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  1. #1
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    Default Return of manufacturing industries to countries like Australia ?

    A comment on the ABC news this morning regarding prospects of manufacturing industries returning to countries like Australia.

    The logic went something like this, am unable to remember exact words ......

    "Over the next 20 years, with increasing replacement of labour with robotics, the cost of labour becomes less important in manufacturing therefore manufacturing that has moved to countries with cheaper labour could recover in countries like Australia"

    Sounded kind of sensible to me but I know nothing about manufacturing plant lines or labour or robotics or economics. However surely the countries with the cheap labour will also be investing in more sophisticated robot factories over next 20 years as well ? You can currently see what look to be highly automated production lines on some of the ebay/bangood/aliexpress suppliers sites.

    Anyone got any thoughts ?

    Bill

  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    From what I can see we've missed the robotics boat by a long way.
    What most people don't understand is robotics simply won't employ that many people compared to conventional production methods.
    The smart thing to be in for a while would be building robots but the Chinese have that pretty much sewn up - I read somewhere that China currently makes 1 out of every 3 of the world's industrial robots .
    Korea, Japan and the rest of Asia make 1 in 3 and Europe and North America make up the last third of these robots.
    Eventually robots will also design, build and program other robots.

  3. #3
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    It could possibly be that way, it could also be possible for ALL the farmers to have bumper crops for the next 5 years. All B/S aside, I think that for manufacturing to come back to Australia, there needs to be some drastic world wide action, of what magnitude who knows?
    Located where we are, leaves us vulnerable to most of our daily requirements/luxuries, as hardly a thing is made locally. Someone or unions only has to tie up the shipping, and we're in trouble.
    Take WW2 for example, when Australia rallied to the aid of the other countries practically everything was done here, we had to be self reliant as the enemy would sink and destroy most of the shipping from Europe and USA.
    If the cheap labour countries can produce highly automated production lines, they would send the machines O/S, as otherwise it would lead to mass unemployment.
    Some things can be done by computer based machines, but for the limited number of an item, it may not be a viable proposition, hence the cheap labour factories.
    A friend of mine visited China about 10 years ago, he saw a huge trench being dug for some project, and there were hundreds of people with baskets suspended off of poles, all carrying the dirt somewhere. He mentioned to the tour guide, that using an excavator and a truck would save a lot of time and energy. That might be so, replied the guide, but all those people would be out of work and no way to feed the family.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  4. #4
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    Default

    I can’t see it happening here, you still need economies of scale to be cost effective and with such a small population so far away........
    You often hear them banging on about us becoming a market leader and exporter of the next big fossil fuel replacement widget, we can’t compete with any other manufacturing so don’t know how they think we will magically be able to do it then

    I went to a trade fair in China 3 years ago and there is still a lot of product made by hand, labour is cheap so they don’t necessarily need to invest in expensive equipment

  5. #5
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    Default

    Hi Guys,

    The truth is, lack of thought, greed and exploitation has has basically given away the advantages of the western world. We have basically sold the family silver for a short term profit !
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  6. #6
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    Default

    Labour is but one part of the pie.


    Why bother doing stuff here, when you can go to a more business friendly country that actually want businesses to set up shop.

    In Australia everything you do is regulated and has a fee attached. Is it just job creation, as here we got trucks and excavators and all the displaced workers went and got into the regulation industry, thinking up endless things to regulate the truck and excavator. So the end result was no increase in productivity from the truck and excavator as any extra money they make, just goes to the regulator industry, keeping them employed.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  7. #7
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    Default

    I think we should build up more companies, otherwise there will nothing left to sell

    https://www.news.com.au/finance/busi...3dc6ac62149b13

  8. #8
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    John Howard told us we should be the smart country and send all the menial production and manufacturing off shore. Not a political statement just an observation of how this country is managed or mismanaged by our elected representatives of every persuasion.
    CHRIS

  9. #9
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    Default

    One trend I have noticed over the years is, a Company struggles for years with Governments propping Them up and all kind of "save the Company" schemes. Then They are sold off and a foreigner buys Them and after a short time They are profitable and going strong. I think some Western Company Managers have forgotten how to make money, only making it for Themselves at the expense Everybody else.

  10. #10
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    We will never get Manufacturing back in Australia due to our work ethic, we pay 4 people to do the work of 2 people but only get the work of 1 person done. If that sounds a bit harsh so be it, but have ran small businesses over the years and have experienced this 1st hand.
    Shane

    Got the square peg in the round hole, now can't get it out !!

  11. #11
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    Gentlemen,

    By all means have a discussion but keep it where it should be.Its not really a General MetalWorking topic.

    Please be reminded that if it drifts into politics it can be closed down.

    Thank you.

    Grahame

  12. #12
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by Auskart View Post
    We will never get Manufacturing back in Australia due to our work ethic, we pay 4 people to do the work of 2 people but only get the work of 1 person done. If that sounds a bit harsh so be it, but have ran small businesses over the years and have experienced this 1st hand.
    Bit of a broad brush there, try telling that to a child care worker, seniors carer, paramedic, nurse or junior doctor in major teaching hospital.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Bit of a broad brush there, try telling that to a child care worker, seniors carer, paramedic, nurse or junior doctor in major teaching hospital.
    And what do any of those professions have to do with Manufacturing !!
    Shane

    Got the square peg in the round hole, now can't get it out !!

  14. #14
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    We will never get Manufacturing back in Australia due to our work ethic, we pay 4 people to do the work of 2 people but only get the work of 1 person done.
    It wasn't obvious to me that your comment was restricted to manufacturing, perhaps you should have specified "Manufacturing work ethic".

    Either way I don't agree with your statement in all cases of manufacturing. The workers at the ship building yard where my BIL works are working their arses off 10 hours a day up to 6 days a week.
    They are very well paid and build some amazing vessels.
    Last year they completed the worlds biggest all Ally trimaran worth $200 million. My BIL and his crew bent and welded all the ally for this project. Hull is 16mm and 25 mm ally plate.

    side.jpg

    Mybest mate who runs a steel fabrication business has his blokes running like ants over his factory - he's struggling but the last people he blames is his workers.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    It wasn't obvious to me that your comment was restricted to manufacturing, perhaps you should have specified "Manufacturing work ethic".

    Either way I don't agree with your statement in all cases of manufacturing. The workers at the ship building yard where my BIL works are working their arses off 10 hours a day up to 6 days a week.
    They are very well paid and build some amazing vessels.
    Last year they completed the worlds biggest all Ally trimaran worth $200 million. My BIL and his crew bent and welded all the ally for this project. Hull is 16mm and 25 mm ally plate.

    side.jpg

    Mybest mate who runs a steel fabrication business has his blokes running like ants over his factory - he's struggling but the last people he blames is his workers.
    Bob, I don't care whether you agree with my opinion or not, if you don't like it, move on.
    Shane

    Got the square peg in the round hole, now can't get it out !!

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