在 2012年初，EETimes美國版發(fā)表了一系列“重建美國”系列文章，試圖探索復興美國制造業(yè)的可能性；在這個眾家電子業(yè)者為節(jié)省成本紛紛將制造據(jù)點移往亞洲的時刻，我們也知道這樣的議題恐怕是徒勞無功。 除此之外，是全球化(globalization)的現(xiàn)實以及全球性的“生產(chǎn)破碎化現(xiàn)象(fragmentation of production)”；但我們?nèi)哉J為，“制造”工程是了解產(chǎn)品設(shè)計程序不能被忽視的一個環(huán)節(jié)?？剂康竭@一點，你也許聽說蘋果(Apple)打算投資1億美元將部分Mac系列產(chǎn)品制造由中國移回美國的消息，并且對該公司的計劃深感振奮。 但蘋果的計劃還是有一些需要質(zhì)疑的地方。首先，蘋果的商業(yè)考量何在？將該公司因為以上消息而從美國媒體贏得的贊譽放在一邊，我們需要問清楚的是，蘋果在美國本土生產(chǎn)Mac系列產(chǎn)品，是否真是有道理的？ 我們得先看看成本分析數(shù)據(jù)；美國本土的人力成本如何？將成品銷往世界各地的運費成本如何？美國本土的供應鏈是否仍具備提供及時所有Mac所需零件的能力？蘋果在這條產(chǎn)品線的營業(yè)利潤率如何？要在美國營運一座工廠的成本是多少？ 總之，我們需要了解蘋果將“部分”生產(chǎn)線移回美國本土的成本結(jié)構(gòu)；企業(yè)時常會以成本做為將工作機會移往海外的借口，如果制造職缺回來了，我們需要理解如此舉動的商業(yè)考量。 蘋果CEO庫克(Tim Cook)在接受美國媒體訪問時，并沒有對以上的計劃細節(jié)透露任何相關(guān)內(nèi)容，包括蘋果將把哪些產(chǎn)品移回美國生產(chǎn)，以及產(chǎn)量數(shù)字。他僅含糊地表示，將在美國本地生產(chǎn)部分Mac計算機，而且生產(chǎn)內(nèi)容是超越目前該公司已經(jīng)在本土進行的組裝制程。 此外庫克也含蓄地表示，蘋果應該會有合作伙伴；舉例來說，他接受《 Businessweek》采訪時提到，蘋果的計劃：”并不意味著蘋果將自己進行制造，我們將與人們合作，并將有金錢投資?！蹦敲?，所謂的“人們”指的是？ 到目前為止，我們都只看到蘋果的象征性姿態(tài)──因為現(xiàn)在正是年底圣誕采購季。 本文授權(quán)編譯自EE Times，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載 本文下一頁：中國勞動力成本提高才是主因

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• 蘋果把生產(chǎn)線搬回美國的背后
• 科技創(chuàng)業(yè)者應如何制造下一個蘋果般的傳奇？
• iPhone 5S來得真快！疑似背蓋照曝光e36esmc

{pagination} 中國最大的PC制造商聯(lián)想(Lenovo) 先前已經(jīng)宣布，將在美國北卡羅萊納州(North Carolina)設(shè)置臺式與筆記本電腦的小量生產(chǎn)線，以支應美國本地企業(yè)與政府機構(gòu)訂單。此計劃與聯(lián)想持續(xù)提升產(chǎn)品自制率的策略相符；根據(jù)業(yè)界消息， 該公司將把產(chǎn)品自制率由2012年的兩成，在2013年提升至五成。 如果蘋果的動機與聯(lián)想一樣，是為了“更接近市場”，那么該公司打算將部份生產(chǎn)線移回美國的舉動是合理的(就像汽車廠商會在接近銷售市場的地方生產(chǎn)汽車)；在地消費、在地生產(chǎn)并不只是常識，而是有經(jīng)濟意涵的。 另一個考量點是中國勞動力市場正在改變；根據(jù)《華盛頓郵報(The Washington Post)》在中國東莞的報導，曾被稱為“世界工廠”的中國珠江三角洲地帶，現(xiàn)在出現(xiàn)失業(yè)情況，甚至對美國投以羨慕的眼光。雖然很難想象中國有任何地方的 工廠會關(guān)閉，但值得注意的是，中國的制造工作已經(jīng)流向包括越南、印尼等人力成本更低的區(qū)域。 《華盛頓郵報》的文章引述了中國國家信息中心(State Information Center)研究員張茉楠說法，指出目前中國目前掉進了“三明治陷阱(sandwich trap)”，也就是被擠在勞動成本更低的鄰近國家以及美國、德國等已開發(fā)國家中間，他強調(diào)：“中國的制造業(yè)者正面臨嚴峻局勢。” 因此，在稱贊蘋果將生產(chǎn)線移回美國是“做正確的事”之前，我們也許該想想更實際的因素：蘋果在美國本土生產(chǎn)自家產(chǎn)品，可能是個商業(yè)性考量。 本文授權(quán)編譯自EE Times，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載 編譯：Judith Cheng 參考英文原文：Yoshida in China: Probing Apple's U.S. manufacturing gambit，by Junko Yoshida

