15 korrents from this piece
Every claim below was made in this piece, quoted word for word and numbered in the order the piece makes them, so you can read it there rather than take our word for it. The sentence above each quote is our reading of the claim, not their wording. Each quote was checked against a stored copy of the page at build time; where the two differ, the quote is the fact.
Our reading
Reviving American manufacturing needs a better business model rather than a planned economy.
Their wordsReviving manufacturing doesn't require a planned economy, just a better business model.
Their wordsThe US excels at high-volume manufacturing, but not low-volume manufacturing.
Their wordsLong lead times and soft costs, fueled by the world-leading US wages for "white collar" work, are the root cause of poor performance in low-volume production because there are few units to spread the soft costs over.
Their wordsThe key is that robot arms are not labor-replacing, but labor-shifting.
Their wordsIt has a surplus of STEM graduates that are often underemployed, while "Hukou" residency restrictions complicate hiring hourly labor in coastal factories.
Their wordsSecond, technologies and market structure are contextual, where the US can't simply emulate China's manufacturing.
Their wordsUltra-short lead times are one of the most important features for buyers.
Their wordsThe robot arm base case saves some hourly labor at the expense of adding more skilled labor, and can easily be negative if it needs reprogramming more than a few times per year.
Their wordsThese end manufacturers (new and old) are vulnerable to tariffs on their inputs and they are the buyers that the "speed strategy" is relevant for.
Their wordsZero tariffs are the best way to help them.
Their wordsThe CHIPS Act might still be a positive, but the cost is almost certainly many times the $50 billion price tag.
Their wordsStockpiles provide insurance while conserving our valuable labor.
Our reading
Most regulatory delay is dead calendar time that could be cut without changing a single safety test.
Their wordsThere is a massive scope to reduce calendar time without even altering testing protocols.
Their wordsIndustrial policy almost inevitably consumes more skilled labor and reduces what we can produce.
Their wordsThe modern world is so bountiful that mass production is no longer the limiting factor.