Op-ed piece - please read

[Phil Orenstein]

Well I finally had the time to do it. As I promised, I wrote an Op-ed piece to submit to US newspapers on behalf of MustangGT92 or Paul Vanek and the outrageous dimantling of his High School

Manufacturing Technology program.

 

See thread for details:Save My HS Technology Classes

 

Please give your comments and input before I send it out, since it was your statements that I put together & edited - James, Charles, Iskander, Chris, Thad and other's statements in the thread, becuase you said it better than I could. I will first submit it to NYT, WSJ and Wash Post, as exclusives, the top east coast papers. If I dont hear from them, I'll sumbit it to the rest of the 100+ major US papers on my list. Let me know if you know the editors & emails any other upstate NY locals. Thanks all for your time & let's keep up the fight!

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The Relevance of Manufacturing

 

Wealth is created by the three pillars of mining, farming and manufacturing. You must mine it, grow it or make it in order to produce real wealth. Now as I am writing this article, 1/3 of our wealth is in the process of being devaluated and shipped overseas. The manufacturing sector, the means of production of real wealth in our economy is on the verge of becoming history. It is occurring right in our schools. There is a frightening trend toward downsizing and dismantling school Manufacturing Technology and Industrial Arts programs consigning them to the scrap heap of history as European and Asian countries rapidly pick up the slack.

 

One example of what is going on in schools throughout our country is illustrated by the dilemma of Paul Vanek an enthusiastic technology student from Greece Athena High School in Rochester NY who has written to our on-line CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) software forum pleading for help. He stated that the Administration has sent in a group of official bean counters into his technology classes asking what is the relevance of the machinery and equipment to the student’s education. They decided that it is in the best interests of the school to essentially dismantle the Machine Shop by selling off good equipment for pennies on the dollar. Although the Principal and board received numerous protest letters and emails, the news went from bad to worse as our entreaties fell on deaf ears. Paul reported to us that his Technology class was prematurely closed, the classroom will soon be renovated and the Technology teacher is out of a job on false charges because of standing in the way of the Principal’s pet renovation project.

 

What is the relevance of manufacturing equipment to a student’s education? These bureaucratic maneuverings and the lack of responses to our appeals shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the relevance of the manufacturing professions to our own daily lives and to our country’s economy.

 

Manufacturing and machining is more relevant than most people think. There is not a single

man-made item that was not created by a manufacturing process. Machinists and manufacturing professionals either directly manufacture or build the tooling to make the automobiles, aircraft, electronics, oil refineries, homes, bridges, furniture, skateboards, screwdrivers, dishes, glass, paper, rubber, soap, or any product we use. Break it down to the lowest common denominator and you will find there is nothing that a machinist didn’t have a hand in creating.

 

What is the relevance of manufacturing? Consider the computer mouse or keyboard you are using. Simplifying the process, it was first designed by a team of designers and model makers and then the prototype was perfected by CAD engineers then taken into CAM software for programming toolpaths to cut the mold that produces the plastic parts. The machinist/mold makers then fabricated the mold, assembled it to exacting tolerances (some tolerances closer than .00025” – take a strand of your hair and split it 12 ways). That mold is then put into an injection molding machine where pellets of plastic are heated up, melted and injected under extremely high pressure to produce the parts of the keyboard or mouse.

 

What is the relevance of manufacturing? Take a look at the recent industry-wide trend in micro-miniaturization. New technologies have emerged to fulfill the needs of the consumer electronics and computer industries for smaller cell phones, laptops, I-Pods and PDA’s with more features crammed into smaller spaces. The medical market as well uses smaller instruments and devices for pain-free, non-invasive procedures that are less intrusive to the body. Automotive, Aerospace and Defense industries are using smaller motors, actuators, circuit boards and PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers) devices. Unfortunately, Japan is now the world leader in micro manufacturing and is currently charging ahead of us by leaps and bounds.

 

Take a look at the molding industry which has all but evaporated in our country. Portugal, China, and other countries have been taking the lead in driving these businesses and manufacturing opportunities from our shores and in only a decade, they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. They have cornered the market through sheer industriousness and a lower standard of living while we were asleep at the wheel. As a former mold maker myself I can attest to the missed opportunities of scarce and inadequate training programs while these countries seized the opportunity to train their youth in intensive apprenticeship programs and comprehensive CAD/CAM training that would startle us. This phenomenon is now snowballing through the rest of the manufacturing sector and before we know it, we may wake up one morning to the Future Shock of dependence on a lot more than foreign fossil fuels.

