MEP Advisory Board White Paper
In March 2010, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Board released the first in a series of annual papers intended to create a more dynamic discussion about the future of U.S. manufacturing. This first paper sets the context for the series by laying out the complex realities of manufacturing, identifying the successful characteristics of U.S. manufacturers, and suggesting opportunities for action that can increase the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and manufacturing. According to the Board, there have been a number of public policy reviews of U.S. manufacturing, each with a particular point of view, and nearly all of them advocate for a narrowly defined silver bullet policy intervention. The report suggests there is no one single data point to sum up manufacturing, and that various data can paint manufacturing in either too negative or too positive a light. The report suggests that the truth lies somewhere in between and that there is no silver bullet for addressing manufacturing.
The report identifies the four traits of successful manufacturers including: (1) innovate constantly to adapt to economic and technological changes; (2) embrace green and green lean; (3) recognize and navigate opportunity in the global value chain; and (4) develop and retain current and future talent. The report identifies a dozen opportunities for action across these four characteristics. Unlike other reports, the Board’s report does not assume that federal policy is the only solution but instead suggests that it will take collaboration across policy makers, manufacturers, educators, and others to increase the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and manufacturing.
The Advisory Board asserts that the MEP system stands ready to support a national manufacturing policy by providing tools for U.S. manufacturers to develop exporting strategies, expand clean energy manufacturing supply chain, and support workforce development. ExporTech and E3 are just two examples cited in the report. To download the MEP report, click here: MEP Advisory Board White Paper. For the Executive Summary click here: MEP Advisory Board White Paper Excutive Summary
