Automation a bigger deal than offshoring?

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I've made this point for years.

As many here know, I do factory automation. Last year we took on a task to automate a plant of a regional dog food company. They employed around 120 factory workers with a burdened cost of around $23 an hour per person. (Burden costs include vacation, sick leave, insurance, taxes, employee building welfare, etc.)

After completing the project, the number fell to 32 factory people and that includes four techs. to keep it all humming along. No matter how you look at it, these folks are out of a job and their ability to find like work is some where between slim and none. After all, most factories are doing the same and are laying off people. (Or moving to low wage locations.)

The question that someone has to ask is, what happens when the general population can no longer find work, and make a wage to buy these products? So far I've not heard one reasonable answer. And no, go get more training is NOT an answer unless you can say specifically what it is they are to be trained in and what the job prospects are for them.

Posted by: No_Ax_to_Grind   Posted on: 03/12/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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