 

For a brief look back in our recent history, consider the state of America at the start of World War II. The economy was at the end of a crippling depression as we entered the war with a dormant manufacturing sector. Within 2 years, manufacturing facilities were converted to military production and we had the best-equipped military by the end of the war. We became the greatest world power based on our capabilities to design and manufacture.

 

After the war, the “greatest generation”, wanted to give their children the best of all worlds and a better life they never enjoyed. Becoming doctors, lawyers, scientists, accountants, executives, etc. would be a far greater prospect for the baby boom generation than enduring the dirty hands, sweaty brow and hard work of the manufacturing trades in the dark machine shops of a bygone era.

 

Now with the waning years of the “greatest generation” comes the end of an era of highly competent manufacturing professionals with a shortage of youth to fill their shoes. The truth is that nowadays not many youngsters want to be tool & die makers, machinists, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) programmers, CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing) specialists, mold makers and other highly skilled manufacturing professionals. Instead these jobs are now finding a welcome home on foreign soil and with them 1/3 of our country’s real wealth.

 

As an educator and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) programmer who has worked for over 25 years in the manufacturing sector, I feel it is incumbent upon us to reverse the rising tide of outsourcing of our manufacturing jobs overseas and do our part to keep manufacturing thriving in the United States. This alarming trend has been a blue collar phenomenon up until the present where it is now spreading to white collar professionals as well. Protectionist trade restrictions and increasing tariffs in a global economy will never do. The answer does not lie in restricting trade because only free trade and free markets will lift the world out of poverty and enrich our country as well.

 

Because they do not understand the relevance of all this, Academia has diminished the role of manufacturing in the US and it’s a travesty. Machinists are the single most important trade in the US. If we loose them, we loose the ability to shape our own destiny as a nation. It is up to us as parents, educators, professionals and elected officials to realize the relevance of a thriving manufacturing sector to our way of life. We must prepare our students for the future stability of our country and economy keeping in mind the pioneering legacy of invention and innovation that we all share as Americans in the greatest open market of ideas and goods in the world.

 

The days of dirty, hot, dangerous sweatshops are gone. Most modern manufacturing is done in bright, air-conditioned factories filled with well-trained employees operating sophisticated machinery costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Schools must not eliminate any programs or facilities that would assist our children in acquiring the skills that could provide them with a challenging, rewarding future in industry. It is time to wake up from our complacency as the global economic front-runner and start to take back our manufacturing economy with more intensive and innovative hands-on training programs for our youth.

[Jimmy Wakeford from Barefoot CNC]

That sounds great Phil.

[Racer X]

Well done, Phil.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

WOW!!!!

 

Far more eloquent than I could have stated it.

 

Great Job Phil.

[Ray Culver]

Excellent. One comment:

 

quote:

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as European and Asian countries rapidly pick up the slack.

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rapidly should be changed to eagerly

[George Bailey from Warvel Products]

Great job Phil !! Bravo

[Jack Mitchell]

Well done Phil - launch it!

 

Please let us know which papers publish.

 

Regards, Jack

[Code_Breaker]

+1000 Phil

 

 

Very good . . .

 

Code_Breaker

[Rekd™]

Great job Phil. My father-in-law used to be a reporter/editor for the (ack) SD Union Trib. If they won't run it, which would be par for the course for those idiots, I'll see if Michael can pull some strings.

 

'Rekd

[Thad]

Very well done, Phil!

 

Thad

[robk]

Very nice Phil

 

I hope that Hartford Courant is one of the major newspapers you're talking about.

[chris m]

Very nicely done

 

None of those folks in NY ever responded to my message; don't know about the rest of you guys..?

 

C

[Thad]

quote:

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None of those folks in NY ever responded to my message

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Me either.

 

Thad

[Phil Orenstein]

Thanks! I'll submit an exclusive to the east coast biggies 1st and wait a couple of days & then to the rest. I'll check my list for the Hartford Courant tonight when I get home. I'll let you guys know whats happening.

