What is Manufacturing?

by Craig Pope, Polk County Commissioner

Websters definitions; 1. something made from raw materials by hand or by machinery,

2. the process of making wares by hand or by machinery especially when carried on systematically with division of labor.

Wasn’t this the mantra of building America just a handful of decades ago? The definitions still exist and are still being fulfilled globally but they aren’t being performed at a level Americans need to maintain their own self-sufficiency. A significant example of that today is the disastrous consequences of silicon chip manufacturing either being off-shored or controlled by governments that may not have our best interest in mind. Now our state and federal government is all excited and spending money at alarming rates to somehow stand up the American chip industry despite the global competition and control.

I am hopeful that these new semi-conductor companies we are potentially soliciting will be American companies with American customers occupied by local employees that could depend on the life expectancy of the chip manufacturing beyond one generation. I am old enough to remember this dance in the late 70’s and early 80’s and watched companies rise up and fade away over the last decade or two in Oregon. I think labor costs may have played a role in that market challenge so I guess we will see if we can afford the labor costs in competition for a global share. I worry that too much emphasis on locating new semi-conductor businesses back in our communities will once again throw our labor expectations out of balance. We have seen it before.

I am delighted with every new announcement for a manufacturing business that decides to startup or come to Polk County or even the mid-Willamette Valley for that matter. Polk County has a very diverse cross-section of manufacturing business that supply family wage jobs and the taxes for services that local governments must maintain for their workforce that live in the community.

Our diversity in manufacturing jobs ranges from building RV’s to machining aerospace parts, from falling timber to building finished cabinets, from decorative concrete pavers to elegant stone countertops, from state of the art spas to modern steel tower systems and a litany of steel products manufacturing, wood products manufacturing and ag products manufacturing. These industries in many cases for Polk County are the foundations of employment and stability for our economy. They provide the basis for hopes and dreams that propel the need for modern housing, public services, transportation systems, retail services, service businesses and all of the related jobs that are associated. Polk County has a good balance of manufacturing with room to add on, but we must be mindful of the local labor supply and infrastructure that is needed to support anything new.

Manufacturing businesses can have a hard time co-existing in communities as neighbors if they are seen as dirty, smelly or somehow toxic. For some people it doesn’t matter that a business is in full compliance with rules, codes and ordinances, or that the jobs they produce are competitive and lucrative, they just don’t want them in their neighborhood.

This of course is one of a thousand considerations a business has to wrangle with while determining whether to site at a specific location. If the company site developer or small business owner is fortunate enough to work with a SEDCOR staff member for example, they will most likely streamline their experience and find a community that really sees the value in welcoming that business. We can all do a better job in welcoming these industrial partners to our communities and supporting the essential backbone that they provide to our economic engines. Take the time to set up a visit with a manufacturing operation near you to learn more about what they do and what it takes to survive in your community. I think you may find that they are thrilled to share their story and show you what they do and they will be happy to learn more from you as a community member about how they can be a better neighbor and community partner.