Now is a good time to be in manufacturing.
That’s the message I carried with me as I left 2022’s Advanced Manufacturing & Processing Conference (AMPc), stepping out of the air-conditioned Hyatt Regency and into Bethesda’s humid summer air.
No, I corrected myself—now is a GREAT time to be in manufacturing.
I truly believe that.
Manufacturers have faced tremendous losses and overwhelming obstacles throughout our nation’s history. Yet beneath the burden of every challenge, we’ve somehow managed to discover opportunity.
Amidst the third year of grappling with a global pandemic, modern machine shops are expanding their service offerings and streamlining their operations.
As labor shortages hobble the world’s highest-producing countries, US manufacturing communities are banding together to inspire and educate the next generation.
And while global supply chains remain stagnant, manufacturing is making its way back home to American shores.
The opportunities are stealthy but very real. And more are coming as the world’s population ages and reshoring efforts gain traction.
But an opportunity is just that: a chance—not a guarantee. Modern machine shop owners everywhere must plan, prepare, and problem-solve with an eye toward the future to capitalize on this moment. The possibilities are limitless, and what we do today, tomorrow, and over the next 10 years will shape our industry for generations to come.
We can’t let an opportunity of this magnitude slip through our fingers.
My friends, the time is NOW.
Streamline your workflows so you can rein in costs without sacrificing profits. Embrace automation. Proactively train new talent, and give legacy workers a meaningful growth path. Explore new processes, new partners, and new avenues of connection and insight. Clear the clutter and open your shop doors to progress. BE the industry standard.
If we work on our industry, our shops, and ourselves, we can sustain the opportunities presented to us. We can reinstate US manufacturing as the leader in production and innovation.
The rewards are there for the taking. We only need to do the work.
Join NTMA, and connect with others who are doing the work, too.