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FIX This Mess

Made in USA is Their Only Way

By Mike Botta, IEN Staff

February 17, 2009 – In true American spirit, two guys from out West are trying to turn around the shift of U.S. manufacturing jobs overseas and give a big boost to companies that still source and make their products here in the States.   

The idea was hatched about six months ago by Bryan Aldridge and Chris Blumhagen while sitting around lamenting the loss of U.S. jobs.  “Three out of four of our last jobs went overseas,” Aldridge told IEN “and we said, how can we change this?” 

Certified American

So the pair joined forces to launch My American Jobs, Inc., a new company setting out to establish a formal standardized manufacturing certification process designed to label products produced with U.S.-made materials.  Company headquarters was set up in Glendale, AZ.

Contacted by phone, Aldridge said he spent 20 years working in the semiconductor field for companies including Intel, QC Optics, STMicroelectronics and Atmel, while Blumhagen’s experience includes more than 10 years at STMicroelectronics.

Patriotic Purchasing a 'Necessity'

"We wanted to provide a way for consumers to make educated purchasing decisions that help to ensure America's economic stability as well as the growth and longevity of American jobs,” according to Aldridge. “Patriotic purchasing has moved beyond a grassroots-driven show of force to an economic necessity."

Through the voluntary manufacturing certification process and expansion of the company’s website, the pair hopes to help U.S. companies build market share.  When fully developed, the company website is expected to provide consumers with instant access to certified American products, their manufacturers and retailers, according to a company statement.

In the meantime, the website already provides detailed information on the certification application requirements and process. 

Levels of Certification

There are three levels of certification for a product, according to the website:

  • 3 Star requires that greater than 50-percent of the product is sourced from within the U.S.
  • 4 Star requires that greater than 75-percent of the product is sourced from within the U.S and that the product assembly is also within the U.S.
  • 5 Star requires that greater than 95-percent of the product is sourced from within the U.S. and that the product assembly is also within the U.S.

Specific pricing details are absent from the site, but Aldridge said the pricing structure is based on gross profit:  $2,250 for companies with gross profit of less than $1 million and $5,500 for companies with more than $1 million in gross profit.

He said that an “honor system” is in place for privately held companies, but that there is a provision for onsite inspections in the agreement with My American Jobs.

Looking for Endorsements

At present Aldridge is trying to gain endorsements from interested labor unions and the American Legion, the latter since he has prior submarine experience in the U.S military.

"The economic future of the United States lies squarely on the shoulders of American manufacturers, workers, and consumers,” Aldridge said. “When you purchase a foreign-made hammer you employ 20 foreign workers. When you buy a hammer made in America with American made components you employ 20 of your family, friends, neighbors, and fellow countrymen."

Aldridge and Blumhagen may have an uphill climb to get widespread cooperation from industry and the public, but they’re certainly putting their words into action.  There doesn’t seem to be a lot of that happening around the country these days.

My American Jobs, Inc. is located at 20118 N. 67th Ave., Suite 300-120, Glendale, AZ 85308; (623) 444-5978;  support@myamericanjobs.com. 

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Comments

  • Bryan Aldridge on Feb 19 2009 5:22:24:000PM

    Looking for feedback. We received a comment that our name "My American Jobs" was not positive enough or did not convey the proper message. What do all of you think? Thanks for your response. Bryan Aldridge, CEO My American Jobs

  • Steve Laethem on Feb 17 2009 11:18:03:000AM

    I'm on board. It is a "Necessity" and going to become a reality.

  • Terry Jackson on Feb 17 2009 11:14:01:000AM

    As a U.S. manufacturer we have always tried to source our raw materials locally, but this has become an impossible task. As a cut and sew operation, we are a dieing breed in the U.S. so all of the raw materials for fabrics, webbing and hardware have moved to China where most of the soft goods are now made. Most of our raw goods may have to come from overseas, but we are still doing what I call the value added portion (creating a functional product) right here in the U.S.. We currently place the American flag on the web site and catalog next to those items we still manufacture here in the U.S. and hope it makes a difference to some consumers. With that said, made in the U.S. only goes so far without a quality product and customer service.

