The US manufacturing industry lost nearly six million jobs in the 2000s, according to Robert Atkinson, an "IndustryWeek" contributor. This represents one-third of all manufacturing jobs in the country. Although many pundits are talking about a supposed manufacturing renaissance, the United States still isn't where it should be in terms of innovation and job creation in the manufacturing sector. President Obama and other US leaders are trying to change this by reshaping the American manufacturing industry as a whole. These two initiatives are set to have a big impact on the industry as we know it.
Improving the US manufacturing industry has been one of President Obama's biggest initiatives. The president proposed creating a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation to promote innovation and accelerate the adoption of high-tech manufacturing processes. The NNMI will create several regional hubs, creating thousands of jobs for American workers. Cities near Detroit and Chicago have been selected as regional hubs, which could have a powerful impact on their economies.
The Detroit-area institute will focus on the production of modern metals that can be used to build more efficient automobiles and airplanes. This type of manufacturing also has applications in the production of medical devices, defense systems, engines, and wind turbines. Producing these metals in the United States would give the manufacturing industry a boost and make American companies more competitive in the global market. The Chicago-area facility will focus on digital manufacturing. Workers will use their manufacturing industry knowledge to find ways to speed up the design process and reduce the amount of scrap material produced when manufacturers run small production batches. Rahm Emanuel, one of the most notable US leaders associated with this initiative, says the creation of a Chicago-area manufacturing institute will help secure the region's economy.
The second way leaders are trying to reshape the manufacturing industry is by making educational programs more accessible to students with an interest in manufacturing careers. President Obama proposed an initiative that would invest billions of dollars in helping community colleges form partnerships with companies in the manufacturing industry. These partnerships would help transform community colleges into career centers where students can learn skills to help them get good-paying jobs in the manufacturing sector. The bill was referred to committee in July 2013.
The manufacturing industry has shown some signs of recovery, but this recovery will be short-lived if manufacturing experts, lawmakers, and educators don't work together to ensure American manufacturers will have a steady supply of skilled workers to spearhead future innovation efforts. These initiatives are just two of the many ways lawmakers are trying to reshape the manufacturing industry and stimulate the economy. It's a good start, but public schools, colleges and universities, and trade groups must also participate in the reshaping of the industry.
(Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)
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