How fierce is global competition in the manufacturing sector? One need look only at China to understand what U.S. manufacturers are up against. According to Jon Rennie, executive vice president and general manager of ESAB Welding & Cutting Products, Florence, N.C., some estimates report that a new manufacturing plant opens there every 26 min. In response to such challenges, American manufacturers are becoming leaner and more flexible. They're also looking to distributors for help. Factories are examining every aspect of their manufacturing processes. "American factories will have to be lean, flexible, and easier to do business with than the offshore suppliers attempting to penetrate their markets," comments George Blankenship, vice president of engineering and quality assurance, The Lincoln Electric Co., Cleveland. To boost production flexibility, U.S. manufacturers are adopting multitasking machines, specializing to meet the needs of niche applications, and pursuing advanced technology such as lasers and robotics. American factories are also seeking to eliminate waste. Take, for instance, a manufacturer like ESAB. The company maps out its processes from raw material to finished goods and examines each and every step. "In one factory alone," notes Rennie, "we have 42 forklifts transporting material around the plant - so we are looking into greater use of conveyors."
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