How do you predict the future without a crystal ball? With data, insight, and experience. At least, that’s how a panel of experts from the Manufacturing USA network recently tackled the topic of “factories of the future” at the renowned SXSW conference in Austin, Texas.
ARM Institute’s Suzy Teele moderated the session titled “Smart, Sustainable, Streamlined: Factories of the Future” with speakers Dr. Maria Curry-Nkansah (EPIXC), Kathie Leonard (Auburn Manufacturing, AFFOA member), and Jeff Winter (CESMII). As part of the “2050” conference track, a nod to 25 years in the future, the session explored what’s on the horizon for American manufacturing in the next two decades and beyond.
This panel of network experts started by sharing some of the industry's challenges. As a small manufacturer, Kathie Leonard discussed the need to continually innovate. Dr. Maria Curry-Nkansah addressed the gap in industry's workforce needs and skilled workers. The panel also discussed common misconceptions about U.S. manufacturing. “The terms dirty, dark, and dangerous are what a lot of people think of manufacturing, mainly due to movies, TV, and what manufacturing looked like in Industry 2.0 ... I can tell you that's far from the truth,” Jeff Winter noted.
The session also touched on how advanced manufacturing impacts small and medium-sized manufacturers across the U.S. Panelist Kathie Leonard said, “We need our own supply chains, both for consistency, as well as for our [own] national security.” Speakers shared tangible advice for those in industry, suggested resources for manufacturers of all sizes, and fielded questions from the audience.
Despite the hurdles, the panel’s speakers found optimism for manufacturing—a future filled with both digital advancements to streamline processes as well as new opportunities for people to enter the field. Suzy Teele imparted "The factories of the future need automation and people.” As Dr. Curry-Nkansah stated, “The future really is now... by 2050, you'll be seeing, touching, and engaging with a lot of new technologies.”
SXSW draws over 300,000 attendees each year from a variety of fields and backgrounds. Featuring world-class exhibitions, innovation awards, and more, much of SXSW’s programming is tech-based and future-thinking, creating a perfect environment to share the groundbreaking work of the Manufacturing USA innovation institutes. The network was represented at last year’s conference with the session “Reimagining Energy Use with Digital Technologies”.
Even if you didn’t have an opportunity to attend, you can still learn from this year’s group of network experts. We invite you to explore related resources here or listen to the audio recording below.