FuzeHub Blog

In a recent white paper entitled 3D printing and the new shape of industrial manufacturing, PwC and the Manufacturing Institute share the results of a survey of 100 manufacturers and offer predictions about the economic impact of 3D printing (3DP). Most of the survey’s respondents report that they plan to use 3DP, or are embracing additive manufacturing already.
Nearly 67% of the manufacturers surveyed are evaluating, implementing, or experimenting with 3DP, typically for prototyping instead of production. Almost 25% of the respondents say they plan to use 3D printing sometime in the future. The remaining companies, which include small contract manufacturers and large multinationals, don’t plan to adopt additive manufacturing at all.

Dan North is bullish on reshoring. The chief economist at Euler Hermes, the world’s largest trade credit insurance company, cites America’s relatively low labor and energy costs, steady employment growth, and increased manufacturing productivity. Higher interest rates and a stronger U.S. dollar could pose long-term threats, but North expects today’s positive trends to continue.

School may be out for the summer, but New York State is learning some important lessons about training tomorrow’s manufacturing workforce. From Buffalo to the Capital Region, the public and private sectors are working together to fill the manufacturing skills gap. Meanwhile, “the world of manufacturing is changing very rapidly,” explains Linda Shadler, professor and associate dean of engineering at RPI.
At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, the Manufacturing Innovation Learning Lab plans to add programs, equipment, and advanced manufacturing space. The project is still in the development phase, but RPI is targeting technologies such as 3D printing and micro and nano machining. At nearby Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC), an advanced manufacturing program is already underway.

During a recent visit to Pittsburgh, President Obama promised to provide small-to-medium manufacturers with the tooling they need to help themselves. “I can’t rent the Space Shuttle to you,” he joked, “but there are areas where we can enhance what is already being done by companies like TechShop,” a Steel City business that is lending production tools and equipment to local manufacturers.
On that same day, the White House announced that the Administration would offer entrepreneurs easier access to high-tech resources at more than 700 federal R&D facilities, including NASA’s National Center for Advanced Manufacturing in New Orleans. To speed the development of innovative materials, five federal agencies will also spend more than $150-million to support the Material Genome Initiative.

Since 1947, the International Standards Organization (ISO) has published over 19,500 standards that cover a range of industries. Adherence to ISO standards is voluntary, but many manufacturers prize ISO 9001:2008 certification. Most mention it in their marketing materials and on their websites. Some even fly ISO flags or hang ISO banners to demonstrate their commitment to the Quality Management System (QMS).

It’s no secret that American manufacturing bled jobs during the Great Recession. During 26 trying months, from December 2007 to February 2010, manufacturing’s misfortune accounted for half the decline in U.S. GDP. Now that that the nation is experiencing a manufacturing revival, does the patient deserve a clean bill of health?
Some vital signs are improving. For example, from February 2010 to May 2014, the manufacturing sector added 646,000 jobs. That wasn’t the only good news for hourly employees. During this same period, the average length of their work week climbed from 39.3 to 42.1 hours. While earning regular paychecks and overtime pay, American manufacturing workers boosted total output and added-value production.

In an effort to stimulate economic growth in the startup and emerging business sectors, Congress is working on new rules and regulations that will make it easier for businesses to raise capital directly from the public. To raise awareness of this initiative, the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT), NYSTAR, Sensor CAT, and the Center for Biotechnology presented a Crowdfunding Workshop earlier this year to discuss the latest economic growth and fundraising tool.