The future of manufacturing?

I read a really interesting article in Wired Magazine about all of the new tools available for an inventor to create cool new stuff. It is definitely an exciting time to be a maker! I did have a couple of problems with the article, so I contacted Chris Anderson, the author and Editor-in-Chief of Wired magazine. This is what I wrote:

“I found the article on micro-industry fascinating. However, I find it odd that you are so quick to point people to China for getting work done. A small shop that will make custom parts quickly? It’s called a prototype machine shop, and they’ve been the backbone of American industry for a couple centuries. We were here for the railroads, the industrial revolution, the Jet Age, the Atomic age, and we are here for the next round of making. You point out that the spirit of current Chinese manufacturers comes out of the bandit tradition, and there is a lot of truth to that. China is well known for having no concern for intellectual property. Want knock off software, Nikes, Rolex, handbags, or DVDs? China is your place. So why are you encouraging people to send their designs anonymously to manufacturers like that? Further, Wired has always seemed to care about green manufacturing. Sending a job 10,000 miles away to be made is hardly green manufacturing. Not to mention China’s lax enforcement of environmental standards. There’s probably a small shop near you that would love to make whatever you need, quickly, efficiently, and at a good price. I admit that not all machine shops have always been a consumer-friendly place. But that is changing quickly. The forward-thinking of us are more than happy to deal with non-engineer, non-business customers in a polite and helpful manner. We’ll take your napkin drawings, your SketchUp files, or “It’s kind of like this, only different…” and make what you need, fast. Heck, a lot of us will deliver those parts by bike, too. That saves on jet fuel.”

Mr. Anderson replied: “Thanks for the note and good points! Best,Chris” Which is probably what he replies to all crazed whack jobs. Still, it was nice to get a reply!