There's a great discussion going on in the MFGx Forums. The topic is "China - the good, the bad, and the ugly."
The main push of this thread is China's position as a trade partner and supply base for manufacturing. Every conceivable opinion about it is presented by the MFGx community - protectionist, global Laissez-faire, and everything in-between.
Do you have a take? Then come on in and drop a line or two. Challenge a position. Lend your voice to this important conversation.
Like it or not China is here to stay and we have to accomodate China's position on the world stage. An economy this big and growing so robustly has a very significant affect on global trade. I think we have come to the end of one era and are seeing the start of another. Inflation, environmental issues, the strengthening currency and a drive to move upstream in manufacturing value add products have all contributed (and will continue to contribute) to a change in trade patterns this year. What was a threat to US domestic manufacturers 2 years ago may not be a threat now, costs are going up in China both in Dollars and in real terms. China is ceasing to be a major export player in many basic industries, this process will continue. Like Japan and Korea in the 60's and 80's China will evolve into a mature economy and we should look for the opportunities this process presents rather than focus unduly on the threats we think it poses. There is already a move to find the next China, the next low cost source for manufacturing. Unfortunately it does not exist. Vietnam a country of only 87m compared to China's 1.3bn cannot possible provide the human resources to match what China has done over the last 10 yrs and is experiencing 20%+ inflation in an attempt to do so. India lacks the infrastructure to grow beyond its current rate, so we are going to have to come terms with a different world 2010 to 2020 than we have experienced 2000 to date.
MFGx is one of very few forums that has generated a wide debate on the subject, probably a reflection of the high number of real manufacturers and consumers that attend. Keep up the good work.