5 ms·

"allowed to happen"? Do you think the government should tell companies where they can manufacture?

by naoqj 5y ago

arberx 5y ago
If it's a national security concern -- absolutely. Apple isn't just a company.
atlasunshrugged 5y ago
Just dropped this in another comment but sharing here too. Some people apparently do (and actually have for a long time for national security stuff, but with the increasing dual-use nature of tech I think the idea of what should be considered critical or not is expanding). The bill below is probably the best articulation of some political thoughts on the subject of outsourcing supply chains. https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-and-cornyn-release-a-joint-statement-on-national-critical-capabilities-defense-act https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-and-cornyn-...
option 5y ago
Depending on goods and services they provide. In case of high tech manufacturing- absolutely. Furniture is an example where we should care much less.
nukemaster 5y ago
Our law and freedom ends where the border begins.
reaperducer 5y ago
"allowed to happen"? Do you think the government should tell companies where they can manufacture? Even without government intervention, a good CEO should know better than to put all of his company's eggs in one basket, whether that's an individual nation, or a single parts supplier. Apple's massive growth in services would somewhat insulate it from a locked-out-of-China scenario. At least long enough to establish diverse manufacturing elsewhere. As an Apple shareholder, for years I've been repeatedly disappointed with Mr. Cook's swooning and fawning over China. Not just for political and social reasons, but because he put the company and its future in jeopardy chasing Chinese manufacturing trends for short-term dollars. I want a CEO with long-term vision, who makes the company resilient so it'll keep producing revenue longer than the next three months.
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
  Why? If something pops off in Asia, Apple can cry to the US govt for a handout to manufacture elsewhere. Intel is only building fabs in the US because of government subsidies. So you can outsource everything for profit and then get the government to pay to bring them back. Rinse and repeat.
  - reaperducer 5y ago
    Because even if the government does come to your rescue (not guaranteed), you're going to have a multi-year to multi-decade impact on revenue, performance, and other metrics while you ramp up again. You don't just dial 1-800-FACTORY and a new iPhone plant gets delivered the next day. Why build the potential company-wide recession into your business plan?
- scns 5y ago
  You may have to wait for the new Apple CEO. https://steveblank.com/2016/10/24/why-tim-cook-is-steve-ballmer-and-why-he-still-has-his-job-at-apple/ https://steveblank.com/2016/10/24/why-tim-cook-is-steve-ball...
throw_m239339 5y ago
> "allowed to happen"? Do you think the government should tell companies where they can manufacture? Do you think Apple is allowed to manufacture in Iran? The government is already telling companies where they can or cannot manufacture.
eropple 5y ago
Frankly, probably? There are strategic interests in not allowing overly centralized control of manufacturing in potentially hostile powers. Corporations literally exist at the sufferance of the state that granted their charter; conditioning their operations in the interest of that state doesn't really bother me, personally. (And yes, that means that other countries in which a multinational has operations can do the same thing. If you look at China--they already do.)

"allowed to happen"? Do you think the government should tell companies where they can manufacture?

by naoqj 5y ago

"allowed to happen"? Do you think the government should tell companies where they can manufacture?

arberx 5y ago

If it's a national security concern -- absolutely. Apple isn't just a company.

atlasunshrugged 5y ago

Just dropped this in another comment but sharing here too. Some people apparently do (and actually have for a long time for national security stuff, but with the increasing dual-use nature of tech I think the idea of what should be considered critical or not is expanding). The bill below is probably the best articulation of some political thoughts on the subject of outsourcing supply chains. https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-and-cornyn-release-a-joint-statement-on-national-critical-capabilities-defense-act https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-and-cornyn-...

option 5y ago

Depending on goods and services they provide. In case of high tech manufacturing- absolutely. Furniture is an example where we should care much less.

nukemaster 5y ago

Our law and freedom ends where the border begins.

reaperducer 5y ago

"allowed to happen"? Do you think the government should tell companies where they can manufacture? Even without government intervention, a good CEO should know better than to put all of his company's eggs in one basket, whether that's an individual nation, or a single parts supplier. Apple's massive growth in services would somewhat insulate it from a locked-out-of-China scenario. At least long enough to establish diverse manufacturing elsewhere. As an Apple shareholder, for years I've been repeatedly disappointed with Mr. Cook's swooning and fawning over China. Not just for political and social reasons, but because he put the company and its future in jeopardy chasing Chinese manufacturing trends for short-term dollars. I want a CEO with long-term vision, who makes the company resilient so it'll keep producing revenue longer than the next three months.

2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
Why? If something pops off in Asia, Apple can cry to the US govt for a handout to manufacture elsewhere. Intel is only building fabs in the US because of government subsidies. So you can outsource everything for profit and then get the government to pay to bring them back. Rinse and repeat.
- reaperducer 5y ago
  Because even if the government does come to your rescue (not guaranteed), you're going to have a multi-year to multi-decade impact on revenue, performance, and other metrics while you ramp up again. You don't just dial 1-800-FACTORY and a new iPhone plant gets delivered the next day. Why build the potential company-wide recession into your business plan?
scns 5y ago
You may have to wait for the new Apple CEO. https://steveblank.com/2016/10/24/why-tim-cook-is-steve-ballmer-and-why-he-still-has-his-job-at-apple/ https://steveblank.com/2016/10/24/why-tim-cook-is-steve-ball...

throw_m239339 5y ago

> "allowed to happen"? Do you think the government should tell companies where they can manufacture? Do you think Apple is allowed to manufacture in Iran? The government is already telling companies where they can or cannot manufacture.

eropple 5y ago

Frankly, probably? There are strategic interests in not allowing overly centralized control of manufacturing in potentially hostile powers. Corporations literally exist at the sufferance of the state that granted their charter; conditioning their operations in the interest of that state doesn't really bother me, personally. (And yes, that means that other countries in which a multinational has operations can do the same thing. If you look at China--they already do.)