[MoMo]

The company I ran used technology to the full BUT it was impossible to compete against the Chinese.
Why was this ? Do they have some secret formula or are we too inefficient? NO the reason is that they use 1930s technology to produce textiles (cheap and dont need highly skilled workers) and dont have the burden of health and safety, effluent disposal charges , trade unions , water rates , sick pay, maternity pay and leave, heating bills (they just put on an extra coat) etc etc.

HOWEVER they do make cheap diecast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JIM

That's how we got started, Jim! The tidal wash of the world economy bathes some in the warm waters of plenty while leaving others high and dry.

Become a Consultant Jim. It's the only way to get your skills to meet the challenges of a fast-moving technology. Within a decade China will look into itself and the people who are making sacrifices now will want security and safety for their children and China will discover that people will not be just satisfied with work, but will demand security as well!

Then the next Tiger Economy will pounce.

Plus ca change.

[jim]

Originally Posted by MoMo

That's how we got started, Jim! The tidal wash of the world economy bathes some in the warm waters of plenty while leaving others high and dry.

Become a Consultant Jim. It's the only way to get your skills to meet the challenges of a fast-moving technology. Within a decade China will look into itself and the people who are making sacrifices now will want security and safety for their children and China will discover that people will not be just satisfied with work, but will demand security as well!

Then the next Tiger Economy will pounce.

Plus ca change.

Nowhere left to use my skills Mo, its all gone now.

China is so big that I think you had better say 5 decades.

I wonder if I should go and inflict my skills on America?

Well actually no chance ,the same is happening there.

[Captain Eddie]

Jim, did I miss a post somewhere? I assume you lost your job? Assuming that is true, sorry to here about it. Are you in a position to retire?

[jim]

Originally Posted by Captain Eddie

Jim, did I miss a post somewhere? I assume you lost your job? Assuming that is true, sorry to here about it. Are you in a position to retire?

Hi Captain, the answer is yes and yes, despite having the most up to date equipment money can buy and a team of workers I was privileged to work with I am afraid that it was impossible to compete against the Chinese.
If you fly almost any of the major airlines you will most likely have on your seat a blanket made by the company I worked for. (and most likely designed be me or my assistant).
Ba , Qantas, KLM , AA , New Zealand , Continental , United , the list is endless.
We matched or beat every producer in the world we delivered on time and made some major advances in passenger safety for example fire proofing and also bringing anti static blankets onto the market.

The Chinese came into the market and offered to make these products for 60% less !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To this day I have no idea how they can do that. They "must" be heavily subsidised by someone. Even the low wages paid over there would not make that difference. To give you some idea what I mean, they supply the product at less than the cost I paid for the raw materials.

Well Captain I thought I was in a position to retire but the lovely Lorraine had other thoughts! I seem to work more than I ever did.
I think she is working on some erroneous idea that I need to work to keep spirits up, I keep trying to tell her that I am very happy and dont need her work therapy.
Now It seems we have allowed the bathroom ceiling to become shabby and we must repaint it, By we I mean that I do it and she fault finds.
Its funny I dont know how I ever managed to run a company without her help, mind you thats Lorraines opinion as well!!!

I shall have to find some kind of job sooner or later but thankfully I am not under any pressure, but I have to finance my diecast addiction so a part time job would be just perfect. Anyone want a textile designer / engineer / mechanic/ manager? Preferably for 20 hours a week with 19 hour long tea break so I can tune into the hanger.

[Captain Eddie]

Well, best of wishes in all that, Jim. Hope you find the perfect partime job. Perhaps installing speed bumps!!! You know, the black and white ones. I just painted one of our bathroom walls a couple of weeks ago. The other one I painted a couple of years ago. Bathrooms are SO much FUN to paint, aren't they!

Anyway, take care of yourself, and let me know how things turn out for you.

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by jim

Hi Captain, the answer is yes and yes, despite having the most up to date equipment money can buy and a team of workers I was privileged to work with I am afraid that it was impossible to compete against the Chinese.
If you fly almost any of the major airlines you will most likely have on your seat a blanket made by the company I worked for. (and most likely designed be me or my assistant).
Ba , Qantas, KLM , AA , New Zealand , Continental , United , the list is endless.
We matched or beat every producer in the world we delivered on time and made some major advances in passenger safety for example fire proofing and also bringing anti static blankets onto the market.

The Chinese came into the market and offered to make these products for 60% less !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To this day I have no idea how they can do that. They "must" be heavily subsidised by someone. Even the low wages paid over there would not make that difference. To give you some idea what I mean, they supply the product at less than the cost I paid for the raw materials.

