Will globalization choke our middle class? 5

I saw an interesting article in the July EE times on page 4, under the same title as this thread. I work for a "global" company, and I see an increasing MANDATE to use low labor rate markets for EVERYTHING.

I beleive that eventually America and other major market players (Europe, Canada) will get knocked on their butts by the increasing exporting of expertise.

Since our government is not interested in bucking the big companies who go this global outsourcing, I am wondering how to position myself against this global competition.

Anybody have any great ideas?

 

[Beggar]

Find a niche that requires very specialized skills that are the result of both experience and expensive training.

At this stage of the game I think you'll find many fewer state-of-the-art experts in China and India (and, to a lesser degree, Russia). I think that we're evolving into a situation where a very small number of experts will continue on in North America and Europe and manage a slew of "commodity" engineers from the low-wage, high-population, growing-economy countries.

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[ajack1]

I totally agree with Beggar, find a niche market or one that requires a “local” response.

In the UK things seem to have gone full circle, before the industrial revolution most of the country was cottage industries then along came big looms and the textile industry had huge work forces in one place many others followed suit.

Lately with the closer of much of the textile, coal, steel, automotive and general manufacturing industries small little “cottage” industries are starting up all over the place.

During my fathers working period most people had a job for life, very few are that lucky now. Things change, those that stay ahead will prosper those that don’t will fall. I do not know about the USA but over here as supermarkets get bigger and more powerful there seems a great requirement for farmers markets so that people can actually buy food that tastes of something, engineering will go the same way IMO.

 

[0707]

The success of a professional in a globalize world is related with

General cognitive skills (problem solving, analytical ability)
Interpersonal and relationship skills
Ambiguity tolerance, adaptively
Cross-cultural competence (ability to work well in different cultures and with people of different origins)
Personal traits (character, self-reliance, dependability)
Competitiveness, drive
General educational breadth
Internet and information technology competency
Managerial training and experience
Foreign language fluency (Chinese, Japanese, English, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, German)

Luis

 

[GregLocock]

The success of a professional in a globalize world is related with...

The same skillste as was required in a non-globalized world.

Plus languages

Duh


Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[rhodie]

0707 just described .0001% of the world's population.

Makes the rest of us feel great!

 

[riedlipa]

So, if I follow the advice of Ajack and Beggar, it seems that I need to find a "specialty"?

Can you guys (or anybody else) give me a little more definition? I currently have made a reputation in my local area for being a plastics design expert. I can leverage this well with smaller companies. (I often get requests for "side" work)

My currrent employer is big and continues to adopt a "commodity" view of engineering. At the moment I am still an "expert" enough to be insulated from this thinking. But I continually have to release my authority over to "commodity" specialists in third-world countries.

I am not arguing with you guys, but it CAN'T be as simple as get more education...

 

[0707]

Hi rhodie

how many people is .0001% of the world's population?

 

[2dye4]

Unfortunately everybody can't engage in a specialty.

Globalization will have a deflating impact on people
with tech skills. It just takes less of us as
industries merge together. I am speaking of manufacturing
and design. Civil engineering will not suffer.

The real issue is how long will overseas manufacturers
continue to trade us cargo ships full of goods for
suitcases of green paper. They think some day we will
do something for them in return for the pretty green
paper. Poor suckers.

Lots of engineering work is going away. Until the
US has to support itself after its currency goes to
the potty.

 

[KENAT]

How about generalizing rather than specializing?

Especially in smaller firms this is invaluable.

Seems from what I've read a lot of the engineers churned out in the 'lower cost' countries don't seem to have the same ability to apply their knowledge. I'm not sure this is true but I'm just throwing it out there.

 

[berkshire]

I think a point missed by most engineers, is that a company or customer uses your services for what you can do, rather than what you know. They also shop for the best price or perceived value
As ajack1 (Automotive) points out, during the industrial revolution the British were able to buy cotton from India turn it into finished goods and ship it back to India cheaper than the locals could make them, ( Does this sound familiar.). This has now gone full circle the Indians are now producing goods and services cheaper than Britain or the United States, so is China.
In order to stay competitive you have to have an ability that cannot be bought for less cost elsewhere.

 

[riedlipa]

Berksire is getting to real question:

How do I compete against an Engineer in TWC(third world county)who is willing to take considerably less money for his time than me?

If I have a Mercedes education, but CompanyBigBucks can hire three Engineers (in TWC) with VW education for less than me, what do you think CompanBigBucks is going to do?

It's not that I mind developing myself further education/experience, but will it avail me?

 

[ajack1]

To use your analogy riedlipa start restoring or servicing Mercedes, become an expert on the subject, learn where to source parts become the person that everyone wants to restore or service their Mercedes.

Don’t touch Fords or GMs someone else will do that for less money, your client base will be smaller but people will pay top dollar to have their pride and joy worked on by an expert, become that expert. Now an expert in what? That is the question.

 

[Ashereng]

riedlipa,

If you can only do what someone else can, but for less money, then they will soon get our work, and you will go out of business.

If you want to survive, you need to do something that someone else can't do, at your price.

Put it another way. There are 2 pizza stores. Why would you go to Pizza Store A over B?
Pizza Store A
- is cheaper for the same pizza
- has a pizza flavour that Pizza B doesn't
- has more "stuff" for the same price
- delivers but Pizza B doesn't
- has a pizza to sell (Pizza B is too busy)

Same in engineering.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[davefitz]

a couple of ideas:

a) switch to a career that cannot be out-sourced - probably implies field work or plant work, since anything that can be accomplished in an engineering office can eventually be outsourced

b) provide political support to those pushing for a VAT value added tax in lieu of income taxes- by transferring the cost of gov't to all purchased goods and services, it makes domestic products and services more competitive.

 

[ScottyUK]

Taking DaveFitz' idea a little further: consider work in one of the utilities. The physical infrastructure simply can't be off-shored, although arguably it's design could be. It's as close to a secure career as you are likely to get.

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[Ashereng]

If you can only do what someone else can, but for less money, then they will soon get our work, and you will go out of business.

If you want to survive, you need to do something that someone else can't do, at your price.

Let me clarify a bit more.

It doesn't matter if your job can't be off-shored. If you can't do the job better and cheaper than someone else, then "someone else" will take your job.

People in India can immigrate to the US.
People in high school will graduate, and they will want jobs.
People currently laid off from one part of the country will move to where the jobs are.

It isn't the type of job you are in that gives you security. It is your ability that gives you security.

Back to the Pizza analogy.

I would think that Pizza stores/restaurants would be as difficult to off-shore as any industry.

Pizza stores/restaurants also go out of business.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?