economic growth; innovation, The US Manufacturing Ecosystem on Competitiveness > US Department of Defense > Department of Defense News | So Good News

Supply chains are entering the fourth industrial revolution, known as Industry 4.0, as automation and intelligent computing approach an era where smart factories can seamlessly connect. Through advanced digital technologies in engineering and manufacturing, this transformation will bring the modernization of America’s manufacturing ecosystem to the forefront. Along with this is a need for a sustainable pipeline of capacity and strong domestic manufacturing centers.

“America’s manufacturing ecosystem has been a vital engine of economic growth, innovation and competitiveness for more than 200 years – and has played a critical role in developing and driving technologies that maintain our national security,” said Bill LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. While giving a speech celebrating October as the month of production, especially satellites; As it relates to critical defense systems such as advanced munitions and communications technology, the United States today is in a technological and economic race to maintain its manufacturing.

Advanced manufacturing is changing the nature of production — creating new, technologically advanced, higher-paying positions. Today’s factories are safe, bright and vibrant technological hubs run and managed by talented, educated individuals — a stark contrast to the stereotype of the noisy, dark factories of the past.

Skilled workers equipment, Known manufacturing trends in various sectors, including critical chemicals and reliance on foreign sources, impact operational readiness.

The Ministry of Defense is taking decisive action to combat these challenges. and to expand and modernize manufacturing capabilities to build tomorrow’s defense systems. This effort requires significant investment in American workers and infrastructure, including $372 million in the President’s fiscal year 2023 budget to strengthen the nation’s supply chains through domestic manufacturing.

“As an engine of economic growth, American manufacturers contribute more than $2.35 trillion to the U.S. economy — every dollar spent on manufacturing adds an additional $2.79 to the economy, making it the highest return of any sector,” LaPlante said.

Economic benefits of manufacturing

• Manufacturing in the U.S. today accounts for only 11% of the U.S. gross domestic product, but it represents 35% of U.S. productivity growth and 60% of our exports.
• US manufacturing is the main engine of innovation in the US, responsible for 55% of all patents and 70% of all research and development spending.
• Today, the manufacturing industry employs more than 12.5 million people and provides rewarding careers.
• Every manufacturing job creates 7 to 12 new jobs in other related industries, helping to build and sustain our economy.

As a support, The Industry-Based Analysis and Sustainability Program within the Department’s Office of Acquisition and Supply focuses on industrial productivity; Leading a number of projects designed to increase supply chain capacity and resilience and workforce development.

industry Adele Ratcliff, IBAS program director for government and academic institutions to work together, recognizes today’s national manufacturing imperative as “a critical time for America—and what is on its way to becoming a national crisis.”

With 64 actively planned projects in key defense industry-based sectors; Program efforts involve designing public-private partnerships with stakeholders; Along with the production of critical technologies and chemicals for building and manufacturing durability. A key focus of this effort is the defense-critical workforce; Metallurgy and forging; microelectronics; batteries, kinetics and important chem.

Skilled workers

Addressing the threat to US national security that an aging and shrinking manufacturing workforce poses, IBAS has invested approximately $130 million in 16 unique workforce projects by 2020 since the launch of its National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative.

NIIS aims to create a sustainable national public-private partnership to build a strong industrial talent workforce development ecosystem. The initiative recognizes that isolated approaches will not move the needle sufficiently in addressing national skills gaps. Instead, Department of Defense is local, It is in a good position to push for an integrated approach at regional and national levels.

Key principles of the model identify industry needs and focus on driving education and collaboration, as well as factories driven by relevant industry needs. See interdependencies such as equipment and processes. This approach focuses on developing deeper and more sustainable cooperation between all levels of education (K-12, 2 years post high school and 4 years post high school) and industry (small and medium manufacturers, large original equipment manufacturers). It also includes non-profit organizations and government-sponsored organizations.

In this month alone, NIIS activities include Virginia; Accelerated Training and Defense Manufacturing Summit in Danville, Virginia; Including the X-STEM NOVA conference-style event in Chantilly. Both events are uniquely designed to engage stakeholders and motivate students through activities that introduce manufacturing processes.

In addition, the Defense Department’s program of national level competitions, ‘Project MFG’, will host welding competitions at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. to date, Project MFG competitions have over 62 school teams with over 320 individual competitors. The program is currently an advanced computer numerical control machine; welding; metrology, Focused on project management and advanced technologies using leading edge digital methods.

Next generation devices

One prominent IBAS initiative working to meet critical equipment needs for defense production is America’s Cutting Edge program, which began in March 2020. The effort combines the scientific expertise of the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. University of Tennessee; Knoxville’s research and teaching expertise; transformative thinking; Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation’s workforce development leadership to revitalize the US machine tool sector through technology and training.

Florida North Carolina Tennessee Through ACENet, a regional equipment innovation and workforce development network in Texas and West Virginia, the Department of Defense is working to improve the capabilities of existing equipment while developing skills and training for next-generation equipment. For composites and metals. This includes efforts to quickly train a new generation of equipment designers and operators.

“For the United States to continue to have the best weapons systems in the world, it is critical that we remain competitive in this critical skill,” LaPlante said. “Advanced manufacturing innovations are key to transforming defense manufacturing and building capabilities to respond during national emergencies.”

for example, ACE has led efforts to create new equipment that will allow US manufacturers to produce millions of personal protective equipment kits per day during the COVID-19 response. ACE has made the US machining industry more cost-effective by developing and implementing a simple test that can improve material removal rates by a factor of three. This simple test saves thousands of hours of machine and operator time and millions of dollars per year. By collaborating with industry; ACE is sharing testing and related information throughout the US machining community.

“We will need to use all tools to support new, advanced manufacturing technologies at scale across critical sectors in the defense industrial base, including biomanufacturing, renewable energy, batteries and microelectronics,” LaPlante said. . “We must work to support American workers by expanding the talent pipeline that will support the advanced manufacturing careers of the future.”

About the production month

Each year to highlight modern manufacturing efforts and the importance of America’s manufacturing and innovation to the economy and national security. Production Month is recognized throughout October. At the ceremony, the Department of Defense will renew and strengthen American manufacturing; Industry to improve knowledge of advanced manufacturing careers and prepare the current and next-generation workforce for skilled and well-paying jobs; It provides an opportunity to demonstrate collaboration with academic institutions and public organizations. The future.

Manufacturing Month highlights the efforts and progress being made by this administration. The Biden-Harris economy delivered huge gains for American manufacturing. for example, Manufacturing employment has increased by 668,000 jobs since January 2021 — and is now 67,000 above pre-pandemic levels in August 2022 — a milestone faster than any recovery since the Great Depression of 1953. More manufacturing jobs created by 2021. than in any year in nearly 30 years. The Department of Defense’s efforts to strengthen manufacturing and innovation ecosystems in communities across the United States play an important role in this administration’s efforts as they strengthen our national security and help America compete successfully in future industries and technologies.

(Ms. Bistarkey is a strategic communications lead in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.)