Impact of China-based manufacturing on greater Wisconsin manufacturing companies

Abstract

This research studies the effects that Chinese manufacturers are having on manufacturers in the State of Wisconsin during the fall of 2003. This study examined key Wisconsin manufacturing companies which the U.S Trade Deficit Review Commission identified as having a significant production shift from the United States to China. The main purpose of this study was to examine China-based manufacturing and its impact on the Greater Wisconsin manufacturing companies. The survey was given over the phone to a random sample of 619 target market companies in the State of Wisconsin. Of those 619 companies there were 239 surveys that were usable and provided a response rate of 38.6%. The survey instrument was developed by the researcher, Assistant Professor of the Marketing Research class at the University of Wisconsin--Stout, and the Direction of the Norhtwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center (NWOC). The types of questions included in this survey were multiple choice, dichotomous, open-ended, Likert scale, and ranking. The results of the survey were tabulated and statistical analysis was performed. This study found that China-based manufacturing companies are having a negative impact on Wisconsin manufacturing companies. Reasons for the impact were also found throughout the analysis and recommendations were made for the manufacturing sector located in Wisconsin, along with suggestions for a follow- up study.