Tooling is a high-skill trade. America used to be amazing at tooling. What's more, tooling isn't super cost sensitive because one tool can make thousands of parts.
When outsourcing to China began the tools would be made in the USA and shipped to China for the low-skill work. But over time those Chinese manufacturers figured out the tooling. What's more they realized that controlling the tooling would let them control the whole process.
They started doing things like, for instance, including the tooling in the price of the product so you don't even see it, if you use their tools. Just send them the cad file and they'll do the rest. So American tool making went away. But this was a conscious decision on the part of the Chinese manufacturer and an unconscious decision on the part of American importers who didn't really value their in-house expertise.
I didn't miss it.
> The problem was that substantial subcomponent or process vendors only exist in china.
He found vendors in USA. They didn't call him back.
USA has manufacturing. But Americans want to drive cars and own their own home. In order to achieve that American manufacturers need high volume or high margin - better BBQ scrubber isn't either of those.
> What's more, tooling isn't super cost sensitive because one tool can make thousands of parts.
Tool making is highly sensitive to labor cost. Every article is a one-off. It can't be automated, often not even duplicated. There are tool and die makers in the USA but if you want to make consumer products you can't afford American tool and die because American tool and die makers want to drive cars and own their own homes. Chinese tool and die makers don't have the same expectations.
> So American tool making went away.
It didn't go away. You just don't know about it.