Check out a LttE my lab tech sent to a publication espousing the Walmart biz model.

[Mika]

The writer of the article, in this Dental Lab Business mag, espouses Walmart's cost cutting model as a good example to the US dental laboratory manufacturing industry.

My lab tech send me this ...

Six Lessons From the Downturn
http://www.jdtunbound.com/unbound-exclusive/september/2009/six-lessons-downturn

His comment at bottom of article:

Ms Jenno,

Endorsing Walmart as a good business model is endorsing the downward trend in wages, and endorsing the gutting of America's manufacturing labor sector - which the US laboratory that manufactures in the US is.

If we all followed Walmart's business model, then very few could afford American made dentistry. Walmart's employment practices and sparse health insurance plans are squeezing labor wages downward and thereby reducing our customer base.

We see this happening already in our own industry. Low wages attacts fewer and fewer young people to the dental technology profession.

Competing with $3 a day communist Chinese labor isn't going to raise the bar for lab owners and employees in any way. The arbtraging of labor under the rubric of "free trade" is destroying our economy, and our manufacturing industries.

Good wages and manufacturing jobs IN THE USA is the key to expanding our American customer base, not espousing ever lowering prices and wages and offshoring US jobs as is the Walmart model.

Employed Americans with good paying jobs ARE OUR CUSTOMERS! If taking care of customers is an objective, then, logically, espousing the Walmart business model is counter to your advice of taking care of the customer.

I am appalled that you are endorsing this shortsighted downward slide as an appropriate model for the dental laboratory manufacturing sector.

Regards,
B Brock, CDT +25

Good on him! :toast:

[Sherman A1]

1. K&R A good LTTE

And thanks from a Union Member

[angstlessk]

2. Kudos to your co-worker..."It's the smile factor, stupid"...beings as you do teeth and all

kudos again!

[Seldona]

3. I hope he ends up in managment.

An executive that is capable, and willing, to look past the next quarter's profits and do the right thing for both his company and his community is an executive worth having.

[Mika]

4. He's a lab owner.

Small business. A couple of employee techs. Hard workers dedicated to doing the best work. Having to compete with the sweeping trend of $20/ unit Chinese made crappy crowns and bridges the insurance companies are forcing insurance Drs to use.




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[Seldona]

6. Sorry, missed that.

I wish him success. There are companies that get it.

[dmr]

5. The article's author is a 'for hire' writer

I got to thinking about a DU thread a while back how some newspapers & magazines were outsourcing and passing them off as 'at home' news. For instance, there was a local newspaper (I forget where) who sent town/county meeting videos to someone in India who would watch it and then write a column on what transpired. Fully taking out any local input, history or understanding.

Anyway ...

I Googled the author and found this:
http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/josephine-jenno/14956.htm

http://www.marketsensus.com/about_us.php
MarketSensus Limited

MarketSensus Limited is a private limited company registered in Hong Kong SAR with the company number 1169792. The registered office is 5/F Tung Yiu Commercial Building 31A Wyndham Street Central Hong Kong SAR
* Our guarantee applies to reports purchased from our catalogue.

So, my question, who really paid for this article & why? And, is it an underhanded way to slyly promote WalMart, so that someone can then quote how positively the WalMart model is working?

Call me cynical.

I'm glad your lab tech wrote his common sense comment.