# What the U.S. Can Learn From the German Manufacturing Model w/ Jon DeSouza

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2024-06-11
- Length: 30m
- Episode: 209
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-06-11-what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-the-german-manufacturing-model-w-jon-desouza
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-5383df73-3ea5-4b73-851f-7c74b43c13a9

## Summary

Jon DeSouza, President and CEO of HARTING Americas, explains how German manufacturers like HARTING remained competitive by keeping production local and embracing deep automation, contrasting this with the US trend of offshoring. He details HARTING's 'in the region for the region' strategy, which uses standardized, automated factories to ensure consistent quality and reduce carbon footprints across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. DeSouza also discusses the shift toward modular, configurable products that enable on-demand manufacturing and the critical infrastructure challenges facing the transition to an all-electric society.

## Chapters

- [0:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-06-11-what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-the-german-manufacturing-model-w-jon-desouza#t=39) Introduction: Jon DeSouza and HARTING Americas
- [3:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-06-11-what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-the-german-manufacturing-model-w-jon-desouza#t=233) The German Model: Automation and Localized Production
- [9:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-06-11-what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-the-german-manufacturing-model-w-jon-desouza#t=540) HARTING's 'In the Region for the Region' Strategy
- [12:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-06-11-what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-the-german-manufacturing-model-w-jon-desouza#t=729) Automation Ratios and Workforce Retraining
- [18:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-06-11-what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-the-german-manufacturing-model-w-jon-desouza#t=1119) Modular Products and On-Demand Manufacturing
- [25:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-06-11-what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-the-german-manufacturing-model-w-jon-desouza#t=1502) The All-Electric Society and Energy Challenges

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- HARTING (company)
- HARTING Americas (company)
- HARTING Automated Systems (company)
- Haniko (product)
- Tesla (company)
- Gen Alpha Technologies (company)
- Null Space (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Standardized Systems Make Global Manufacturing Agility Possible: with Zollner's Martin Eisenhart](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-23-standardized-systems-make-global-manufacturing-agility-possible-with-zollners-ma) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Hanwha's Tech Innovations and Global Electronics Insights with Jonny Nichols](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-10-07-hanwhas-tech-innovations-and-global-electronics-insights-with-jonny-nichols) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [MADE IN EUROPE POD Episode #1 with Bo Lybaek and Markus Aschenbrenner (recorded April 8th, 2025)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-04-11-made-in-europe-pod-episode-1-with-bo-lybaek-and-markus-aschenbrenner-recorded-ap) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Orbit One President & CEO Mattias Lindhe is on EMS@C-Level](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-03-27-orbit-one-president-ceo-mattias-lindhe-is-on-ems-c-level) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [All Circuits' Success in Guadalajara and Embracing Automation with GM Pascal Aubois](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-07-all-circuits-success-in-guadalajara-and-embracing-automation-with-gm-pascal-aubo) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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