About 14% of U.S. companies surveyed by a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor definitely plan to move some of their manufacturing back home—the latest sign of growing interest among executives in a strategy known as "reshoring." [snip]Manufacturing's rebirth could come from another direction, however. Just as the computer industry was eventually revolutionized by hobbyists tinkering in their garages, the grassroots "maker" movement is adding more enthusiasts every day. Do-it-yourself craftsmen and inventors are flocking to Maker Faires and subscribing to Make Magazine. The movement has begun to attract venture capital for companies that exploit the fruits of makers' ideas, as well as supply products to this burgeoning industry.
Among the main reasons cited for reshoring: a desire to get products to market faster and respond rapidly to customer orders; savings from reduced transportation and warehousing; improved quality and protection of intellectual property.
If a would-be Edison lacks modern manufacturing equipment and the skill to use it, he can acquire both for about the same price as a gym membership. TechShop
provides access to a wide variety of machinery and tools including milling machines and lathes, welding stations and a CNC plasma cutter, sheet metal working equipment, drill presses and band saws, industrial sewing machines, hand tools, plastic and wood working equipment including a 4' x 8' ShopBot CNC router, electronics design and fabrication facilities, Epilog laser cutters, tubing and metal bending machines, a Dimension SST 3-D printer, electrical supplies and tools, and pretty much everything you'd ever need to make just about anything.TechShop has locations in California, Michigan, and North Carolina and will soon expand to Texas and New York. It offers safety and proficiency instruction to all its members.
From a short-run perspective the job picture is dismal. In the longer run it's rarely been more hopeful. © 2012 Stephen Yuen
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