What Role Has Outsourcing Played In American Manufacturing?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Outsourcing by U.S. companies also benefits the U.S. economy because the

U.S. acquires goods from foreign countries at lower costs

. This benefits U.S. consumers, but it also benefits U.S. manufacturers that produce large, complex goods for export to other countries.

How has outsourcing impacted the US manufacturing industry?

Job outsourcing helps U.S. companies be more competitive in the global marketplace. It allows them

to sell to foreign markets with overseas branches

. They keep labor costs low by hiring in emerging markets with lower standards of living. That lowers prices on the goods they ship back to the United States.

Why is outsourcing good in manufacturing?


Reduced labor costs

.

When you outsource your manufacturing, you’re not just reducing the cost of labor on the floor. You’re also minimizing HR resources, training, management time, overtime pay, sick and holiday pay, and other labor costs. Seamlessly scale up or down – Production demands can be unpredictable.

Has outsourcing hurt the US economy?

The Bottom LineThe short term gain derived by companies that outsource operations offshore is

eclipsed by the long term damage to the U.S. economy

. Over time, the loss of jobs and expertise will make innovation in the U.S. difficult, while, at the same time, building the brain trust of other countries.

How much of US manufacturing is outsourced?


70%–80% of

the finished manufactured products are outsourced. To cut down the costs of labor, numerous manufacturing companies turn to outsource. Based on the outsourcing cost savings statistics, China is the most popular country for manufacturing outsourcing since the labor cost is cheaper.

Who benefits from outsourcing?

  • 1) Save time. …
  • 2) Reduced costs. …
  • 3) Savings on technology and infrastructure. …
  • 4) Expertise. …
  • 5) Increased efficiency. …
  • 6) Reduced risk. …
  • 7) Staffing flexibility. …
  • 1) Loss of managerial control.

Who is affected by outsourcing?

Outsourcing Lowers Barriers to Entry and Increases Competition. While increased competition is encouraged by free markets and generally benefits consumers, it can hurt businesses that can’t keep up. Outsourcing allows

new entrants to industries where labor would have been too expensive otherwise

.

What are examples of outsourcing?

Some common outsourcing activities include:

human resource management, facilities management, supply chain management, accounting, customer support and service, marketing, computer aided design, research, design, content writing, engineering, diagnostic

services, and legal documentation.”

How does outsourcing manufacturing work?

Outsource manufacturing is the

process of hiring people outside of your company to assemble parts of, or to build an entire product

. … When a business outsources a part of their production line to a third-party manufacturing company in a different location, they often see a significant decrease in production costs.

What are the pros and cons of outsourcing?

  • Outsourcing vs. …
  • Pro 1: Outsourcing can increase company profits. …
  • Pro 2: Outsourcing can increase economic efficiency. …
  • Pro 3: Outsourcing can distribute jobs from developed countries to developing countries. …
  • Pro 4: Outsourcing can strengthen international ties. …
  • Con 1: U.S. job loss.

What countries does the US outsource to?

Currently, the US, UK, and Australia are some of the leading outsourcing markets contracting to companies in

the Philippines and India

. Some developed countries in Asia have also started outsourcing their services, such as Singapore and Japan.

Is outsourcing good or bad?

Outsourcing to nearshore or offshore agencies is

especially good for small businesses

as services cost much less than in the U.S. You can give people from developing countries jobs and get a profit from spending a little money on their work. … Another positive effect of outsourcing is that you don’t have to pay taxes.

Why is outsourcing bad?

REASON #2: It can

result in low quality, brand-damaging products

. Many firms that provide outsourcing quickly cut the quality of component parts in order to increase their margins. Eventually customers who are accustomed to believing your brand promise begin to notice that your once-great products are suddenly crappy.

When did US manufacturing start to decline?

Between

1980 and 1985

, and then again 2001 to 2009, there were precipitous declines in US manufacturing jobs; it is estimated that 1/3 of US manufacturing jobs vanished in the eight years 2001 to 2009, and few have returned. Some argue that the 2001-2009 period was worse for US manufacturing than the Great Depression.

What are the disadvantages of outsourcing?

  • service delivery – which may fall behind time or below expectation.
  • confidentiality and security – which may be at risk.
  • lack of flexibility – contract could prove too rigid to accommodate change.
  • management difficulties – changes at the outsourcing company could lead to friction.

Which company outsources the most?

  • Apple. Apple’s relationship with Chinese manufacturing firm Foxconn is well known. …
  • Nike. Sportswear giant Nike outsources the production of all its footwear to various overseas manufacturing plants. …
  • Cisco Systems. …
  • Wal-Mart. …
  • IBM.
Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.