Mentofacturing: a vision for American industrial excellence

Executive Overview To be world industrial leaders, America's basic industrial organizations will undergo a metamorphosis from manufacturing organizations to mentofacturing organizations. The focus in mentofacturing is the mind. The industrial revolution from manufacturing to mentofacturing involves developing organizations that emphasize learning, human development, risk-taking, and technology transfer. While some argue that American manufacturing is being deindustrialized, we believe that a metamorphosis coupled with a shrinking labor force is facing America's basic industries. Chaparral Steel is an example of such a revolutionary organization. It has evolved a multi-product market mill strategy and unique culture resulting in high product quality, low product cost, and close attentiveness to customer service. The firm's unique culture has developed from the core values and beliefs held by the company's founders. Chaparral Steel views employees as ‘human resources’ for development, rather than ‘labor cos...