Typical leftist viewpoint trying to ignore German and Japanese success in manufacturing by trying to characterize it as normal, when the US is something other.
It is rather intriguing how far the left has drifted from support of manufacturing jobs to be seemingly totally against them considering those in blue collar jobs as reactionary luddites and machine breakers who need to be brought to heel.
Whilst automation has indeed reduced labour levels needed in large batch manufacturing, many in bespoke equipment fabrication facilities technology has delivered better products and the economies of scale i.e. fast track and more production. In many cases those jobs have not been replaced by artificially intelligent enhanced robots, but merely shipped overseas. Lots of examples in my industry from steel mills, valves, through to shipbuilding and pressure vessels.
The truth is, for the working class who traditonally worked with their hands and who are now shop assistants or in the service industries, if not on the dole, nothing can deliver decent wages and dignity comparable to manufacturing.
It is a not a trick question; it is a factual question. The way you twisted it to make it into the "Muslim question," is entirely disingenuous and, more importantly, irrelevant.
The correct answer is immigrants. The program ran in that particular form from 1950s all the way into 1980s and included all sorts of guest (conractual and/or migrant) workers (Italians, Spaniards, Portuguese, Greeks, Yugoslavians, Turks, and, I believe, even some workers from N. African countries). Whatever strong manufacturing base Germany had was exhausted - indeed, decimated - by the end of the war and apparently there weren't plenty of people around to rebuild. . .
But, yes, go on. . . Don't let the facts get in your way while you rant on about Muslims and other undesirable critters.
The correct answer is the Marshall Plan without it, Germany would not have been able to rebuild at the pace it did. The complete destruction of Germany's manufacturing base was actually an asset when the aid money came, as they were able to invest in new equipment and factories. Whereas the UK used it as dole money and pet projects like the NHS. Combined with the weak management and militant unions, the UK fell behind German engineering and manufacturing (with some notable exceptions) by the 70s.
The UK also had many workers go to West Germany in the 70s and 80s and there was a successful television soap
Auf Weidershen, Pet about their adventures.
I've visited German manufacturers often in the last decade and a half, I still see a strong native working class in the factories and fabrication facilities. Or did. The token non-native looking immigrants appear to be relegated to the industrial paint shop.
Muslim manufacturing output in their own countries was negligible.
There is an argument that Arabic is a language that you cannot do complex engineering with.
Easiest people to work with I have ever encountered. Unlike Indians who are a sneaky, protectionist bunch that build "code kingdoms" which only they know so you have to keep them around.
A German will always give you an accurate estimate and full day of work. They are very successful because of it.
I agree German companies are extremely efficient and effective when it comes to getting the work done. However, their hierarchical nature means you need to be wary of design changes after contract award as they're going in that one direction and it becomes more difficult to manage. The Brits are much better at being pragmatic in this respect. That's in my experience.
I am afraid when it comes to the great Indian knowledge export, I am still not convinced by the latest batch. We have a lot of Indianization going on in my industry at the moment and it is dragging us backwards and inculcating networks that have a whiff of corruption about them. They are on paper extremely well qualified, but they lack face-to-face skills, seem to have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to Brits and are yes, sneaky when it comes to hiding defficient skill sets. Managers love them because they are not a threat (seemingly) and cheap. We see a mixed attitude with our clients. I've worked for a Indian (sikh) manager in the past and I have some colleagues who are Indian, but these are Anglophiles who came over in the 1980s early 90s with companies, I don't see the same level of professionalism or do I have confidence with those who are coming into the industry now.
