Reading Analysis: Making It in America

Week 2 Case/Reading Analysis: Making It in America

Maddie Palier is a Level 1 factory worker with a lot of potential according to her manager. She started out as a temp, but through some luck along with her hard work and positive attitude was able to get a full-time position. She operates simple push button machines that do a basic task, but Level 2 technicians are responsible for maintaining these machines. Her job could be done by another machine or in Mexico with cheaper labor, but with the parts needing skilled labor, it is better to do the simple labor in the same location. And since the machine that could replace her costs more than her salary, it is more cost effective to keep her, though this could change if production or shifts increase.

Since this basic machine could replace her and other machines in the vein of 3D printers could replace even the machines she operates, she is negatively impacted by the “third industrial revolution.” She admitted to making poor choices as a teen, this caused her to not pursue more education or skilled experience after having her child. She represents a large portion of the population is a similar situation. While she is smart, she simply doesn’t have time or the means to go back to school to become someone with technical skills to program these new machines. If she had this knowledge or time to gain it, she would probably be secure in her position and the “third industrial revolution” might actually positively impact her.

While I think Maddie recognizes her situation, I’m not sure she will be able change her situation without the company giving her the time and means to get the extra education she needs. I’m not sure she realizes how quickly she could be replaced, really any time, by a machine based solely on something out of her control like an increase in demand/production or cheaper technology. I think Maddie is smart enough to pass on these