The rise of China's manufacturing industry, the decline of American manufacturing and the future of Fuyao from "American Factory"

Gabe 2022-03-20 09:02:36

China took over the United States as the world's factory, and it was indeed built with more blood and sweat. Compared with the migrant workers in the wider China, the Chinese workers in the Fuyao factory already have better working conditions and treatment. The honorable and sad nature of the Chinese nation lies in the fact that its people bear hardships and stand hard work, are diligent and self-improvement, and are easy to please and satisfy. This is a nation that builds the Great Wall. For many people, being able to have a stable job, being able to support their families, being able to endure a little bit of hardship, and habitual overtime and long hours of work has become a deformed social tacit understanding and unspoken rules of work. Throughout history, every era in which we feel great and proud is the era in which the people endured the most hardships, whether it is Qin Han, Wei Jin, Tang Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties or today.

When Americans stand in the ruins of today and look at the glory of the past, and miss the high-paying, relaxed and safe working conditions in the Ford era, the Chinese workers on the other side of the ocean are launching the rumbling engine of China's manufacturing industry, which has attracted world attention, in an unimaginable working environment. This is a battle without suspense. The U.S. representative went to the Fujian General Plant for inspection. All working conditions there were inferior to those of the U.S., but no one complained and maintained efficient production. People were silent and solemn. In the eyes of Americans, this is terrible and unbelievable, until they attended the party held by the company and saw with their own eyes that those "numb" people completely changed their appearance and came back to life, they put on heavy makeup, sang and danced, and even had Several couples held a group wedding, which is an ordinary Chinese life that is full of hardships and joys. A representative of the United States obviously felt the impact of emotions from different cultures and ethnic groups. He was emotional and said to the camera, almost choking, "This is a big world, a divided world, but it is indeed the same world. ." The words are sympathy, reverence, a re-recognition and understanding.

Back in the United States, both the Chinese side and the American side are seeking changes. The Chinese side hopes that Chinese employees can get along with American colleagues in a smarter way, while the United States tries to use some Chinese methods, such as holding early meetings, to improve efficiency and maintain Unity. However, cultural differences have intensified divisions, with demotions and layoffs appearing one after another, and union forces are constantly seeking to intervene. Obviously, in this tug of war, "people's problems" have become the center of the contradiction, and "people's problems" are often recognized as an important reason for the decline of American manufacturing.

The United States is obviously a country that is thoroughly capitalist, but in the game between workers and capitalists for hundreds of years, the interests of the working class have been continuously recognized and consolidated, and the power of trade unions has grown stronger, even to the point where companies are timid. At this point, as Cao Dewang said at the beginning of the film: "If the union is established, I will close the door."

The domestic manufacturing industry in the United States, tired of the high welfare and low output rate of workers, has shut down domestic factories, transferred them abroad, or made OEMs in lower-cost countries. Reviving the manufacturing industry requires American workers to reposition themselves. Higher salary demands and working conditions have already made them lose their competitive advantages with other countries and regions. The government should also play a more active role. In addition to attracting factories to settle down, it must also know how to retain factories and adjust the relationship between enterprises and workers, so that workers do not slide to the opposite side of enterprises. Of course, solving the problem is not achieved by simply suppressing workers, but requires the linkage of the government, enterprises and employees. Employees do not insist on higher treatment so that the company can make profits as soon as possible, and the more profitable companies pay more taxes to the government, and the government allocates part of the tax revenue to subsidize workers, forming a virtuous circle, which may be a solution worth considering. Obviously, this situation did not occur. The game between the factory and the workers and the confrontation of the corporate cultural values ​​of the two countries have become the main theme of the film. Both sides have good reasons, but both sides suffer.

After twists and turns and struggles, Fuyao has clarified its development direction, which is to try to strip away the most complicated interference factor - "people's problem", and by realizing more mechanized and automated production, the enterprise can be extracted from the fog of development, Firmly hold all the elements of production in your own hands. This is also what other manufacturing industries are trying to do. It can be seen that in the future of Fuyao and Fuyao, the status of workers will gradually weaken, and the American dream of American workers about "American factories" will not be realized again.

The teacher who never forgets the past and takes over the "Chinese factory" in the United States, what will happen in the future?

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Extended Reading
  • Taryn 2022-03-24 09:03:19

    Huang Gai of Wu State is willing to beat Huang Gai of Wei State, but not. After staying in Wu State for a long time, Zhou Yu thought that the whole world was filled with Huang Gai waiting to be beaten. At the time of Gai, Zhuge Liang had already made a wooden cow and a horse to replace the Huang Gai, so what will happen to the Huang Gai?

  • Helga 2022-03-24 09:03:19

    Huang Gai of Wu State is willing to beat Huang Gai of Wei State, but not. After staying in Wu State for a long time, Zhou Yu thought that the whole world was filled with Huang Gai waiting to be beaten. At the time of Gai, Zhuge Liang had already made a wooden cow and a horse to replace the Huang Gai, so what will happen to the Huang Gai?

American Factory quotes

  • Himself - Fuyao Safety Director: Everybody at every level will say that we really, really want to be safe. But safety doesn't pay the bills.