Today, Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) applauded a new partnership between Youngstown State University, the University of Northern Iowa and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining that will leverage $10 million in first-year funding to increase the number of small-to-midsize enterprises using advanced technologies, bolster critical areas of the defense manufacturing supply chain and create jobs.
The project was made possible through competitive funding secured by Congressman Ryan through his seat on the House Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations.
“From Youngstown, Ohio to Cedar Falls, Iowa, we are on the verge of the next great age of manufacturing in America, but that only happens by making robust investments in our workforce to bring our supply chain back home,” Congressman Tim Ryan said. “I am grateful to have such dynamic partners in Youngstown State University, the Youngstown Business Incubator, the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and the University of Northern Iowa to build a future that puts hardworking Americans first.”
The partnership will provide hundreds of businesses each year with support to remove barriers to adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, enabling a faster output of quality parts while expanding and strengthening the supply chain. Those technologies include robotics, artificial intelligence and 3D printing.
“Implementation of Industry 4.0 practices in advanced manufacturing is a crucial element for maintaining a strong Defense Industrial Base,” Randy Gilmore, Vice President and Chief Development Officer at NCDMM said on the significance of this project. “NCDMM and America Makes are proud to be a part of the project team and to have the opportunity to play an essential role in this effort.”
“We are excited to be a part of this DLA partnership to help our region and the manufacturing community accelerate the transformation of its advanced manufacturing capabilities leveraging the YSU Excellence Training Center at Kohli Hall,” said Jackie Ruller, Director of Advanced Manufacturing Research and Commercialization at YSU. “We will be working with small- to medium-size businesses throughout the Midwest and East Coast to increase adoption of Industry 4.0 through research, commercialization and new workforce training solutions.”
“The distinctiveness of this project is that it blends training and applied research with personalized assistance to re-skill the existing workforce, prepare the next generation of our state's and nation's workforce and help the company owners create the financial and strategic plan for investing in and managing these technologies,” said Andrew Morse, Chief of Staff at UNI. “It will save existing jobs, create new jobs and help fortify our nation's leading position in the global manufacturing supply chain.”
The initiative is designed to address numerous challenges manufacturers face in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, including an aging workforce confronting short- and long-term work shortages and prohibitive costs that cause manufacturers to forgo upgrading to the new technologies.
Project funding allows UNI and YSU to grow their outreach to small-to-midsize employers and provide industry-tailored training in automation, robotics and Industry 4.0 topics. These employers would have access to leading technologies in world-class facilities.
The initiative will provide several services to help manufacturers adopt new technologies. Direct one-to-one assistance will focus on developing a business strategy and the consequential support processes and training events, including webinars, will be offered regularly to provide awareness of critical elements and the training necessary to integrate them into the operation.
Alerts Sign-up