相關(guān)閱讀：
• 蘋果把生產(chǎn)線搬回美國的背后
• 科技創(chuàng)業(yè)者應如何制造下一個蘋果般的傳奇？
• iPhone 5S來得真快！疑似背蓋照曝光e36esmc

{pagination} Yoshida in China: Probing Apple's U.S. manufacturing gambit Junko Yoshida NEW YORK – At the beginning of this year, we launched a series called "Rebuilding America" in which we attempted to explore the prospects for reviving U.S. manufacturing. We acknowledged at that time that we could be accused of beating a dead horse since many in the electronics industry favor the outsourcing of manufacturing to Asia as a way to reduce costs. Beyond that is the reality of globalization and what has been called the global "fragmentation of production." Still, we argued, the engineering importance of "making stuff" as a way of understanding the product design process can't be underestimated. With that in mind, you have no doubt heard about Apple’s plan to spend more than $100 million to bring back “some production of Mac” to the U.S. from China. If you’re like me, you probably rolled your eyes and said, “Yeah, right!” A healthy dose of skepticism is in order here. First, what’s Apple’s business case? Setting aside the goodwill Apple has already gained from media coverage, we need to ask whether it actually makes sense to manufacture Macs at home. We need to see a cost analysis. What’s the labor cost? What’s the shipping cost for finished products? Do we still have a supply-chain infrastructure capable of bringing all the components necessary to make Macs here and deliver them on time? What’s Apple's operating margin for this product line? How much will it cost to operate a U.S. factory? We need to know the cost structure for moving in-shoring "some" production. Corporations frequently use cost as the alibi to ship jobs overseas. If some manufacturing jobs are returning, we must understand the business case for such a move. Apple CEO Tim Cook, in interviews with Businessweek and NBC's Brian Williams disclosed none of these details. Cook never revealed the actual products Apple will be making in the U.S. or how many Apple expects to make. Cook vaguely suggested producing some Mac computers here "beyond the assembly work" it already does stateside. Cook’s statements implied that Apple will have "partners.". For instance, he told Businessweek that the plan “doesn’t mean that Apple will do it ourselves, but we’ll be working with people, and we’ll be investing our money.” Again, what “people”? So far, all we’re looking at is a symbolic gesture by Apple -- just in time for the holidays. 'Sandwich trap' China’s largest PC vendor, Lenovo Group, has already announced it will establish assembly lines to produce desktops and notebooks in "small volume” in North Carolina in anticipation of enterprise and government orders.The move appears to be in line with Lenovo’s strategy to increase the proportion of in-house production, from about 20 percent in 2012 to 50 percent in 2013, according to Taiwan sources, Digitimes has reported. If Apple's motivation — like Lenovo's — is “to be closer to the market,” Apple’s plan to move “some production" back to the U.S. does make sense. (After all, that’s why automakers build cars close to local markets where they’re sold.) Making stuff where it’s consumed is not just common sense, it makes economic sense. A second data point worth examining is the changing labor market in China. The Washington Post, reporting from Donggun, China, found that "the city on China’s Pearl River Delta, once known as ‘the world’s factory,’ is now losing jobs and eyeing the United States with some envy." While it’s hard to believe that there’s anyplace in China where factories are closing, it should be noted that lower cost regions like Vietnam and Indonesia are taking manufacturing jobs from China. The Post article quoted Zhang Monan of the State Information Center, a government think tank, describing the phenomenon he called "a sandwich trap," as in, China being squeezed between cheaper labor in neighboring countries and competition from developed nations such as Germany and the U.S. Zhang stressed, “China’s manufacturers are in an extremely hard situation.” Before hailing Apple’s decision as “the right thing to do,” we might consider a more pragmatic interpretation: Maybe there is a business case for manufacturing Apple products right here in America.