The Satellite Review Magazine 2018 Satellite Review Magazine | Page 21

rican Made: CHOOSING TO PARTNER LOCAL FOR YOUR COMPLETE AUTOMATED SOLUTION T he phrase “Made in America” has gained a lot of traction recently in response to a decrease in domestic manufacturing in favor of cheaper labor found overseas, but the phrase means more than just where the product was manufactured and produced. Once a symbol primarily represent- ing the stereotypical blue-collar job has now expanded far beyond that and into industries such as high-end fashion, food, houseware, furniture and even technology. The change in perception marks not only a shift in American business, but also a change in consumer demands. According to the Made in America Movement, 66 percent of consumers associate the phrase with high quality goods, fair prices, and safer working conditions; and the majority of American’s are willing to pay up to 10 percent more for products that carry that label. Tech-savvy and forward-thinking companies are choosing to manufac- ture in America for reasons beyond just patriotism. They are searching for ways to provide high-quality, state-of-the-art products and solu- tions to their customers in a timely manner – which is much more prac- tical when producing locally rather than shipping overseas. As a U.S.- based company that manufactures products at our York, Pennsylvania headquarters, Westfalia Technolo- gies, Inc. is proud to be a part of the Made in America movement and can see first-hand the benefits of Ameri- can quality. Westfalia was built on a set of core values: committed people and prod- ucts that stand the test of time. These core values have led us to become the successful company we are today and permeate through every as- pect of our business, including our mission, vision and commitments we make to each other, our customers, industry and planet. For the past 26 years, Westfalia has been dedicated to applying innovative technologies to help manufacturers and distributors reap business benefits and improve sustainability. Our automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) help them to not only improve operational efficiency, but also minimize their supply chains’ environmental impact. In 2016, the manufacturing industry www.WestfaliaUSA.com alone contributed nearly $2.25 tril- lion into the U.S. economy. Addi- tionally, companies choosing to keep manufacturing local provides the opportunity for over 12 million jobs to be created – that’s over 8 percent of the US workforce! As the demand for automated technology grows, we recognize the importance of hiring a skilled workforce to strengthen not only our company, but also our local and national economy. Our business is built upon the framework of solving problems for customers and building successful relationships through automation. As designers and planners-not simply technol- ogy providers-the most important driving force of our business is working alongside of our customers as an active partner. The key is the partnership that is built between the customer and the automation sup- plier. That partnership is what builds trust and helps us better understand our customer’s needs. This level of communication helps us guarantee that the customer receives a complete The Satellite Review 21