Plant Services - January 2008 - (Page 9) BACKTALK hank you, Joel Leonard, for your column “How are you fighting the Crisis?” (November 2007, page 25, www.PlantServices.com/articles/2007/223. html). As an engineer for General Motors, and now Hewlett-Packard, I’ve seen a significant deterioration in manufacturing infrastructure during the past 25 years. e pressure to cut costs by eliminating products and people are merely reactionary measures to systemic problems. To use operations as a competitive advantage has significantly higher ROI, but requires long-term vision and leadership. Manufacturing infrastructure is deteriorating T www.plan PERF ORMA NCE | REL IA BILIT Y|E FFIC IENCY | ASS E T MA NAG Stephen J. Duey, engineer Hewlett-Packard Company, Ft. Collins, Colo. Leadership in the MBA programs involves financial maneuvers and maximizing shareholder wealth as opposed to investing for solid long-term growth. Most people in MBA programs know nothing about how to make anything, other than PowerPoint presentations. Because operations and infrastructure aren’t as glamorous as investment banking, or some other businesses, this area of the American economy will continue to deteriorate. I have a BSEE, a MSEE in Solid State Physics, and a MBA in Operations Management, all from the Big-10 schools. tservices .com EMEN T Joined the maintenance evangelists army As a compadre in the training industry, I just wanted to say that I thought your recent article, “How are you fighting the Crisis?” was very thought-provoking. We (and industry) need to see more articles like this. I, too, am a member of the maintenance evangelists army. Robert M. Dombek, electrical trades program manager National Technology Transfer, Inc., Englewood, Colo. Joe Barroso, quality control supervisor Rancho Dominguez, Calif. subcontractors are thinking that if they mess up the relationship with their sub-tiers, their on-time deliveries ratings to their customers will be affected. is isn’t good news to the investors and/or the subcontractors’ businesses. Author provided a straightforward look at VSD No shortage of quality fade in manufacturing I recently read Paul Studebaker’s article “Quality fade,” (September 2007, page 9, www.PlantServices.com/articles/ 2007/197.html) and I share your views that quality fade isn’t exclusive to China. I believe this is being practiced throughout the manufacturing sector in the United States. I have more than 18 years working experience on many different products, which include sheet metal, gears, plastic and bearings in Southern California. I have seen many subcontractor manufacturers chose to outsource many of these jobs to sub-tiers because they’re able to produce the parts with less vigilance. Many of these sub-tiers are only qualified based on quality surveys, which are fi lled out and then reviewed by someone in quality, that their facility meets the intention of ISO 9000. In many cases, the subcontractors don’t have the resources to audit the sub-tiers, as long as their products are shipped to the subcontractor on time and with no quality problems. Many of these subcontractors impose the right to visit the sub-tiers’ facilities, but never follow through because sub-tiers are able to produce the parts for less. e J I recently read Chris E. Beals’ article on www.Plant Services.com, “A critical look at variable-speed-drive air compressors” (October 2006, page 45, www.PlantServices. com/articles/2006/278.html). His is the most straightforward article on the “spin” of VSD that I have ever seen in my 30 years in this glorious business! Rick Stein Air Center, Inc. Reasons for print preference I have two reasons for continuing to receive your magazine versus going on-line: 1. I work for a company that produces coated papers. We also maintain sustainable forest practices, so we are maintaining our forests. 2. I like to thumb thru magazines when I’m away from the computer/work. I spend a good portion of my day on the computer and probably wouldn’t read your magazine on-line if that was my only option. So keep cutting, planting and reading. Les Pepper Jr., director maintenance training International Paper, Jay, Maine .PLANTSERVICES. 9 http://www.PlantServices.com/articles/2007/223.html http://www.PlantServices.com/articles/2007/223.html http://www.PlantServices.com/articles/2006/278.html http://www.PlantServices.com/articles/2007/197.html http://www.PlantServices.com/articles/2006/278.html http://www.PlantServices.com/articles/2007/197.html http://www.PLANTSERVICES.com
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