The White House has plans to build up the U.S. manufacturing sector, as outlined in a new 40-page report compiled by the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Advanced Manufacturing.
The report details a number of sectors within manufacturing — and outlines paths for how the U.S. can take leadership roles.
The strategy is based on three specific goals: the development and transition of new manufacturing technologies, the education and training of the workforce, and the expansion of the domestic manufacturing supply chain’s capabilities.
With regard to the first goal, the report calls out a recent study that shows by addressing scientific and technical challenges in advanced manufacturing the U.S. can "conservatively save U.S. manufacturers over $100bn annually while further enhancing the economic value to the private sector of federally performed R&D.” In order to achieve these savings, the authors believe that “portfolio-based strategies coordinated across agencies would more effectively develop and transition new manufacturing technologies.”
The report also addresses the workforce shortage. “Underlying all of the challenges for innovation and competitiveness in U.S. advanced manufacturing is a shortage of Americans with the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics knowledge and technical skills needed for advanced manufacturing jobs. Appropriate education and training is required from elementary through high school, and through technical training programs, re-training, apprenticeships, postsecondary education, and access to valid, industry-recognized, competency-based credentials.”
