🤖 Advanced Manufacturing #7

This week in Advanced Manufacturing, Mabe is investing $668M in Mexico to expand white goods production, reducing reliance on imports and enhancing Mexico’s global manufacturing leadership. In Scotland, an $11.7M investment will establish a semiconductor packaging facility at NMIS, set to boost UK chip manufacturing and innovation. Boeing has won the US Air Force’s F-47 stealth fighter contract, marking a shift in the fighter jet market. The AMTCE training center in Dundalk opened with a $67.7M investment, aiming to equip 10,000 workers with high-tech manufacturing skills by 2026.

Kettering University received $1.6M to expand its electric vehicle and semiconductor programs, supporting Michigan’s advanced manufacturing workforce needs. Johnson & Johnson launched a $1M workforce development initiative, NJBioFutures, to build talent for cell and gene therapeutics in New Jersey. Prototype PGH launched its Step On Up program to address manufacturing workforce gaps through training in 3D modeling, welding, and CAD. On the policy front, President Trump signed an Executive Order to boost US mineral production, focusing on critical minerals to strengthen supply chains and national security.

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Advanced Manufacturing Labor Market Trends

💾 Mabe Announces $668M Investment to Boost Mexico’s Manufacturing. Mabe will invest $668M from 2025-2027 to expand white goods production under Plan Mexico. Announced with President Sheinbaum, the initiative strengthens innovation, cuts reliance on Asian imports, and reinforces Mexico’s role as a global manufacturing leader. With $1.145B invested since 2023, Mabe aims to create jobs and drive sustainable technology adoption, bolstering industrial growth and competitiveness.

🖥️ $11.7M Boost for Semiconductor Manufacturing in Scotland. A $11.7M investment will establish a semiconductor packaging facility at NMIS, Inchinnan, opening in 2025. Funded by Innovate UK, it will cut packaging times from months to days, helping reshore production and strengthen the UK’s supply chain. The facility will support faster chip manufacturing, boost innovation, and create new opportunities for UK firms, reinforcing Scotland’s role in advanced manufacturing and the net zero transition.

✈️ Boeing Wins Air Force’s F-47 Stealth Fighter Contract. Boeing has won the contract to build the US Air Force’s F-47, a next-gen stealth fighter replacing the F-22 Raptor. The F-47 will feature advanced sensors, weapons, and long-range capabilities, designed for high-risk environments. Boeing’s victory over Lockheed Martin marks a major shift in the fighter jet market. The aircraft, which has been in experimental flights for years, is expected to take flight during the present administration.

Yearly Industrial Robot Installations in Japan Have Stabilized

📉 Robot installations in Japan declined by over 15% from 2018 to 2023, dropping from a peak of approximately 55,000 units in 2018 to around 46,000 in 2023. This downward trend reflects shifts in industrial automation demand and broader economic factors.

⚙️ Despite the decline, Japan remains a global leader in industrial robotics, with annual installations consistently exceeding 40,000 units since 2016.

📊 2020 marked the lowest installation year since 2016, with a sharp drop below 45,000 units, likely influenced by pandemic-related disruptions and economic uncertainty. However, subsequent years saw a gradual recovery, stabilizing by 2023.

Upskilling/Reskilling Initiatives

🏭 AMTCE Opens in Dundalk. The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE) in Dundalk officially opened, supported by a $67.7M investment. Aimed at equipping the workforce with skills for high-tech manufacturing, the Centre has trained 5,000 learners and expects to train 5,000 more in 2025-2026. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration between industry, education, and government.

🚗 Kettering University Receives $1.6M for EV & Advanced Manufacturing. Kettering University has been awarded $1.6M by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to enhance its electric vehicle, semiconductor, and hydrogen fuel curricula. Kettering is launching new programs, including an accelerated degree in Semiconductor Materials and Devices, to meet the growing demand for engineers and innovators in advanced manufacturing.

💉 Johnson & Johnson Launches NJBioFutures to Support Workforce Development. Johnson & Johnson has committed $1M to NJBioFutures, a workforce development initiative to build a skilled talent pipeline for the growing cell and gene therapeutics sector. Partnering with New Jersey community colleges, including Raritan Valley, Middlesex, and Mercer County, the program will offer specialized curricula and state-of-the-art training to support biopharma innovation in the state.

🔧 Prototype PGH Launches Step On Up Program to Tackle Workforce Gaps. Prototype PGH’s Step On Up: Maker to Manufacturer program, has been launched and aims to address workforce shortages in advanced manufacturing. The six-month training initiative offers free courses in skills like 3D modeling, welding, and CAD, supported by childcare and travel stipends. Open to individuals from diverse backgrounds, the program culminates in a job fair and potential career opportunities in manufacturing roles.

Policy Initiatives

⛏️ President Trump Signs Executive Order to Boost US Mineral Production. President Trump issued an Executive Order to enhance domestic mineral production, aiming to reduce reliance on external sources. It mandates rapid permitting, prioritizes federal land use for mining, and leverages the Defense Production Act to spur investment. The order targets critical minerals like copper and uranium, seeking to create jobs, strengthen supply chains, and bolster national security through US mineral leadership.

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