What happened to manufacturing in America - American Made Movie - Full Movie - Feature Documentary

American Made Movie - Full Feature Film

Documentary exploring the impact of American manufacturing on both ordinary citizens and the national economy. Through the stories of innovative entrepreneurs and businesses who are making things in the USA while successfully competing in the global economy, the film examines both the positive ripple effect that comes from domestic manufacturing jobs and the hurdles we'll need to overcome to start bringing them back while asking business owners and consumers alike one simple question: what is your part?

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After World War II, The American Industrial Machine turned from the making of the military goods that helped secure the promise of a free world to the making of consumer goods that promised a better life for the average American. In the 30 years that followed, we saw a growth of the American Middle class, which, in turn, caused the strengthening of the American Economy at home and abroad. Americans were now manufacturing and consuming goods at an unprecedented rate. 80% of the world’s automobiles were built in cities like Detroit. Appliances like refrigerators, ovens, washing machines, and microwaves made their way from factories to doorsteps. But, in the late 70s, as the rest of the world started to develop its manufacturing capabilities and American CEOs needed to find ways to increase their profit margins, the jobs that made up the backbone of the middle class started being outsourced.

The demand for American labor was decreasing, but the want for affordable consumer goods was increasing. This only served to encourage the outsourcing of American manufacturing jobs and exacerbate the plight facing the shrinking American middle class. Since 1979, the U.S. has lost 8 million manufacturing jobs. During this decline, several alternatives have been promised. But each boom and bust of a sector of the American economy has only left us more perplexed--and perhaps weaker--than the last. It’s clear that if we want our future in this new interconnected world to be a success, American manufacturing will have to play an integral role. But how?

American Made Movie, a feature-length documentary, chronicles the rise and fall of American manufacturing and its effects on both Americans and the American economy. In search of answers for how to stop the hemorrhaging of American jobs and how to rebuild our once thriving middle class, the film turns to experts; and it becomes clear that we Americans may not be able to rely upon the giant corporations, who are legally beholden to their shareholders to increase revenues and reduce costs.

It is only in turning to those who are weathering the storm without utilizing the methods of their competitors that we start to understand the solution. American Made Movie follows the stories of companies like New Balance, the last American athletic shoe manufacturer; Louisville Slugger, who still makes their iconic wooden bats in the United States; and Viking Ranges, a niche company that single-handedly brought its hometown out of despair. The film also tells the stories of resilient entrepreneurs like Mark Andol and Merrie Buchsbaum whose to need to create, to provide, and whose faith in America have set the standard for manufacturing in these uncertain times. Furthermore, what becomes evident is that in order for a rejuvenation of the ailing manufacturing sector to become a reality, American consumers are going to have to make decisions that aren’t based solely on their pocketbooks. The only thing that will create a demand for American manufacturing is a demand for goods manufactured in America.

[johnhaynes]

When you showed the president's... Reagan was a union buster and Clinton did NAFTA. Ever if you get a manufacturing job it starts at 10 dollars an hour which is the same rate as the 90's, no pensions crappy benefits if you even get benefits. Jobs have been leaving since NAFTA. Slow decline ever since. Can't support a family on 10 dollars an hour in this economy. Jobs went to China. There's over 1.4 billion people in China, 1.4 billion people buying your product. We are the richest country in the world with the most citizens living in poverty. Fact. We also have the most citizens in prison in the world. America is and will fall. Just a matter of time.

[jc-rqor]

A big problem with manufacturing jobs is that their so corporate. Smaller local or regional manufacturing is far more appealing to workers than a massive factory that tries to supply the whole country with lots of strict rules and long hours.

[jumo]

Greed, bad policy, and extreme regulation. Pretty much what did us in

[lifeismymovie]

Thank you all for watching. We love seeing the conversations and thoughts sparked here.

[GunnH]

I am watching this from Norway. There's a lot of differences between our two countries, but this problem is exacly the same here. We don't have manufacturing jobs anymore, we buy low quality products from China instead.

[thomasrogers]

THIS IS WHY WE NEED A FULL GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL POLICY SO WE CAN COMPETE GLOBALLY

[coldbringer]

At 50:01 it shows a Tajima embroidery machine (Japanese) stitching 'Made In USA' on a New Balance shoe tongue.
Oh the irony.

[nsebast]

High salary, unions and strong dollar make American manufacturing not competitive in global productivity.

[andrewmielke]

I worked at a saw mill most my life, im on disability now, i forgot when, but it was the late nintees or early two thousands, i went to the hardwhare store, in town three miles from the sawmill, or lumber mill, which ever you want to call it, and asked where they got their lumber, sinced the mill sold trucks full of lumber all over the united states, the lumber at the hardware store, came from russia, i didnt say any thing, but i was pissed, the mill closed down three years ago because the pine beetle epademic wrecked the black hills, of s.d, in the sixtees their was an epademic, and they sprayed, solving the problem, didnt hurt anybody, didnt devastate the wildlife, this go around, the environmental movement which is now huge, wouldnt let them spray, millions of trees that the mill could use went to pot, then bidan did somthing, he cut all tree cutting in half, every place, mills have several problems anyway, after that, it shut down, my brother was a ford auto mecanic, i always bought ford, and he would worked on them, saving me labor costs, one time i mentioned to a mechanic, i buy ford mainly because its made in america, that i wouldnt by a japanese car, the mechanic said half my puckup parts were made in japan, that was twenty years ago, i heard at one time also, that years ago, before foreian competition, u.s. factories, incuding sawmills, pushed so much garbage out the door, as fast as posible, that people started buying japanese, that upset me

[jeromeburrasca]

Northern Nevada is the new American manufacturing ground zero. Tesla Gigafactory, Lithium America’s, West Coast Salmon etc etc.... Washoe, Pershing and Humboldt counties!! You’re welcome 😊

[netwonc]

It is all about wall street and banking profit margins. The producers are not part of the equation. This is free trade=free workers.

[arabiagod]

Americans are concerned about growth of china, leaving behind nato and europe these people are really they are big exports

[jumo]

Of course now all this is considered toxic masculinity.

[arabiagod]

No cry, s because Facebook and WhatsApp is getting more revenue from other country's.dont blame china, Indian etc because they are working for half of your pay.

[dongningprc]

I have been working with a US manufacturing company for over 15 years now, selling their product to, the most hated, China. Unfortunately, this specific US company, unlike what's described in this movie, really can't care less about its work, or its clients. I am deeply upset about the fact, although this company is still looked at as the top in its trade. I see a hell lot of problems in US manufacturing. I think I'll have to talk to them shortly in order to move the assembly of the equipment I order from them from under their management here in the United States to China, which is going to fall under my supervision

[nggd]

Blame Henry Kissinger and Bill Clinton for selling jobs overseas

[jasonjohnson]

Plenty of work in the booming porn industry.