Regional manufacturing collaboration will strengthen the overall competitiveness of manufacturers in the Southwest Ohio and Tri-State region. This was a key takeaway from the inaugural 2018 Ohio Manufacturing Summit held May 10, 2018 in West Chester, Ohio. Industry experts including Dan Janka, President of Mazak Corporation; Greg Knox, President of Knox Machinery; Josh Mook, an Engineering Leader for GE Additive; and Pete Zelinski, Editor-In-Chief of Modern Machine Shop and Additive Manufacturing, shared this and other insights during the Summit.

Other key takeaways included:

A Thriving Manufacturing Sector Provides Economic Benefits

·         Average manufacturing workers earned $82,000 annually compared with average annual salaries of $64,000 in other industries.

·         According to the National Association of Manufacturers, for every $1 spent in manufacturing, $1.89 is returned into the economy.

Industry 4.0 Is Changing the Manufacturing Landscape

·         Obtaining real-time machine performance data is driving uptime efficiencies.

·         Smart machines put out more parts with less labor.

·         Leveraging technology enables 3X to 5X productivity gains per worker.

·         Advanced technology will continue to increase American competitiveness.

·         Global adoption of manufacturing robots continues to grow rapidly.

Additive Manufacturing Is Growing in Prominence

·         Additive Manufacturing streamlines the manufacturing process through consolidation of individual parts and improves production rates.

·         Finding skilled labor is one of the main challenges in additive manufacturing. A lack of skilled labor leads to increased investment in automation.

·         Additive manufacturing requires a significant commitment. If you participate in additive manufacturing, aim to be an additive manufacturing leader.

Workforce Development and Recruitment is Critical for On-going Manufacturing Success

·         There is a 30 year gap in backfilling for retiring baby boomers.

·         Incentivizing high school students to pursue manufacturing careers requires engagement of local school districts, high school counselors, and parents.

·         Select industry and educational partnerships enable high school graduates to attend two years of post secondary education and obtain jobs that pay $50,000 annually with little or no student debt.

·         Finding workers who can pass a drug test is an ongoing concern.

Environmental Stewardship Is Important For Industry and Societal Success

·         It is important to build environmental stewardship into manufacturing business models.

·         Responsible use of water is critical to the future success of industrial businesses.

·         Waste management and compliance testing should be a regular occurrence.

Prepare for Succession Planning

·         Always run your business as though you are getting ready to sell it.

Organizations That Can Promote Regional Manufacturing Collaboration 

·         DRMA – Dayton Regional Manufacturers Association

·         TTMA – Tri-State Tooling & Manufacturing Association

·         OMA – Ohio Manufacturing Association