AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology Calls for Action to Revitalize U.S. Manufacturing and Promote Real Economic Growth
October 25, 2010
Contact:
Mary Uhrina
Clearly Write
630-240-3139
[email protected]
Bonnie Gurney
AMT Director – Communications
703-827-5277
[email protected]
AMT – The Association For
Manufacturing Technology Calls for Action to Revitalize U.S.
Manufacturing and Promote Real Economic
Growth
AMT’s Manufacturing Mandate Provides a Clear Path for Government, Industry and Academic Institutions
McLean, Va. . . . AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology is calling for a comprehensive national strategy to revitalize manufacturing in the U.S. through cooperation and innovation. The Manufacturing Mandate, being brought forward by AMT, asks political leaders to establish a strategy of collaboration between government industry and academia. This federal strategy would incentivize innovation and research and development in new products and manufacturing technologies; assure the availability of capital; increase global competitiveness; minimize structural cost burdens; enhance collaboration between government, academia and industry; and build a better educated and trained “smartforce.”
“Even though the U.S. continues to be the leading manufacturing economy in the world, we have seen our country running a trade deficit in advanced technology products since 2002,” said Douglas K. Woods, President of AMT. “We must take action that goes far beyond commissioning studies to ensure its revitalization and develop a model for future growth. Our Manufacturing Mandate provides a clear path and cohesive approach to promote real economic growth. We are poised to work with the government, industry and the academic community to create a central manufacturing policy structure within the Executive Branch to develop policy, focus research and coordinate implementation of The Manufacturing Mandate strategies.”
Woods says that while many resources are already in place, building a functional model will require collaboration. “The critical focus must be on incentivizing innovation,” he said. “Manufacturing innovation clusters are already in place across the country and are natural hot spots for advances in manufacturing technology to occur. This is where AMT believes it can have a positive impact by identifying those technologies that have been created for very specific applications, but have potential for broader use, then linking the manufacturing community with universities or government agencies to move those technologies forward.”
He continued, “We need a direct message and empowerment to move forward from a high level within our current administration. We can learn from excellent models – countries including Germany, Switzerland and China – where industry associations have successfully come together with educational institutions and divisions within the government comparable to our Departments of Defense, Transportation and Energy, to identify opportunities upon which industry can capitalize.”
The Manufacturing Mandate principles are:
- Incentivize innovation and R&D in new products and
manufacturing technologies by supporting reauthorization and full
funding of the America COMPETES Act; improving the R&D tax
credit and making it permanent, and funding and sustaining targeted
growth technologies.
- Assure availability of capital by revising SBA/government
lending requirements for manufacturers that consider economic
conditions; using the expanded DPA Title III lending authority to
provide credit to defense-critical manufacturers; and providing
incentives to banks making and maintaining capital loans to
qualified manufacturers.
- Improve global competitiveness by modernizing U.S. export
control policy; strengthening intellectual property protection, and
streamlining the business visa process with major trading
partners.
- Minimize structural cost burdens through lower business taxes
and avoidance of any new tax increases on U.S. manufacturers;
avoidance of excessive regulations; and encouragement of investment
in new equipment and retooled plants.
- Enhance collaboration between government, academia and industry
by coordinating government support and utilization of the existing
national network of Manufacturing Innovation Clusters; creating a
standing Interagency Manufacturing Structure comprised of Cabinet
officials, industry leaders and academics; and supporting and
sponsoring targeted technology challenges.
- Build a better educated and trained “smartforce” by developing a national manufacturing skills certification program, supporting grants, scholarships and/or incentives for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees; and using Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs) as centers of manufacturing excellence to train and support local manufacturers.
The full Manufacturing Mandate: Unleashing a Dynamic Innovation Economy is available at www.AMTonline.org. Printed copies are available by calling 703-893-2900.
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AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology
Founded in 1902 as the National Machine Tool Builders’ Association, AMT supports and promotes the U.S. manufacturing technology industry. The association provides U.S. builders of manufacturing systems with the latest information on technical developments, trade and marketing opportunities, and economic issues. It also gathers and disseminates information about world markets, promotes its members’ products in those markets, and acts as a representative on manufacturing technology matters to governments and trade organizations throughout the world.
IMTS – International Manufacturing Technology Show
The largest and longest running manufacturing technology trade show in the United States is held every other year at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. IMTS is ranked among the largest trade shows in the world. Recognized as one of the world’s preeminent stages for introducing and selling manufacturing equipment and technology, IMTS attracts more than 82,000 visitors from every level of industry and over 119 countries. IMTS is owned and managed by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
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