Last week at the NAM board meeting I sat in on the Manufacturing Institutes' board meeting. The Manufacturing Institute (MI) is the 501(c) 3 affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). As a non-partisan organization, the MI is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers. MI focuses on developing human capital strategies through education reform and workforce development, conducting applied research to provide critical information to public policy makers on challenges and opportunities for today's industry, and advancing the innovation capacity of manufacturers.
MI will be launching the findings of their second annual study to be conducted by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, "Public View on Manufacturing: 2010 Annual Index" this September. The 2009 study revealed the majority of respondents (71 percent) view manufacturing as a national priority with 59 percent agreeing that the United States manufacturing industry effectively competes on a global scale. However, only 17 percent named manufacturing as among their top two industry choices to start a career, and only 30 percent of parents said they would encourage their children to pursue jobs in manufacturing, revealing a wide perception gap.
I hoping that one positive side effect of the recent economic problems of our country is that it has highlighted the need for a strong manufacturing base to our economy. Within my business I see customers moving toward JIT requirements - with a focus on short lead times and having suppliers close to their facilities. This bodes well for a growth in manufacturing opportunities back here in the USA. I also see this as a way to engage our kids again in the education process. We have to support learning opportunities for those kids that want to work their hands. Children that learn and think in a kinesthetic manner. We have to go back to a culture that honors those the create and make tangible things.
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