| I've been fortunate, working for manufacturing | | | | pro-active direction. |
| companies that offer diversity and experience in many | | | | With the downturn in the economy, companies should |
| disciplines. I just returned from Dongguan, China, where | | | | be considering outsourcing. Lower profits and higher |
| I have lived and worked for the past two years. | | | | costs; China offers natural resources, cheap labor, |
| Dongguan, located in mainland China, is north of Hong | | | | social and behavior structure. Countries like Vietnam, |
| Kong. After research and location selection, Dongguan | | | | Philippines, and India must import many of their raw |
| offers a long term solution to outsourcing. Working and | | | | materials. Companies are scrambling to countries like |
| living in Dongguan, one acquires knowledge with living, | | | | Vietnam and India to offset rising costs in China. These |
| working, and social lifestyles. This is very important; | | | | countries are unstable and harvest terrorism. |
| understanding the behavior of the workforce. | | | | Dongguan companies continue to flourish, relying on |
| To understand a company and workforce behavior; | | | | Lean/Sigma methodology to control costs. As a |
| one must dig into the very bowels of the company's | | | | certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Lean manufacturing |
| organizational structure. Too often, managers and | | | | practitioner, I find this exciting to see such eagerness |
| company leaders scratch the surface, allow chance to | | | | apply Lean/Sigma tools. Although, locating the right |
| predict the outcome. The Chinese workforce offers | | | | company may be mind-boggling and risky, the rewards |
| unique opportunities for the outsourced company; the | | | | are higher profits and quality products at a low cost. |
| ability to educate and modify work behavior toward a | | | | |