  • waynej on Feb 17 2009 10:52:27:000AM

    Your going to put Wal-Mart out of business. Sign me up!

  • Blessed on Feb 17 2009 10:46:22:000AM

    Need to have a list of products or Company names making things here in the USA. I am tired of looking at things and everything is made in China. How sad

  • John M Szmed on Feb 17 2009 10:38:58:000AM

    It about time ! So may companys look at ISO cert's, and all kinds of other certifications, which have their place, but its about time we look at ourselves. Maybe the Goverment will consider this as the benchmark for their new, bail-out plan ! and possible future tax cut for thoes other companys that deal with 100% made USA products not just end user consumer.

  • Chuck M on Feb 17 2009 10:29:00:000AM

    A great idea. I still try to specify American Made in my projects

  • Tony M on Feb 17 2009 4:15:52:000PM

    Lately, people seem to point out that domestic content is increasingly important since American unemployment is rampant. One thing we all must consider is how our goods are priced versus what they cost. What is the true cost of buying "cheap"? Do China-Mart and others pay for the nation's unemployment, health care, re-training and so on for the jobs they sent overseas? I think not. How much profit is fair profit? GPM no longer means Gross Profit Margin - it now stands for Gluttinous Pig Markup. Educate America is an important part of Made in America. As for domestic content certification, it should be law! As for being made in USA, you have my support.

  • Greg on Feb 17 2009 4:05:31:000PM

    Sounds good but the real decision will be made by the price of the product and if the consumer is willing to pay extra for it if labelled Made in America. I see a lot of "union" folks and others that speak ill of corporate greed and the global free market still shopping in Wal-Mart inspite of their retoric. Nothing speaks louder than the almighty dollar in spite of lofty ideals. We have to figure out a way to improve our competitveness on a level playing field and get away from the band-aid fixes that tilt the field. We need to get away from the mind set that the government ought to do something about (pick your subject) and come back to the realization that we need to fix our own problems; not lay back and expect others to fix them for us. In the long run, some good competition makes us all better.

  • Cliff Greenberg on Feb 17 2009 2:27:11:000PM

    My company is Japanese, but there is no USA competition in my industry, so we are actually adding jobs here when my customers buy my manufacturing equipment. Although I am a die-hard progressive, I have concerns with the global economy approach unless the playing field is equal--and it isn't. Most workers in the countries who get 10% of a US worker salary also work under terrible unsafe conditions--and many of us support that approach by buying the "china hammer" or other similar products. When Sam Walton ran Wal-Mart he looked for, and helped, US manufacturers. Now his sons and Wall Street only look for the quarterly bottom line. This short sighted approach has contributed to our economic condition today: we are just trying to sell services to each other. It may also be time to change some government internal requirements that the lowest bid be accepted: my government should be authorised to pay xx% more than the lowest bid for US made, with the delta determined by a cost of living ratio.

  • Buck on Feb 17 2009 1:42:04:000PM

    Good idea, but it's another way to glean money without manufacturing themselves, from the sounds of it. I'm afraid it's part of the reason we're in this mess. we manufacture a 100% american product and sell it overseas.

  • LOUIS CASS on Feb 17 2009 1:19:58:000PM

    Has any-one thought about taking a cut in pay to help industry be more competetive?

  • George on Feb 17 2009 1:11:53:000PM

    Best of luck to these true patriots. Our government, multinational corporations, and media are too heavily influenced by China and will not act in the best interests of the American citizen. It's up to us to vote for "Made in USA" at the cash register. If we don't like the communist Chinese taking all our money, we can and should stop giving it to them--before it's too late. Please help spread the word about this and another wonderful effort: "Dollar to the Giant"--a folk song that powerfully addresses these issues. You can find it on YouTube and download sites like Amazon and iTunes--or just Google "Dollar to the Giant"

  • made in america on Aug 25 2009 12:04:34:000PM

    He said that an “honor system” is in place for privately held companies, but that there is a provision for onsite inspections in the agreement with My American Jobs.-what a joke!

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