All very well said comments. It is nice to be able to have an adult conversation, as you have put it. I too agree that there is good and even great stuff that comes out of overseas production. Take a look at most OEM components for vehicles....its all from over there. Here is the key difference - how does the company that is outsourcing CONTROL and OVERSEE the process, as well as the technology that is being put into it? When it comes down to the price of production and that ONLY then it can slip, big time.
Case in point.... something simple like a stereo. Any of the big manufacturers (even aftermarket) have nice clean displays, great graphics, great functionality and features. Compare that to a no name brand that is just bringing out a model to undercut or even compete WITHOUT the QC, they suck. Not even a comparison.
Back to the oil pans (which was not what sparked me to talk about this, but just one of many examples) in the typical small block oil pan selection, I challenge you to show me the difference between the RPC/CFR/ETC pan and the Moroso or Milodon counterpart. There is no difference, so it ended up going the way of china purely for price, and probably in the same plant, same line. I would think there is no one over there keeping an eye on it, nor do they care. IF it went over because the price was more controlled, but they had something more to offer from it other than an overinflated price, then I can understand.
The more complex the product or process, and I can be even more sympathetic to it having to have been sourced out. The sad part is that there are a ton of small companies that will produce a similar part right here, and have a brilliant high quality piece, and somehow they can make it work. It just seems so *ssbackwards to get bigger and better equipped, only to have less hands on with it.
I remember a great example of a retractable ladder rack built proudly in the USA that went on the Shark Tank, and the owner/proprietor flat out refused any offers because they wanted to offshore it. Based on principle, that of not only quality control and pride, but the support of his local town and infrastructure, he said absolutely no way. His numbers worked, he was profitable, and he said why be greedy for an extra few dollars? I met him at SEMA later that year, and he was doing great. Congrats.
Its just a piss off when a company outsources parts to china, loses that source, and then says "no more part available, and we can't find a suitable replacement that doesnt fail". Ok....you went overseas to get it, and your saying that you cant have it reproduced???? by anyone??? Seems weird.
We will never get away from offshore parts, I get it. But there is more than one solution, and more than one source. If said plant isnt producing a part, move on? Especially when your entire business is simply your SKUs....if it was so important to reduce your costs to be able to sell the product, why would you want to just stop selling it and lose the income all together? Especially if it sells like hotcakes?
Anyways.... back to work on home soil! LOL
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