Buy American, but not entirely

In response to the reader who submitted the letter about "buy American; keep jobs here," I say Amen but everything in moderation. After 30 years in a purchasing capacity at both manufacturing and distribution firms in the consumer products and capital equipment industries, I can tell the American public with absolute certainty that completely American made products will not be lining the shelves in stores. Why, you ask? The answer is because we are all in search of the best deal. U.S. corporations are motivated by greed. The investors insist on as large a profit as possible. The consumers want a "deal."

We insist on a "reasonable wage" which is defined as more than $10 per hour. Compare whatever your wage is with a "reasonable wage" in China at 95 cents an hour or in India or Mexico at $2.45 to $2.95 per hour. We cannot compete on the global stage paying people their "reasonable wage."

I formed my consulting company to help small- to-medium-sized businesses determine what would be a good item or component to move to Chinese (or other) production to help the bottom line and leave the more technical or proprietary production to qualified workers in the U.S. The global stage is here to stay. We must use it intelligently to survive and preserve U.S. manufacturing.

For comparison sake, I have sourced potentiometers in China at a cost savings of 87 percent, injection molding tools with a 60 percent savings, injection molded parts with 50 percent savings, castings with 60 percent savings, metal kitchen tools with 40 percent savings and second sourced in the U.S. Mylar sheets for 25 percent savings. Yes, global sourcing does include finding vendors in the U.S.

Yes, make it in America intelligently.

Donna Zoellick

Carpentersville