The New World of Offshoring and Automation --McIlroy

While the overall labor component drops, the labor required to operate the new technology is generally more expensive, and has to be well-trained and expertly deployed. This represents a key competitive differentiation.

My ultimate assessment of the situation is that North American graphic arts firms are foolhardy to buck the offshoring trend. They should look instead to the underlying mechanics, and recognize that the winners in this contest will be the firms that continue to invest in the latest technology, and in the staff that can make it hum.