March 25, 2008
Embracing Global Manufacturing
Discussions of global manufacturing may often focus on complaints about competition from China, but plastics industry leaders who met in Leominster this morning say there are good reasons to embrace the international market.
John Gravelle, president of Mar-Lee Cos. Inc. in Leominster said his company has been able to grow because it focuses on productivity, using automation and skilled workers. He said competing with China for low labor costs is impossible.
Gravelle also said Europe presents good opportunities because of the weak dollar. European companies and investors can get to the North Central Massachusetts area easily by flying into East Coast airports, and they find the area a good place to do business, he said.
"We're a bargain for them," he said.
The event, organized by the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. , was part of Gov. Deval Patrick's "Manufacturing Month," an effort to reach out to manufacturing industries throughout the state. Gregory Bialecki, undersecretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development , spoke about assistance the commonwealth can offer to manufacturers.
Bialecki said manufacturing is important to the state because it offers a range of employment opportunities that other industries do not. He said the state needs to respond quickly to manufacturers' needs, offering faster permitting and more up-to-date training opportunities, for example. He said another part of the state's mission is to build networks that connect manufactures within the state to each other to keep supply chains more local.
John Gravelle, president of Mar-Lee Cos. Inc. in Leominster said his company has been able to grow because it focuses on productivity, using automation and skilled workers. He said competing with China for low labor costs is impossible.
Gravelle also said Europe presents good opportunities because of the weak dollar. European companies and investors can get to the North Central Massachusetts area easily by flying into East Coast airports, and they find the area a good place to do business, he said.
"We're a bargain for them," he said.
The event, organized by the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. , was part of Gov. Deval Patrick's "Manufacturing Month," an effort to reach out to manufacturing industries throughout the state. Gregory Bialecki, undersecretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development , spoke about assistance the commonwealth can offer to manufacturers.
Bialecki said manufacturing is important to the state because it offers a range of employment opportunities that other industries do not. He said the state needs to respond quickly to manufacturers' needs, offering faster permitting and more up-to-date training opportunities, for example. He said another part of the state's mission is to build networks that connect manufactures within the state to each other to keep supply chains more local.
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