 

Phil teh part-time editor

[McRae]

I can hear the collective yawn in press rooms across the continent - there will be a great deal of complacency in publishing this item for the following reason - Off Shore sourcing is actually increasing the standard of living!

 

Example1 - I can go to the local Walmart and get a pair of shoes for my kids that is of equal or greater quality of the shoes that I had when I was growing up and at a fraction of the cost. In real terms, considering the inflation rate the same pair of shoes should now cost $80.00

 

I am not talking about a pair of Nikes or similar where you pay for the marketing (Is this not a piller of wealth??)

 

Example2 - Look inot your kids toy bins - thesae toys were unimaginable when I was a kid - if you couldn't form it with a press - it didn't get made. When it did get made, that is all you got for christmas as it cost Dad about 5 hours of Pay!

 

The cost of Food has remained stable and yet there is a shrinkage in the number of independant farms across the country as productivity in these areas meets the demands of the economy.

 

The cost of realestate has balooned as more and more people realize that we actually do live in the best part of the world - buying up the supply of land, and as there isn't enough to meet the demand, prices must increase to maintain the stability in the economy. (Energy costs are on the rise as well, until the chineese develop a cheap and transferrable power plant!)

 

The cost of consumer products and their marketing halflives (high price at launch and discount proce at the end of lifecycle) has deminished - Imagine the guy that paid handsomely for the first "Beta" video machine.

 

Anyway, I just wanted to prepare the group for disappointment, the general populace doesn't feel our pain, so how can we expect them to care?

[P_Scott]

Phil,

 

Absolutely magnificent!!! I would urge all of us to copy Phil's post and send it off to our elected officials as well as local media. We've got to get the word out. Blanket the media with it and someone will see to it that it gets noticed. For the future of our country, and the livelihood (sp?) of our children, we need to show our lawmakers (not sure I'd call them Leaders) what we need them to do.

[chris m]

Hey Andrew, get that reality stuff outta here

 

The only thing this whole deal assuredly accomplished was to put that poor kid on every school administrator's sh!t list

 

C

[Andris Skulte]

My only comment to aid in getting it printed might be to trim down all the good information. Most newspapers could give you guidelines on how long the articles should be. Dunno if a column or two is easier to get published than a full page

 

Andris

[SledGeek]

I'm sure any anti Bush newspaper would love this article at election time ! Nice write Phil.

quote:

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Off Shore sourcing is actually increasing the standard of living!

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I keep hearing this phrase getting tossed around. Do you have any articles you can steer me to, Andrew ? Would love to read the economists viewpoint that supports this hypothesis.

I have only witnessed two viewpoints so far : one from someone in manufacturing whose job was lost and state benefits and savings have run out. Another from an employee of an overseas shipping company who can't catch up.

 

I can't help to think that this is another catch phrase that will cease to exist after election.

Human nature ,as history shows, is to attempt to explain away the unknown so they can feel good about it. Kinda like drilling a whole in someones head to let the demons out .

[McRae]

Would love to read the economists viewpoint that supports this hypothesis.

 

The only supporting documentation that I have on this one is my own chequing account. If I come across something, I'll send it along...

[Harryman]

quote:

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to aid in getting it printed might be to trim down

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I agree with this. It's content is great, but it's a bit wordy.

[Camdude®]

not to put to fine a point on it but i would use spell checker before sending. this is not a critisism but rather a word to the wise..

 

p.s. i think i spelled critisism wrong..

[Phil Orenstein]

Thanks for the tips. I sent it out to the top tier papers as exclusives and if we don't hear anything by this weekend, I'll send it to the rest (Hartford Courant is on my list, Rob) and you all can run with it as well. Also I'll try to trim it down

 

In the meantime, I had major headaches big time with DNC communication with the Acramatic 850SX here

 

Phil

[John_Carpenter]

Hi Phil,

 

...had major headaches big time with DNC communication with the Acramatic 850SX

Are you all set now? 850SX controls can be fun. Let me know if you are still having issues. I'll be in the Yonkers area later next week.

 

Sincerely,

 

John Carpenter

CNC Computer Integration, LLC.

Ellington, CT 06029

P 860-870-5544 [email protected]

[Phil Orenstein]

Yes John, I'm still having issues. I have a workaround in place so the program doesn't read the M02 at the program end after the buffer empties shutting the program down at that point. Let's talk when youre in town.

 

Phil