By Kevin Meyer
Could it really be?? The king of outsourcing changing his stripes?
In a speech Friday to the Detroit Economic Club, Mr. Immelt said the U.S. should chart a "dramatic industrial renewal" that would boost manufacturing to 20% of the nation's jobs, about double its current share. He called for the U.S. to reinvigorate efforts to improve its competitiveness as an exporter, by boosting investment in research and development, education and training.
Mr. Immelt said the U.S. has "lost our leadership in many growth industries, and other new opportunities are at risk." He called for a new emphasis on the importance of engineering as a profession, as well as efforts to improve the technical prowess of U.S. companies.
Ok, so not quite a complete turnaround, but it's a good start if he puts meat behind those words. And at least initially there's some real money behind the change.
research-and-development facility near Detroit to employ about 1,200
scientists and researchers in a region hit hard by job losses and a
sagging auto industry. GE said work at the center, formerly occupied by auto-parts maker Visteon Corp., will focus on developing information-technology, clean-energy and transportation products. The company will also build a 100,000-square-foot building on the site.
Ok, who convinced Immelt to read Bill's book?? Apparently someone did.
Peter says
They have also taken alot of money from the government via GE Capital. So this is no doubt timed to be a sweetener in that context.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062802955.html?hpid=topnews
Call me a cynic – but this IS GE…