🤖 Advanced Manufacturing #15

This week in Advanced Manufacturing, PPG is investing $380 million in an aerospace coatings and sealants facility in Shelby, North Carolina. Set to open in 2027, this site will employ over 110 skilled workers, leveraging sustainable practices to meet global demand and enhance supply chain efficiency. Lockheed Martin is strengthening European manufacturing by relocating the assembly of Belgium’s F-35 fighter jets to Cameri, Italy. This strategic decision supports local supply chains, reduces delivery times, and emphasizes the shift towards localized, high-quality production. Zeeco is expanding its Global Technology Center in Broken Arrow, creating nearly 200 jobs while enhancing its combustion and emissions control technologies capacity. This project reinforces Zeeco’s commitment to regional economic growth and global manufacturing excellence.

Upskilling efforts are gaining momentum, with USW 689 partnering with Waverly High School on a 12-week manufacturing training program in the US, certifying 15 students for entry-level roles at the Portsmouth Site. EOS partnered with the US Navy to provide free Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) training, enhancing additive manufacturing skills for maritime suppliers. Similarly, MESS and McKinsey have launched MEXT, a technology center advancing skills and sustainability for over 650 companies in Turkey. On the policy front, Australia’s ‘Future Made in Australia’ initiative seeks to strengthen domestic manufacturing by promoting advanced technologies, investing in R&D, and upskilling the workforce to enhance competitiveness and support sustainable growth.

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Advanced Manufacturing Labor Market Trends

⚡ ️PPG Invests $380 Million in Advanced Aerospace Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina. PPG is investing $380 million in a 198,000-square-foot aerospace coatings and sealants plant in Shelby, North Carolina, set to open in 2027. The facility will employ over 110 workers and support sustainable manufacturing to meet global demand. Its strategic location and integrated warehousing aim to boost supply chain efficiency, reflecting the sector’s shift towards skilled labor and tech-enabled production.

🏭 Lockheed Martin Enhances European Manufacturing with Shift of F-35 Assembly to Italy. Lockheed Martin’s decision to shift assembly of Belgium’s F-35s to Italy’s Cameri facility highlights a strategic move in European defense manufacturing, leveraging local production to strengthen supply chains, reduce delivery times, and foster collaboration with European industries. As one of only 3 certified final assembly sites worldwide, Cameri employs over 1,000 skilled workers, boosting regional expertise.

⚙️ Zeeco Expands Global Technology Center to Enhance Manufacturing Capacity and Workforce. Zeeco has broken ground on a 200,000-square-foot expansion at its Global Technology Center in Broken Arrow, aiming to meet rising global demand for its combustion and emissions control technologies. The expansion will add nearly 200 manufacturing jobs, alongside non-manufacturing roles, strengthening the region's role as a center for innovation and advanced manufacturing.

Unemployment in the US Machinery Manufacturing Sector Down 3%

🏭 The decline in US manufacturing unemployment from 2015 to 2025 is driven by multiple factors,  with the Inflation Reduction Act serving as a significant catalyst in recent years by promoting investment, job growth, and workforce development in the manufacturing sector.

📍 Following a decline in unemployment from 2015 to 2018, the sector maintained relatively stable rates between 2018 and 2021, reflecting a period of equilibrium that was abruptly disrupted by a noticeable spike in unemployment in 2022,  likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on operations, supply chains, and workforce management.

🛠️ In 2024, the sector achieved its lowest unemployment rate 2024, falling below 1.5%, underscoring a period of peak employment before slightly rising to 2% by January 2025.

Upskilling/Reskilling Initiatives

🔧 USW 689 and Waverly High School Initiate Pioneering Workforce Training Program. The United Steelworkers Local 689 collaborated with Waverly High School to establish a 12-week training program, equipping 15 high school seniors and recent graduates with Manufacturing Skills Standard Council certifications. This initiative, targeting entry-level manufacturing roles at the Portsmouth Site, fosters skill development, supports reindustrialization, and strengthens the local economy by creating a skilled talent pipeline for regional employers.

🏭 EOS Launches Advanced Training Program to Strengthen US Navy’s Maritime Manufacturing. EOS has partnered with the US Navy to strengthen the Maritime Industrial Base by offering end-to-end Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) at its Novi and Michigan Additive Minds Academy. The free program includes online and hands-on courses in advanced AM software and LPBF operations, aiming to upskill suppliers and bolster the Navy’s additive manufacturing supply chain

🤝 MESS and McKinsey Launch MEXT to Advance Skills and Sustainability in Turkish Manufacturing. The Turkish Employers Association of Metal Industries (MESS), in partnership with McKinsey, has launched MEXT—a 10,000 m² technology center serving over 650 companies. It offers 170+ digital and sustainable use cases, ESG tools, and global industry networks. The initiative aims to modernize Turkey’s manufacturing sector, drive innovation, and build a future-ready workforce aligned with international standards.

Policy Initiatives

💡 ‘Future Made in Australia’ Policy Aims to Strengthen Domestic Manufacturing Capabilities. The Australian Government’s ‘Future Made in Australia’ initiative aims to revitalise domestic manufacturing by closing structural gaps. It provides funding for advanced technologies, R&D, and workforce upskilling, with a focus on automation, sustainability, and supply chain resilience, boosting competitiveness and enabling long-term, innovation-led growth.

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