A New Report from the Council on Competitiveness: "Make: An American Manufacturing Movement" 

The Washington D.C.-based Council on Competitiveness has just issued a major manifesto and call to action directed at the state of manufacturing in the U.S.

Make: An American Manufacturing Movement, is a strategy document being transmitted to the President, members of Congress, governors, and stakeholders in business, academia and labor.  The preface adds, “Ultimately…we are issuing a call to the American people with a renewed sense or urgency and resolve.  Manufacturing is a cornerstone of American independence, economic prosperity and national security that we must not surrender.

Make identifies five challenges facing the American manufacturing sector and proposes concrete solutions. 

This from the Table of Contents:

1. CHALLENGE: Fueling the Innovation and Production Economy from Start-up to Scale-up.

SOLUTION: Enact fiscal reform, transform tax laws and reduce regulatory and other structural costs and create jobs.

2. CHALLENGE: Expanding U.S. Exports, Reducing the Trade Deficit, Increasing Market Access and Responding to Foreign Governments Protecting Domestic Producers.

SOLUTION: Utilize multilateral fora, forge new agreements, advance IP protection, standards and export control regimes to grow high-value investment and increase exports.

3. CHALLENGE: Harnessing the Power and Potential of American Talent to Win the Future Skills Race.           

SOLUTION: Prepare the next generation of innovators, researchers and skilled workers.

4. CHALLENGE: Achieving Next-Generation Productivity through Smart Innovation and Manufacturing.

 SOLUTION: Create national advanced manufacturing clusters, networks and partnerships, prioritize R&D investments, deploy new tools, technologies and facilities, and accelerate commercialization of novel products and services.

 5. CHALLENGE: Creating Competitive Advantage through Next Generation Supply Networks and Advanced Logistics and Infrastructure.

SOLUTION: Develop and deploy smart, sustainable and resilient energy, transportation, production and cyber infrastructures.

If you’re concerned about the state of American manufacturing this document is a must read.  You can download a copy at: http://www.compete.org/publications/detail/2064/make/

 And, if that 88-page document whets your appetite for more, you might want to download the Council’s Ignite 3.0: Voice of American Labor Leaders on Manufacturing, the third in a series of reports featuring various leadership groups addressing the challenges facing domestic manufacturers.  A PDF is available at: http://www.compete.org/images/uploads/File/PDF%20Files/Ignite_3.0_FINAL_.pdf