timi@paradigmlasers.com
10/21/09_____________________________________________________________________________________________
There are times when I get pretty disappointed. Letters like this help me keep going on this project. It is really time consuming.
There are articles in various trade journals I get the talk of lights out facilities here in USA. There is a injection molding facility in Phoenix that supposedly operates 2 shifts with maintenance staff only. I believe it is one aspect of future world competition. I don't think we can employ everyone to operate a computer. We still have to have some workforce employed. Someone has to buy the products. I don't know what the mix might be. But you are right automation is what will keep (make) us competitive. There must be a computer model somewhere that could show the effect.
We need to remove the roadblocks. People need the resources and training to launch new products. Money is the big roadblock. There are grants for everything except business, with a few exceptions. Potential inventors need the tools to develop their products. Training, engineering, knowledge of processes, business training, finance etc.
The program we are trying to put together attempts to address these issues. By offering a facility with equipment, training, experience, and financial resource we can probably reduce development costs by 4 . The participants should have a functioning business when they are through the program. Automation of manufacturing the inventors product will come depending on demand of product and complexity. I would hope that we could include the concept of automation in the process.
I have wrote my representatives. It is amazing there were only a couple that understood what we are trying to do. Others responded with information unrelated.
People on craigslist keep flagging my post. I don't know why , you can not find out why either. When someone flaggs it is removed. So I am not able to get the word out like I want.
Thanks again for your support.
Steve Kreider
stevekreider@invent-manufacture.com
_10/22/09____________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi Steve,
I enjoyed reading your reply and I agree with you. For young companies, with pent up energy and good product potential, road blocks can be a harbinger of true proportion. Your effort will hopefully stimulate entrepreneurial aggressiveness and bring the right people together. Groups have much more influence, capabilities, not to mention the social aspect. Road blocks may not be so daunting if there is more than one person tackling them.
The responses you received from representatives is not surprising. The current economic climate has them worried and they are playing the "wait and see" game. Our company was recently visited by a Washington state auditor. It was mentioned that our company was chosen by lottery. We had a 3% chance of being selected. Anyway, this auditor mentioned that Washington state is not far behind California. So if you are trying to seek support from Washington you can guess what your answer will be.
Money is a big problem, however, one simple success brings money. The people in America with money are worried. Their stock investments have tanked, real estate is flat, and lenders are doing all they can to keep them happy. My suggestion is to forget government sources or private capital at this time. A young company needs to be product focused and market aggressive. Every minute and every dollar counts. Spending time and effort chasing capital sources is a risk that should be seriously evaluated.
History will show that the invention of the internet made China what it is today. With almost no capital the people of China gained access to world markets. In this country individuals and small companies can do the same and we have advantages. We speak the same language, we use the same tender, we can support products locally, we have lower shipping costs, etc. The question is how do we take those advantages and regain our strength?
The answer is, one successful product at a time. Like the music industry one good song sells a whole album. Same with business. Show a money source one successful product and they will give you money for three more. Add a little publicity and soon you will be Google:-)
If you think my email will help your cause, by all means publish it!
Best Regards,
Tim Irwin
10/22/09
