A Separate GOP Reality - Process Metrics

Full Poll Data Set here

cross-posted at We Will RockDem

This is the reality of the mindset of most of the voters in Augusta County. If you want to improve a system or sub-process, you first have to characterize it's operating parameters.

Local Progressives must deal with the electorate that is, not what we wish it to be.

Manufacturing Monday - Virtual Manufacturing, Really?

As an occasional adjunct instructor, teaching management science and stats to business undergrads at JMU, I would typically ask my new class, " how many of you or your family members have worked in a manufacturing plant?" Surprisingly at first, but consistent over the last 10 years - the answer was very few and far between.

Is this more evidence that Virginians have now fully passed into the Information Age, leaving behind the Industrial Age and, it's even older predecessor the Agricultural Age? At least for the future business leaders studying at JMU, it has already happened. Their understanding of the Real World (RW) doesn't include the details of "how things are made". They just see the advertising image of the product and then they interact with the ordering and delivery process. Whether it is a Starbucks coffee, Coors beer, Papa John's pizza or an Apple iPod. We see, get the urge to buy, order, and then magically products are processed from raw materials, and delivered for our use. I guess you could call that Virtual Manufacturing. Sounds cool ... for sure.


Peter Alpern at Industry Week has an critical take on the Virtual Manufacturing concept, as envisioned by Info Age gurus. (see Wired magazine - The Next Industrial Revolution) As usual there is a big gap between a popular media journalist's concept and the nitty gritty details of the Real World.

The vision of "virtual manufacturing" might sound romantic to the ear and certainly play to the entrepreneurial spirit of Wired's editor-in-chief. But it isn't realistic or plugged into the far more complex nature of industry today.

"The reality is this: if you don't have some semblance of manufacturing skill around you, inevitably you're going to wind up in a situation where everything, including the R&D and design, is done someplace else," ...

"And the economy you want to have these products sold in will not be there if there's no manufacturing. That's what we're facing."

Is the ability to understand "how things are made", related to the gripe from local farmers that the public doesn't love them enough and appreciate "where their food come from"? I think so.

Failure to maintain strong and productive, farming and manufacturing sectors -- will lead to a local economy that, for most workers, pays for what it gets -- low tech, low skill jobs in the service sector. There are good local professional jobs, that pay well: lawyers, doctors, dentists, teachers, civil engineers, construction craftsmen, service technicians, etc. The issue is supply and demand, there is an obvious limit in the needs for these professionals in our rural area. That's why many of our best and brightest have left the area to pursue professional careers, where the demand is greater, in major metropolitan areas. For the kids that stay - high wage, good benefits options are getting slimmer each year, as we shift our growth emphasis to the retail sector. (See big brand box stores and national chain restaurants in Waynesboro and Staunton.)

Augusta County will likely miss the Next Industrial Revolution - virtual or real , if we don't pursue economic development efforts to attract new plants and grow our manufacturing base. It is a critical economic base, one that creates real wealth (see 2008 Credit Derivatives & Major Bank failures) from the utilization of skilled labor and engineering professionals, adding real value to raw materials, in the production of advanced technology designs, to meet consumers needs.

Mama don't let your babies grow up to be ... retail workers.

Mars Rover Spirit - Life Goes On

Mars Rover Spirit enters last phase of life...

comic from xkcd