Outsourcing

[olcvisual]

I and two co-workers in the same department were recently laid-off from our graphic designer and production artist jobs. We somewhat expected the axe because more of our projects were being outsourced to India. Do you have the outsourcing trend at your jobs?

[BJMRGTIVR6]

thankfully no. Although our boss did say our company could decide to "get rid of us" and to make sure we put forth the designs that will make our work stand out compared to outsourcing the work.

[PrintDriver]

I hope your ex-boss is getting everything he is paying for. :D

[jimking]

Yes the price is right but Woops! They need skilled talent.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5272672.stm

[Samakimoto Graphics]

At my place of work huge "reforms" are underway. I don't know to what extent they will affect my area of work, but I think there'll still be a need for an in-houser, and especially at a lower level to save on costs.

There has been talk of outsourcing printing, and we already send stuff to be printed in Dubai (cheap and good quality output).

[naydies]

I and two co-workers in the same department were recently laid-off from our graphic designer and production artist jobs. We somewhat expected the axe because more of our projects were being outsourced to India. Do you have the outsourcing trend at your jobs?

Strange you bring this up. I pull mortgage information for a marketing company. Its just a part-time thing for some extra income. I just found out we're all getting laid off because of outsourcing to Indian. They pay us $.20 a mortgage, they pay them $.08.

My thoughts on it. Its a trend and it will backfire. I think in the next 5 years all the outsourcing jobs will be back in the US.

[jimking]

Strange you bring this up. I pull mortgage information for a marketing company. Its just a part-time thing for some extra income. I just found out we're all getting laid off because of outsourcing to Indian. They pay us $.20 a mortgage, they pay them $.08.

My thoughts on it. Its a trend and it will backfire. I think in the next 5 years all the outsourcing jobs will be back in the US.
Not true. It'll go to Vietnam first at $.03 then back to the US. :D

[colonel5]

India has a crazy economy. There are guys that work full-time there that can't afford to have a place to live. Some of the most high profile jobs are in telecommunications.

The government doesn't put any money back into upkeeping the city so there is garbage lining the streets, run down buildings a plenty, unpaved streets, etc.

The companies that are outsourcing to India might be making a quick change in their thinking as India's economy could collapse any day.

[Navian]

I personally think outsourcing graphical design work is a bad idea.

The few things that come to my mind are barriers such as: culture, region, and style. If they base there designs off the culture, region, and style, of which they live in, it may not pass or be accepted in the area that it will be directed to.

There are more reasons why I personally think it is a bad idea, I just cant think of them right now. But I need to get these electrical grounding (drafting) drawings done.

[Danger_Mouse]

I think in the next 5 years all the outsourcing jobs will be back in the US.

I think this will not be the case at all. You will probably see more and more outsourcing to Indian and China as well. At least thats what the economists have been saying as it is already happening. The tides of the world superpower (economically) are changing and I don't think the US will be at the top anymore. But I am no expert only read on the internet. And we all know everything on the internet is true.

I work for a US company with its manufacturing facility in Canada (Toronto). We could outsource to India and save ALOT of cash....but basing it in Canada we are beating our competitors in sales not only due to quality, but DELIVERY DATES. We are beating the competition by 4 weeks on delivery times. Customers like that.
It worries me now because the US dollar has dropped and whenever that happens the Canadian dollar rises making Canada less attractive than for example India. Our cheaper dollar and delivery times were our benchmark. Now I wonder if things will change in the future. Right now everything looks solid.
That being said, the Art department is only a cog in the machine of our company so we could be affected by that sort of change. But outsourcing purely to a graphics firm? IS this becoming the trend as well?
I think Navian hit it on the nose on all his points as to why you shouldn't. But the big Corps are not thinking about their art departments like we do. They see $$$$, not what WE would call common sense. Its just business.

[naydies]

I think this will not be the case at all.

Okay, maybe 10 years. I still stand by what I say though. Its the tune of the times that outsourcing is happening. The economy is terrible and people need to cut back. Hence, moving to a company in India that will do it for $.08 compared to $.20. It will all change.

As far as the US being the top economy. I don't know how that will turn out.

[Navian]

Outsource a Steak House menu, to Inda and you'll see what I'm talking about. 80% of the people are Hindu, meaning they dont eat meat (incarnation beliefs), since the cow is very sacrid to them. I'd think they would be offended. I think this works with any other animal aswell.

