I just wanted to comment about what you mentioned about machines replacing American workers.
My husband is an engineer that takes processes, simplifies them, thus eliminating workers in his company.
He mentioned to me that the machines take most of the 'skill' out of the work, and is noticing the obvious "dumbing down" of the workforce. The workers in this case are left to push buttons and load and unload material. They just have to show up, know how to read a micrometer, and that's about it. Now as he speeds up the process, these workers have to do this faster, and are practically rebelling by slowing down.
The owner, estatic about this new process, looks for workers who will work for less, and practically uses video cameras on these workers 24 hours a day.
This is starting to scare me, because we are returning to the 'man = machine' type of manufacturing industry. No more skilled workforce, it is passed onto the engineers to make sure the workers don't HAVE to think.
My husband is sitting back thinking, "gee we eliminated X amount of the workforce, but it has been SO drastic, that the consequences may not be what we wanted to achieve...." |
