The future of US manufacturing has been a cause for concern and the source of debate for decades. Ever since the production capacity for core industries like automotive began moving out of the country in the 1970s, it became a topic of discussion on how we would pivot.
Though still not completely clear, the answer appears to be in innovative forms of advanced manufacturing. Instead of relying on the assembly-line form of production that served as the cornerstone of our economy in the first half of the 20th century, manufacturing is looking to pivot to more complex, high-value production.
This directive has been a priority for the Biden administration, signing the CHIPS-plus package, which designates $50 billion in subsidies for domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research, putting us in competition with other superpowers like China for the future of production on these core components.
While the production of semiconductors is a major battleground in advanced manufacturing, it’s not the only avenue where the US can dictate the future of production. By innovating and investing in the technologies and materials that will be used in the production of core components in the future, we have the ability to become the engine that the world relies upon in their own productive capacity. In this article we’ll look at five forms of advanced manufacturing that could transform the US economy.
- 3D Printing
Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, represents a wide spectrum of different forms of production. From resin or plastic-based 3D printing used by smaller operations or home printers to large-scale metal additive manufacturing, 3D printing is quickly emerging as a cornerstone technology for countless innovative industries.
Metal additive manufacturing in particular is being deployed in everything from the space sector to oil and gas for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the technology enables design complexity that simply can’t be achieved in traditional forms of manufacturing. And, because designs can be iterated upon and executed quickly, prototypes can be tested and adjusted without long lead times.
This slashing of lead times is the product of more agile and flexible supply chains. Rather than relying on vast production networks to source parts, companies can own their machines or tap into global networks of contract manufacturers that can provide core parts in a matter of weeks rather than months.
The Velo3D Sapphire XC and Sapphire XC 1Mz Printer
- Advanced Materials
In addition to new forms of manufacturing, the development and production of cutting-edge materials is also a growth area for American manufacturing. The focus of advanced material development is to provide industries with the raw products needed to produce parts that can last longer, optimize performance, and meet more rigorous sustainability standards. By investing in the production of alloys with improved durability, conductivity, and other desirable characteristics, we’re able to bolster advancements in space, oil and gas, renewable energy and more.
These raw materials also include revolutionary fibers in next-generation textile manufacturing and light-weight composites which offer benefits to industries as far-ranging as construction, transportation and industrial machinery.
- Nano and Biofabrication
One of the emerging advanced manufacturing sectors is in nano and biofabrication. Though it may seem like science fiction, this discipline looks to manipulate structures on the nanoscale, often taking cues from structures and organisms found in nature.
On a practical level, nano and biofabrication can be utilized for a number of important applications like personalized medicine, custom implants and more. By manipulating structures on the nano level, engineers can also produce desired material characteristics like better conductivity, strength, or sensitivity.
The use of nanotechnology is additionally important in the miniaturization of technology. Enabling precision of devices on the small scale can impact medical sensors, communication devices and other electronics, creating products with better energy consumption and performance.
- Assistive Robotics
Though the use of robotics and automation have been a part of manufacturing for decades, there are still many tasks that require hands-on human work to be completed effectively. As we look to the future, however, the barriers between human and mechanical labor will continue to be blurred. Assistive robotics is a form of advanced manufacturing that enhances human performance through the inclusion of robotic technology.
Some of the more advanced forms of assistive robotics can be full exoskeletons used to enhance human strength capacity while providing better safety protocols, but assistive robotics can be wearables that promote better ergonomics, or augmented reality that can enable optimized performance, insights, and better communication.
- Digital Production
While many of the previous forms of advanced manufacturing we’ve discussed look at the more tangible technologies executing modern production techniques, digital production means completely overhauling how a product is made. Through the integration of artificial intelligence, big data analytics, robotics and more, investing in the creation of systems that optimize manufacturing to peak productivity can have dramatic effects on all industrial production.
The software and digital tools that connect the machines and computers tasked with building next-generation products are as essential as the machines themselves. In the advanced metal additive manufacturing process at Velo3D, for example, the design, production, and quality assurance phases of 3D printing are all integrated onto one unified system. By leveraging this mode of digital production, it enables better process control and ultimately, repeatability.
Though manufacturing in the US has changed dramatically over the years, it’s still a critical part of our economy, with downstream benefits that have the ability to transform entire regions of the country. Advanced manufacturing processes, products, and techniques are the next frontier for world superpower economies. By investing in these technologies and fostering their development, the US can own the future of manufacturing on a global scale.
