Deloitte Study: Manufacturing USA Spurs R&D Innovation

Medical Manufacturing and Fabrication INSIDER

Advanced manufacturing is a critical investment area for the broader domestic economy; support is needed to reverse slowing productivity growth and the trade imbalance. (Credit: Manufacturing USA – A Third-Party Evaluation of Program Design and Progress: Deloitte)

Manufacturing USA is working. That’s the overarching conclusion of a third-party assessment conducted by Deloitte with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. According to the study, the first eight advanced manufacturing institutes established between 2012 and 2016 have reached a critical mass of valuable connections among 1,200 participating companies, universities, and government agencies. Those connections are accelerating the innovation needed to develop new products and markets, helping alleviate a shortage of technically trained manufacturing workers, and building a sustainable national manufacturing research infrastructure. (An additional six institutes have now launched, for a total of 14.)

Deloitte’s review examined the effectiveness of the Manufacturing USA’s program design, assessed progress made toward achieving program objectives, and recommended areas where Manufacturing USA and its institutes could enhance programs. Seven specific recommendations for improvements focus on developing strategies for long-term growth and sustainability, maintaining institute focus on U.S. national priorities, making the most of existing programs in workforce development and other resources and more.

A major focus of the Manufacturing USA network is workforce development — ensuring that there are enough workers with the right skills to meet the needs of advanced manufacturers. The report notes that “baby boomer retirements, the technical complexity of manufacturing work, a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills deficit among students, and persistent negative perceptions make it difficult for companies to fill critical roles in a timely manner.”

Download the report: Manufacturing USA: A Third-Party Evaluation of Program Design and Progress