While using resources from other countries can be convenient, it’s important to support local economies and strengthen communities. When engineering firms make the effort to use US-sourced products, use local contractors, and support local infrastructure, they’re improving their community.
Conversely, outsourcing work as much as possible can be a way to cut down on costs, but quality can suffer, the length of time a project can take extends, there isn’t as much job growth, and the local economy suffers.
Here, we will go into further detail about why it is important for engineering firms to support local economies.
The Impact Of Supporting Local Economies
When engineering firms use products manufactured offshore and offshore workers for a project, the local economy suffers. Rather than the money spent staying local and being used to strengthen the local economy, it goes to other countries. By supporting manufacturers and workers within your country, engineering firms are able to help create a stronger community and directly contribute to economic growth.
This economic growth is especially crucial in regards to manufacturing, as it is the main engine of innovation in the United States. Offshoring can result in job displacement and redirection of job growth. When engineering firms support USA-based manufacturing companies and subcontractors in the state they are doing work in, this creates more job opportunities for US residents. Manufacturing jobs spur new jobs in related industries, which helps to build and sustain the economy.
Enhance Environmental Sustainability
Through using locally-sourced resources, the environment benefits through decreased transportation emissions. This reduces the environmental footprint of a project. Less transportation means less pollution, habitat loss, and congestion. Using locally-sourced materials and products produces less waste, eliminates unnecessary transportation, and thus, improves air quality and reduces air pollution.
Ensure Standards Are Met
By using local products and services, engineering firms can reduce project costs and ensure that standards are met, without so much frustration about what you’re looking for. The quality of locally-sourced manufactured products can often be better than outsourced products. Americans are best at engineering and designing products and systems that work for American needs.
Keeping manufacturing in the US prevents offshore manufacturers from having too much leeway in the process, which can result in products not meeting the standards they’re supposed to. Supporting US-based companies not only improves the economy, but helps with quality control.
Save Time
There is a lot of fine-tuning and adjustments involved in engineering, and trying to communicate ideas with people on the other side of the world can be time-consuming. US-based companies understand American regulations and the time-zone differences across the country are less significant, making it significantly more time- and cost-effective to work with US-based companies.
VIE Supports Utah With Our Work
VIE Engineers strives to support US workers in each aspect of what we do when possible. From using US-sourced manufactured bracing products to using local subcontractors when needed, we care about supporting our country and state. All engineering is done locally in Utah by Utah-licensed engineers, who have been incorporated in Utah for 18+ years.
We support the infrastructure in Utah with the government projects we have completed and other projects, as with non-structural seismic bracing design for the Salt Lake City International Airport, the Utah North Capitol Building, the University of Utah, Utah State University, Utah Valley University, and much, much more. We work with Connectors For Construction in order to provide turnkey solutions to your seismic bracing needs.
To learn more about the projects we have completed in Utah or how we support USA workers in our engineering services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
