Great points Rob!
I understand your comments. Our government has a lot to do with the way these companies operate here and that is part of the issue. While I do not expect Honda to allow me to do business simply because I am here, it is just amazing how blatent nationalism overides basic engineering issues in some instances. In the few instances that the companies have looked to outside sources for engineering solutions, we have always been confined by using Japanese parts. While it makes sense from a supplier standardization issue, it amazes me when we develop a process with products far superior than what is offered by a Japanese company with proven engineering data. The last example was a cost savings of $800 per actuator with a life span 1.5x longer than the spec'd Japanese product. We built and cycled the machine in house and verified the results. The end result? They bought the machine with the Japanese parts!!!
The timing of the article and this project led to the post.
Business has been very good for me. So do not take my comments as frustrated business owner. We have adapted very well to the loss of automobile jobs and other manufacturing and have added other resources to serve the remaining business in the state.
Darren
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