Why Manufacturing Is So Hard In The U.S.

Manufacturing Reshoring & Challenges - Guardian Bikes shifted manufacturing from China starting in 2022, facing risks and initial losses [1][2] - US manufacturing firms and plants decreased by 25% between 1997 and 2023 due to falling global trade barriers [3] - Obstacles to reshoring include higher costs and the need to rebuild domestic supply chains [5][13][19] - Automation is crucial for US manufacturers to combat offshoring advantages like lower labor costs [15] Guardian Bikes' Strategy & Progress - Guardian Bikes' annual revenue exceeds $100 million, producing approximately 12 thousand bikes weekly [11] - The company aims for 70% of bike components to be US-made by the end of 2025, potentially reaching 100% by 2026 [17] - On each assembly line, Guardian Bikes produces about 1 thousand bikes a day, equating to one bike every 30 seconds [1] - Guardian Bikes leverages proximity to other manufacturers to source parts locally [16] Economic & Policy Context - The average wage for a manufacturing worker in the US is around $35 per hour, compared to approximately $4 per hour in China and $1.30 per hour in Vietnam [24] - China's spending on industrial policy was around $248 billion in 2019, compared to $84 billion (0.39% of GDP) by the US [25] - The US has shifted towards a service-based economy, with service jobs accounting for over 80% of non-farm employment [32]