5 years ago I was trying to get a custom aluminium enclosure for some circuit boards manufactured. We found potential suppliers in Taiwan, but they basically would have needed an expert onsite to be able to set up all the jigs. They also could have supported us through rapid scaling by switching to moulded raw stock which then was post machined, and would bring down unit prices a lot.
However, one guy knew a local SoCal machine shop that supplied parts to the auto modding scene and had a bunch of 5-axis milling machines. For 200 units they would beat Taiwan on every metric: cost, time, effort on our side, flexibility for changes.
We're engineers. From this lens, the difference between us and cavemen are the tools we have. We should lean into this.
[–] lifeisstillgood 23 hours ago
[–] weitendorf 20 hours ago
People are much more likely to try something if they see peers and role models doing it. Even better if it’s something fun and exciting that they want to be a part of.
I think to convince someone to run a factory instead of trying to become MTS @ lab, they should know 1. it’s not a binary “make it or break it” where failure means doing some boring, poorly paid job (the downside is good but not so guaranteed that it’s abused/attracts the wrong people ) 2. it’s interesting and challenging and enjoyable at times 3. it’s meaningful at a societal or personal level. That's what made tech/AI/finance work and it's the competing pitch.
Why should someone with other options want to work in or operate a factory?
So industrial policy should be focused on high end engineering quality, more than bringing jobs back
(Might be spotting a political problem there but in general I think I agree)