Amen Brother!
Gary Carmichael
In a message dated 1/15/2012 12:35:22 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
The RTR mfrs are in a pickle simply because China has been their primary
source, if not sole source, for products for a LONG time. A comment made
farther down Jason’s blog re: offering kits has merit but the RTR momentum,
particularly if we’re trying to entice younger modelers to “join us”, will
be difficult to slow down or redirect.
I’ve been a design engineer in the manufacturing world all of my
professional life (since 1981). I’ve been privileged to have worked in many
industries, ranging from Navy Nuclear subcontractor, to industrial
thermometers,
to making jet engine parts, pneumatic pumps, injection molding, sheet metal,
foundries and rapid prototypin g. They all have 1 common threat:
everything was made in the US. Granted, none of these industries cater to the
fickle hobby world (not JUST model railroading is included here), but each of
my employers were committed to stay with Made in the USA as long as
possible. Nearly all of those employers are still in business although I’m
sure
a few have contracted more expensive parts of their processes to offshore
sources.
I have been a firm believer that there IS a way to continue making model
RR parts solely in the US at a price that will not cause “sticker shock”.
America has the greatest manufacturing and design diversity and potential
on Earth but corporate greed has led many CEO’s and stockholders to look for
the easy way to make a buck instead of ke eping jobs here. It takes hard
work to continually come up with better ways to build the proverbial mouse
trap but many companies would rather sell out to a Communist country then
try to resolve difficult problems.
I’m not going on a rant here; this list is NOT the place for that. I’m
simply stating my position as a model RR manufacturer since 1994. Here’s
the “model RR content” portion: Given that costs to produce anything in
China that’s labor- or petroleum-related will continue to rise for at least
several years, the playing field between the US and China continues to get
more level every day. If more US mfrs would take the time to develop
highly-efficient processes that can produce a better quality product for even
a
little mor e money than China, I think we will start seeing model RR goodies
made here. Think about just the money saved in shipping containers halfway
around world! Kadee and many others have been doing it for a long time.
It won’t happen overnight but it CAN be done. If it means we will see more
semi-RTR or kits, that’s fine too. That helps the detail parts guys even
more.
I’m proud to state on my web site that all of my products are Made in The
USA, including raw materials. It’s way past time for others to bring this
stuff back to the US even if it costs (for now) a little more on sticker
price.
Jim King
Smoky Mountain Model Works, Inc.
Ph. (828) 777-5619
<www.smokymountainmodelworks.com>
