Made in America

References to "Made in America" are abundant. Unfortunately, “Made in America” should really be stated as “Assembled in America”. This is especially true for complex pieces made in American factories.

Most US automotive companies like Ford and General Motors assemble their cars in America. Still some 75% to 90% of the subassemblies are made in Mexico, Guatemala, Taiwan, and many other low wage countries across the globe. It’s interesting that Toyota Motor Company, a Japanese-based firm, builds the vehicles for the American market in America. Toyota is a little different than Ford and General Motors in that they are diligent about using American companies to produce their subassemblies. They don’t do that to be patriotic, they do it for logistical reasons. Like most companies, they work on a “just in time” inventory system, so the logistics of getting the parts to their plant is a large consideration. And Toyota quality standards are very high.

My wheelchair is a perfect example. It is assembled in their headquarters in Exeter Pennsylvania. However, since these wheelchairs are very complex, there is no way that Quantum Rehab Corporation can manufacture all the subassemblies. Most of them are made in Mexico. And since shipping is very complex and costly due to a global pandemic, delivery to the customer becomes more of a long-term process. With Quantum Rehab, it’s great that all the engineering for the units is done in America. The quality of what they do is evident and reflective of the power of American engineering.

We live in a global marketplace. An America-first policy, a mantra of the prior presidential administration, is ridiculous in a global marketplace. It’s unsustainable because America can’t shut out the rest of the world. We really need to encourage companies to follow Toyota‘s lead.

Made in America is a wonderful thing to strive for. And thriving is reflected in how well we compete in a global marketplace.

Work Skills and Passion

One thing I really admire is a tradesman who possesses the gift of teaching. I grew up with one.

My dad was an electrician. He was Superintendent on many jobs for several contractors. But unlike others of his era who didn't like sharing information, he really enjoyed teaching others what he knew. In my case, I learned much more from my dad than I did from school. He taught me practical things like common sense and the ability to work with my hands (when I could). These along with less practical and more academic skills like calculus, algebra, and geometry.

My father was an interesting, brilliant, and multifaceted man who was just as comfortable in a boardroom or speaking in front of people as he was on a construction job. My mom had many of the same traits. She taught me to never throw in the towel when things get difficult. My mother had extreme resilience and grit and was very well-read.

In my work life, I was very fortunate to have worked in a career-technical school. For all my career, I worked around trade professionals who could teach. It was truly amazing, and I acquired and honed a deep, varied skill set. I was as comfortable in the shop areas as I was at my desk. The organizational skills that I learned from my dad served me very well as CFO of a trade school. I looked forward to the challenges of my job every single day! I also became passionate about career and technical education, and how it can be exactly what many students need to do well in life.

There is much to be said about being great at one skill, but it's also very important to expand that skill set. I am fortunate to have gathered a good balance of depth and breadth in terms of practical and thinking skills.  

My advice to students who are transitioning into the working world is simple. First, show up! Secondly, show up with a good working attitude. Keep your ears open and learn from the professionals around you. And never think for a minute that you are done building your skills. If you are good at something, pursue it with passion.

It's very hard to stop a person with passion. Passion develops over time, and it takes real effort. There's nothing magical about it! It's like a feeling of flow when you are doing something that you really enjoy.