[budafist]

That sucks that your boss is outsourcing to India.

No outsourcing at our company for design jobs. That's coz the client likes to meet with us designers and call us every half an hour to let us know a fax is coming etc etc. Sometimes I wish I were in India so they might think twice about calling every half hour! I do have other jobs to do you know!

While we do design work for overseas clients, we don't get our stuff done overseas. Except for 1 thing which was plastic printed cards (like credit cards) - no one does them in New Zealand apparently so we had to get them done in China. But print is another issue entirely...

[TheBluePanda]

I personally laugh at the idea of my graphics job being outsourced. I don't fear it for a split second. If I get proved wrong at some point in the future, so be it, but right now my company couldnt survive without having someone 5 inches from them, much less someone from another country.

[Samakimoto Graphics]

The few things that come to my mind are barriers such as: culture, region, and style. If they base there designs off the culture, region, and style, of which they live in, it may not pass or be accepted in the area that it will be directed to.

I agree. But with the willingness to learn Western and other trends, they will catch up in no time.

[tanstaafl]

My history, I worked for Kinkos for 5 years, until a year ago, running production machines.

I'm not sure if this is still going on, but... for about a year, up until a year ago, half the Kinkos stores sent their design work to a Kinkos in California, and the other half of the Kinkos stores sent their design work to India. The work that came back from India was inconsistent in quality. Sometimes you would almost get what you asked for, other times you would have to call and 800 number and beg and plead to be told to wait longer.

I never had to mess with the people myself, but I didn't envy the people who had to.

Customers got ticked off if/when they found out their wedding invitations were being designed in India. They all realized they were getting poor work, that took more time, for the same cost.

I'm currently in doing prepress in another shop and about once a month, we will use a raster to vector service that is priced to good to be true. The work is overall good quality and consistent though on occasion it's way off the mark.

Overall, I'm not a fan of outsourcing work. If people want quality, it's rarely going to be found in work that is outsourced. There will always be companies that use outsource work, whether it's outsourced in another country or to a cheaper place in town.

[Navian]

I agree. But with the willingness to learn Western and other trends, they will catch up in no time.

Nope. Trends change, by the time they catch up to the trends that are now, now will change, and become then. The trend will change, they will be behind again.

When you know/watch the game as it is played, it is easy to follow, when you have to read it in the paper the next day, you missed the excitement/rush/anticipation of what happens by watching.

[dige]

Even ad agency creative is being outsourced to India.

http://tinyurl.com/z7g5d

[Vikia]

I have no problem with companies out sourcing as long as these companies pay a hefty surtax on the outsourced labor equal to the loss of taxable income here in the US. These companies are increasing the unemployment in our country while placing undue burden on our social programs that are having to compensate more people with less funding.

[naydies]

I just called my Discover Card about the interest they're charging me (bastards). It will make you all happy to know that their calling centers are in the US. Yes, I asked! :D

[Navian]

I just called my Discover Card about the interest they're charging me (bastards). It will make you all happy to know that their calling centers are in the US. Yes, I asked! :D

I believe the Discover Card call center location is here in Salt Lake City, Utah. If I'm not mistaken that is there call center (I tried to get a job there, but you have to be dumb to work there I guess. I didnt get a job, but my wifes sister-in-law did and she is the one that isnt the sharpest knife in the drawer")

[jimking]

I believe the Discover Card call center location is here in Salt Lake City, Utah. If I'm not mistaken that is there call center (I tried to get a job there, but you have to be dumb to work there I guess. I didnt get a job, but my wifes sister-in-law did and she is the one that isnt the sharpest knife in the drawer")
What do you me Navian? One beer short of a sixpack? Or, dumb as a box of rocks? Maybe, dumb as a stump? :D

[Danger_Mouse]

chases parked cars with a face like a chewed caramel

[naydies]

I believe the Discover Card call center location is here in Salt Lake City, Utah. If I'm not mistaken that is there call center (I tried to get a job there, but you have to be dumb to work there I guess. I didnt get a job, but my wifes sister-in-law did and she is the one that isnt the sharpest knife in the drawer")

I think she said Arizona and Utah. You're probably right.