ILS is pleased to pass on the comments of the President of the Association for Manufacturing Technology in regard to recent US government action in support of manufacturing.
McLean, Va. – Douglas K. Woods, president of The Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT), greeted news of the US Administration’s launch of its Advanced Manufacturing Partnership with optimism that the US government is finally realizing the important role manufacturing technology plays in national security and sustained economic growth.
"AMT is encouraged by the Administration’s continued focus on the manufacturing sector," Woods said. "The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership is the second initiative announced this month that emphasizes recommendations set forth in AMT’s Manufacturing Mandate."
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 US 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," Woods said. "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 US manufacturing technology suppliers, AMT is eager to work with the stakeholders on this important collaborative effort to regain worldwide leadership in manufacturing," Woods said.
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