Apple have given up the means of production if true they are doomed

[gaelic cowboy]

But it won't be called an iPod, so what does Apple have to worry about? It seems like it would be more of an issue for other companies.

Because Apple would not be able to produce anything at all having shifted production to China they would in effect have lost the ability to produce Ipods

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Because Apple would not be able to produce anything at all having shifted production to China they would in effect have lost the ability to produce Ipods

Yeah, but why would the production companies suddenly quite making apple iPods unless they can sell their chinese iPod's?

[gaelic cowboy]

Ask yourself why anyone changes brands then do you remember the early mp3 players yeah neither do I

Japanese tv suppliers did the same to american tv companies does anyone even know an american tv brand now

[Centurion1]

yeah but who wants to run a production line in america ill be honest, we are more lazy, more expensive, and worse workers.

the cost difference for a us and a chinese worker is so drastically different. for example all that faulty stuff toyota recently produced were almost completely made in new american factories. not exactly reassuring for business owners is it.

America needs to find a way to be industrial instead of post industrial service nation but it may be too late.

[Furunculus]

yeah but who wants to run a production line in america ill be honest, we are more lazy, more expensive, and worse workers.

i'm with Centurion.

i even gave you guys an article detailing how little of the value of a product lies in manufacture, and how hi-tech companies keep the profits despite the perception of china-takes-all, and all i get is silence!

you want to live in a run-down peasant tenement in 25 years time, then fine, keeping trying to out-compete china on manufacturing costs, your retirement will be grim.

if not then invent to crazy new *(^% that other people just have to have in their products, compete or die.*




* or try to live in the EU where they will raise tariffs and pretend the rest of the world isn't happening whilst demographics nosedive.

[gaelic cowboy]

i'm with Centurion.

i even gave you guys an article detailing how little of the value of a product lies in manufacture, and how hi-tech companies keep the profits despite the perception of china-takes-all, and all i get is silence!

you want to live in a run-down peasant tenement in 25 years time, then fine, keeping trying to out-compete china on manufacturing costs, your retirement will be grim.

if not then invent to crazy new *(^% that other people just have to have in their products, compete or die.*




* or try to live in the EU where they will raise tariffs and pretend the rest of the world isn't happening whilst demographics nosedive.

Furunclus your foscusing on the wrong things you cannot move all production to cheaper regions its not good strategic thinking it is quite frankly inherently unstable one war or earthquake in whatever country your in and all your production plants are out of action.

By all means outsource if you have twenty factories keep four or five in US same in Europe rest in Asia spread your into say three key centers in US, Europe and Asia now your really competing but if you outsource all your production and think oh its ok we just keep the research you will get caught and suddenly you wont be able to compete or anything. Obviously you need to invest in more automation in the more expensive regions but that is the price of keeping your business strategically safe

[gaelic cowboy]

America needs to find a way to be industrial instead of post industrial service nation but it may be too late.

More automation is the key for US companies then quality quality quality needs to be bashed into the heads of the workers its the only way. The reality is that our world is moving to a post industrial state even in China and its only going to get more service orientated in the future. Today one worker no matter where in the world makes more for less in less time than 100 years ago and thats a good thing manufacturing will become less important in such a world due to the fact that we fulfill the needs without using the globes full potential for consumer goods.

However moving to a completely service and research base in America and depending on suppliers to be strategic long term partners is not a sensible strategy for any business. I have no doubt this strategy looks cool on the share price blah blah keep high value jobs at home blah blah outsource the cheap jobs blah blah consumer gets cheaper IPod everyone is happy well no they should not be cos those research jobs can go just as easy and if your supplier comes up with the next killer app and tells you get stuffed what can you do you have no plant in America to make products.

[Furunculus]

However moving to a completely service and research base in America and depending on suppliers to be strategic long term partners is not a sensible strategy for any business

they aren't.

there is a reason why that intel announced the intention to invest ~$9B in new semi conductor fabrication plants in america.

not in ireland.
or in israel,
or even in china or taiwan.

in america!

[gaelic cowboy]

they aren't.

there is a reason why that intel announced the intention to invest ~$9B in new semi conductor fabrication plants in america.

not in ireland.
or in israel,
or even in china or taiwan.

in america!

They are an example of a strategically sound company they also have research and design plants in Ireland, Israel etc etc etc

[Furunculus]

dyson attempts to bring back engineering to the UK:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/f...ng-vacuum.html