Uncle Sam Moves Forward with Advanced Manufacturing Initiative

The $500 million plan is a national effort to bring industry, universities and the federal government together to invest in emerging technologies that create manufacturing jobs and boost global competitiveness, particularly in industries critical to our national security.

The Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT; McLean VA), greeted the news late last month of the Administration’s launch of its Advanced Manufacturing Partnership with optimism that the U.S. government is finally realizing the important role manufacturing technology plays in national security and sustained economic growth.

“We are encouraged by the Administration’s continued focus on the manufacturing sector,” said Douglas K. Woods, the president of AMT. “The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership is the second initiative announced  that emphasizes recommendations set forth in our Manufacturing Mandate.” Editor’s note: This initiative, along with other manufacturing strategies that are under way in the federal government, are explored in detail in “Uncle Sam’s New Role in Manufacturing” (Fabricating & Metalworking, April 2011).

The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in a national effort to bring industry, universities and the federal government together to invest in emerging technologies that create manufacturing jobs and boost global competitiveness, particularly in industries critical to national security. The $500 million plan uses existing funds and future appropriations from various federal agencies to boost innovation in manufacturing technologies such as small, high-powered batteries, advanced composites, metal fabrication, bio-manufacturing and alternative engineering.

The goal is to enhance defense-critical industries; build U.S. leadership in next-generation robotics; increase energy efficiency in manufacturing; and develop technologies to help improve manufacturing efficiency. “Collaboration is key to speeding the development of next-generation manufacturing technologies and products, as well as building a manufacturing smartforce,” explained Woods. “Leveraging existing funds to jumpstart this effort is a big plus given the current deficit. However, as Congress grapples with the debt ceiling and budget this summer, it must consider that investments in science, technology and smartforce made today will increase revenue in the long-run.”

“As the representative for U.S. manufacturing technology suppliers, AMT is eager to work with the stakeholders on this important collaborative effort to regain worldwide leadership in manufacturing,” Woods concluded.

Founded in 1902 as the National Machine Tool Builders’ Association, AMT supports and promotes the U.S. manufacturing technology industry.  The association provides U.S. builders of manufacturing systems with the latest information on technical developments, trade and marketing opportunities, and economic issues.  It also gathers and disseminates information about world markets, promotes its members’ products in those markets, and acts as a representative on manufacturing technology matters to governments and trade organizations throughout the world.

www.amtonline.org