Just a thought.....?

[Jeff Niceswanger]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

A few years back I was reading an industrial trade maqazine and noticed an ad from an offshore supplier. They touted their "one stop" capabilities in that all the manufacturer had to do was provide them with the specs for the part or assembly. They would then engineer it and produce it.

This ad showed a complete headlight capsule. According to the text, the manufacturer would do anything electrical. Ever since I read that, I've looked at replacement parts in a different light. Even though it may have been produced on a US assembly line, the engineering was done by a company I'd never heard of.

This just added to the unease I got a few years earlier when a Goodyear engineer told me that no tire company designed their own tread configurations - there were outside "styling" companies who would sell the designs to the tire manufacturers. The selection evidently hinged on what they felt they could promote the best.

This is a good thread....On a related note...Goodyear just opened a R&D Facility in Hebron Ohio, just a few miles from National Trail Raceway...3 of our Maintenance men just quit (2 weeks ago) and went to work for them .Started them out @ 62 thou and pretty nice benefit package, Good for our area to say the least, they will employ about 50 to 60 people to start....Will be engineering new styles of Goodyear's tire designs....

[Greg Reimer 7376]

But where will they be made? Design is one thing, engineering and production is another.

[Jeff Niceswanger]

Originally Posted by Greg Reimer 7376

But where will they be made? Design is one thing, engineering and production is another.

Hi Greg,
One of the men they hired was my ex chief steward . We stay in contact . They are telling them this site was picked as they( Goodyear) wanted it close enough to Akron-Canton Area that is would be easy to could jump in a car and in a couple 3 hours be up there, but not so close that Akron would be a crutch or too much of an influence . But..... Goodyear is also are making them aware to have their passports ready, as when these new designs are complete ,they will be expected to go to wherever the tires are produced and help them get the equipment up and running.....So you are correct....

[GarysZ24]

This topic is one I've written about since the late '80's (since I've cared about MADE IN THE USA for practically my whole adult life). I am more glad to hear about the Goodyear operation, as I use their "American Made" Wrangler tires on my Chevy Colorado daily driver/tow vehicle. It's sad that we stopped caring about where our goods and services were made, and now we've been paying the price for it. This country of ours was made great because we made most of what we consumed, and I feel we can be this way again but we have to demand it! I feel if we made more of what we consume, we'd do a better job of supporting not only our country, but our favorite sport. I'm game, how about the rest of you???

p.s. There's strength in numbers, and it's being proven every day that no-one makes better products for Americans, than Americans!!!!