The physical and digital environments of manufacturing are changing rapidly, and emerging technologies are becoming even more crucial to our long-term technological competitiveness. At the same time, however, manufacturers face greater challenges than ever before to understand and act. There are nearly 300,000 factories in the United States, 90 percent of which have fewer than 100 employees. And only a few of these smaller companies have the means and resources to use advanced manufacturing processes.
"Our research indicates that probably less than 10 percent of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in the United States are widely adopting these emerging technologies," said Greg Harris, director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems at Auburn University, which is studying this topic. information with SMEs.
The White House, through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing, focuses on American innovation and national security. NST's recently released "Critical and Emerging Technologies" list contains 19 technology areas, including advanced manufacturing and the subfields of additive, sustainable, smart and nano manufacturing, as well as related fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems and robotics. Similarly, the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing contains 18 priority technologies, including additive manufacturing, AI, high-performance materials, and sustainable manufacturing. In addition, many leading research and technology consulting firms have identified these common areas as the key strategic technology trends for research and development and business applications that can strengthen and revitalize advanced manufacturing competitiveness.