years ago, the firm "converted" to "lean manufacturing" and "just in time" delivery of parts once made on site.

Now waiting for parts and having to rework delivered ones have thrown their shipping schedule off almost all the time. Is this efficient and cost effective? No, now overtime is a way of life, waiting for and reworking parts. Testing and shipping dates are postponed. Occasionally custom orders worth millions of dollars are cancelled. Is this the way to compete in the gobal economy?

Maurie

posted 4 years, 8 months ago
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