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Yes and no. The economic benefits of globalized supply chains are real. The question is not whether or not supply chains should be globalized but how to ensure

Yes and no. The economic benefits of globalized supply chains are real. The question is not whether or not supply chains should be globalized but how to ensure their safety in the event of a global disruption? It's days like these that I'm really sad that more Americans don't do military service. Ensuring the long-term viability of large, generally dormant stockpiles is the core competency of the military in peacetime, because the military needs to spin up large numbers of resources on a dime when necessary and can't take several months or years to do so in the face of an imminent attack. My argument is that the military should maintain large manufacturing capacity that is generally dormant during peacetime (when it is too expensive compared to a globalized supply chain) so that it can be spun up in the event of global supply chain disruptions. In a day and age where security needs have more to do with economics than geopolitical control, it should arguably be the military's highest priority.

lazyjones 7y ago
> My argument is that the military should maintain large manufacturing capacity that is generally dormant during peacetime (when it is too expensive compared to a globalized supply chain) so that it can be spun up in the event of global supply chain disruptions. Might be a good solution, but how about having some more generic production capacity instead that can adapt quickly to urgent needs? China is quickly converting whole factories, with some research perhaps this process can be simplified and improved with more expensive, but flexible production technology. 3D printing instead of die casting etc. ...
- AdrianB1 7y ago
  It used to be the case in some countries; for example in my country the tobacco processing plants had the dual-purpose to build rifle ammo as most of the packing equipment used ~ 7.62 diameter. My cousin that worked in such a plant said it took less than 2 weeks for a full conversion. In this particular example there was no dormant capacity during peacetime, it was actively used on alternative production.
- ThrowawayR2 7y ago
  > "generic production capacity" Much like the generic scientist/engineer in video games (imagine telling a chemical engineer that they're suddenly a electrical engineer), there is no such thing as "generic production capacity". Specific high-tech industries require specific hardware and specific expertise (like the melt-blown fabric mentioned in the article) that you can't just keep on standby indefinitely.
  - lazyjones 7y ago
    > Specific high-tech industries require specific hardware and specific expertise (like the melt-blown fabric mentioned in the article) that you can't just keep on standby indefinitely. This depends on the product design and one has to be flexible. Do you think it's impossible to build N100 filter cartridges without melt-blown fabric?
- robotnikman 7y ago
  The US did this during WWII, I don't see why it can't be done again. They also took some more complex designs which required skilled labor and hand working (the 40mm Bofors comes to mind as an example) and modified the design significantly so it could be easily mass produced. This was in the days before CAD when everything was done on paper too

lazyjones 7y ago

> My argument is that the military should maintain large manufacturing capacity that is generally dormant during peacetime (when it is too expensive compared to a globalized supply chain) so that it can be spun up in the event of global supply chain disruptions. Might be a good solution, but how about having some more generic production capacity instead that can adapt quickly to urgent needs? China is quickly converting whole factories, with some research perhaps this process can be simplified and improved with more expensive, but flexible production technology. 3D printing instead of die casting etc. ...

AdrianB1 7y ago
It used to be the case in some countries; for example in my country the tobacco processing plants had the dual-purpose to build rifle ammo as most of the packing equipment used ~ 7.62 diameter. My cousin that worked in such a plant said it took less than 2 weeks for a full conversion. In this particular example there was no dormant capacity during peacetime, it was actively used on alternative production.
ThrowawayR2 7y ago
> "generic production capacity" Much like the generic scientist/engineer in video games (imagine telling a chemical engineer that they're suddenly a electrical engineer), there is no such thing as "generic production capacity". Specific high-tech industries require specific hardware and specific expertise (like the melt-blown fabric mentioned in the article) that you can't just keep on standby indefinitely.
- lazyjones 7y ago
  > Specific high-tech industries require specific hardware and specific expertise (like the melt-blown fabric mentioned in the article) that you can't just keep on standby indefinitely. This depends on the product design and one has to be flexible. Do you think it's impossible to build N100 filter cartridges without melt-blown fabric?
robotnikman 7y ago
The US did this during WWII, I don't see why it can't be done again. They also took some more complex designs which required skilled labor and hand working (the 40mm Bofors comes to mind as an example) and modified the design significantly so it could be easily mass produced. This was in the days before CAD when everything was done on paper too