U.S. Office of Manufacturing and Services on unfair pricing, global competition

VentureOutsource.com shares this exclusive interview with Rear Admiral William G. Sutton, CAE, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Assistant Secretary, Manufacturing and Services, U.S. Commerce Department, International Trade Administration.

Read what Assistant Secretary Sutton says about sustainable manufacturing; America's competitiveness, what executives should do if they suspect unfair foreign pricing and illegal subsidy practices, offshoring, and more. Transcripts from that discussion follow.

VentureOutsource.com: The subject of sustainable manufacturing is becoming more prominent in manufacturing company board rooms across the U.S. There is more driving this shift toward sustainability than manufacturing companies simply incorporating eco-efficient technologies and engineering practices. What are five (5) ways the Office of Manufacturing and Services currently sees electronics manufacturing companies, in particular, moving their companies toward achieving sustainable manufacturing?

Asst. Secretary Sutton: Manufacturing and Services (MAS) has initiated the Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative. This initiative is designed to identify U.S. industries' most pressing sustainable manufacturing challenges and to coordinate public / private sector efforts to address those challenges.

Recently, we held a public / private workshop to obtain industry input for sustainable manufacturing. More than 70 U.S. companies and industry associations shared their experiences and knowledge of the issue. Based on these discussions, one of the most interesting discoveries was that sustainable manufacturing remains difficult to define.

Industry experts, manufacturers, and policy makers still don't have a unified, agreed-upon definition of sustainable manufacturing. But we're getting closer and MAS is directing a number of efforts that respond to U.S. industry suggestions and help to define the issue. For example, MAS has created this Website, which is the first online clearinghouse of U.S. government programs and resources that support sustainable business.

William G. Sutton, Manufacturing and Services

William G. Sutton, CAE
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Assistant Secretary
Manufacturing and Services
International Trade Administration
U.S. Commerce Department

Regarding what can companies do to move toward more sustainable manufacturing, the U.S. semiconductor industry, for example, is taking the following steps:

Reducing energy and water consumption

Utilizing the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system

Working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Partners Program

Helping the application of solar energy by leveraging their knowledge of silicon materials and manufacturing processes

VentureOutsource.com: Several decades ago, foreign governments sought help from the U.S. on how to become competitive in their regional markets and abroad. Many of these governments executed what they learned and now U.S. companies / industries face real competition abroad. Can you please discuss, in general, three (3) things you feel every U.S. manufacturing company (electronics or otherwise) should be doing to effectively navigate global markets and remain competitive?

Asst. Secretary Sutton: U.S. manufacturers are succeeding in the global marketplace, but they shouldn't retreat at the first sign of competition from other countries.

I've visited plants of all shapes, sizes, and levels of sophistication; from mom and pop operations to large highly productive global conglomerates. I always see one common thread: U.S manufacturers can compete with anybody, given a level playing field.

Based on what I've seen, I would say manufacturers have to adapt to challenges posed by the domestic and global marketplace. One critical way to adapt to these challenges is through innovation. Manufacturers that continue to innovate often find themselves leading the world in their particular sector(s).

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