Monday, April 09, 2007
Here is an interesting Fast Company article that gives you an inside look into Toyota's Georgetown plant in Kentucky. Read more.
The popular press (and some economists) have misdiagnosed the transformation taking place in the U.S. economy. While the number of manufacturing jobs has been going down, the changing character of manufacturing -- the business models that drive it -- is the real story.
Manufacturing business models that are lean, agile, and committed to learning are moving ahead. Manufacturing business models that are rigid, slow and unable to adapt quickly are falling behind. That's why Toyota and Honda are gaining share and expanding their operations in the U.S., while the Big Three continue to struggle.
posted by Ed Morrison |
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Some Background on EDPro Weblog
The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it.
One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information.
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Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development
As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking.
Background on Ed Morrison
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Toyota Watch: Georgetown, KY