Well Captain I thought I was in a position to retire but the lovely Lorraine had other thoughts! I seem to work more than I ever did.
I think she is working on some erroneous idea that I need to work to keep spirits up, I keep trying to tell her that I am very happy and dont need her work therapy.
Now It seems we have allowed the bathroom ceiling to become shabby and we must repaint it, By we I mean that I do it and she fault finds.
Its funny I dont know how I ever managed to run a company without her help, mind you thats Lorraines opinion as well!!!

I shall have to find some kind of job sooner or later but thankfully I am not under any pressure, but I have to finance my diecast addiction so a part time job would be just perfect. Anyone want a textile designer / engineer / mechanic/ manager? Preferably for 20 hours a week with 19 hour long tea break so I can tune into the hanger.

One of the major problems is the fixed RMB (Yuan) exchange rate system being followed by China. It is distorting the market and is causing grave concern globally. Although it may 'protect' China's economy from 'shocks' in the global marketplace it is contributing to global trade imbalances and instability.When the financial and trade bubbles burst the consequences are likely to be unpleasant for everyone - sow the wind, reap the whirlwind ...

[MoMo]

Dear Jim,

Retirement, as you suggest, is fraught with difficulties, the least of which is employing your time constructively. I envisage a 5 year plan to completely renovate your house ( including a nice wee kennel for Skunky ) with lots ofexperiments with paint and stuff.

Good luck, Mate, because women do not accept the biological necessity for men to have at least 6 to 8 hours of lying around time to indulge in various pursuits which are required to recharge their batteries.

This is nature's way allowing women a useful role in the scheme of things. Look at lions : all the females do the work, then the male eats then sleeps. Nature shows us the way. We must not deny our genes!

We need at least 3 hours to admire our diecasts every day.

MoMo

[jim]

Originally Posted by MoMo

Dear Jim,

Retirement, as you suggest, is fraught with difficulties, the least of which is employing your time constructively. I envisage a 5 year plan to completely renovate your house ( including a nice wee kennel for Skunky ) with lots ofexperiments with paint and stuff.

Good luck, Mate, because women do not accept the biological necessity for men to have at least 6 to 8 hours of lying around time to indulge in various pursuits which are required to recharge their batteries.

This is nature's way allowing women a useful role in the scheme of things. Look at lions : all the females do the work, then the male eats then sleeps. Nature shows us the way. We must not deny our genes!

We need at least 3 hours to admire our diecasts every day.

MoMo

Yes and 5 hours to keep up with this forum.

BTW I have an unused kennel outside just in case the stripey one turns up. Its funny that the dogs hate it but the cats love it. The kennel I mean not the stripey one!

Another BTW, its raining here and both Lorraine and me are bored , I cannot get any enthusiasm up to start on the bathroom.
Even perusing my diecast collection isnt lifting the mood.
Don't you hate these gray days we get in the UK.
Even the dogs cannot raise the effort to bark at my cat. it has a perverted sense of humour, it sits and stares through the fence at the dogs and drives them crazy. One day if its not careful it will do that and I will have forgotten to lock the gate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet another BTW, my Collie dog called Tramp has discovered a new and wonderful pastime, he sticks his head in the nearby stream and blows bubbles through his nose!! Keeps him amused for hours.
Yesterday, on the way home he ran under an electric fence and got zapped. Lesson learnt you would think, but no, he turned around snarled and bit the fence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup he got well zapped again, I had to grab him before he had another go! Brave or stupid I don't know which.

Life in the country!

[Captain Eddie]

Jim, your cat and dog stories (especially the dog trying to electrocute itself) had me laughing out loud!!! Thanks for sharing them.

[MoMo]

Yet another BTW, my Collie dog called Tramp has discovered a new and wonderful pastime, he sticks his head in the nearby stream and blows bubbles through his nose!! Keeps him amused for hours.
Yesterday, on the way home he ran under an electric fence and got zapped. Lesson learnt you would think, but no, he turned around snarled and bit the fence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup he got well zapped again, I had to grab him before he had another go! Brave or stupid I don't know which.

Life in the country!

JIM

Reminds me of that bit from " The Forbidden Planet " when the creature from the Id got though the force-field barrier and almost ate Leslie Neilsen. Perhaps Tramp is a projection of Skunky's Id and he's trying to tell you something!

It was dull, overcast and freezing here yesterday! Kathleen and I took a walk up the hill to Glasgow University to walk through the quad. We had to retreat to one of the local pubs to read The Sunday Times...too cold!

Come back Global Warming.

Keep up the dog stories, Jim.

Woof-Woof!