🤖 Advanced Manufacturing #8

This week in Advanced Manufacturing, the NIOA Group is investing $76.4M to establish the Barrett Manufacturing & Technology Campus in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, set to double its workforce over five years while integrating R&D, logistics, and firearms production. In St. Louis, Wieland is expanding metals production with a $500M investment, securing 800 jobs and strengthening the region’s 16,000-strong metals workforce. Schneider Electric is committing $700M to expand US operations, creating over 1,000 jobs and launching a Robotics & Motion Center in North Carolina to enhance AI-driven automation. 

Upskilling efforts continue to thrive as EDGE and QuantaSim launch a nine-month aerospace engineering boot camp, equipping early-career engineers with mechanical, electrical, and AI skills. Additionally, RPCC and LCTCS are investing $30M in workforce training for Hyundai’s $5.8B steel facility in Louisiana, which will create 1,300 direct jobs. The Shapiro Administration is investing $100K to support manufacturing training for young workers in Pennsylvania. On the policy front, Michigan’s Strategic Fund is boosting high-tech startups with a $5M allocation to the Michigan Innovate Capital Fund, supporting SEDI-owned auto suppliers with a $9M US Treasury award, and ensuring the continuation of the Lansing battery plant project under LG Energy Solution, securing 1,360 jobs and over $2B in investment.

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Advanced Manufacturing Labor Market Trends

🏭 NIOA Group Announces $76.4M US Weapons Manufacturing Campus. NIOA Group is investing $76.4M to establish the Barrett Manufacturing & Technology Campus (BMTC) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Opening in 2027, the 170-acre site will serve as Barrett Firearms’ global headquarters, integrating R&D, manufacturing, and logistics. Doubling the workforce over five years, BMTC will produce commercial and military firearms, specialist ammunition, and advanced small arms. 

🔩 St. Louis Metals Sector Expands With $500M Investment. St. Louis, the second-ranking US region for minerals and ores exports, is seeing a $500M expansion by Wieland, securing 800 jobs and strengthening the 16,000-strong metals workforce. ASI is also scaling up production to 200,000 tons annually, adding 20-30 jobs. The region's strategic location, skilled labor, and robust logistics fuel this growth, with $2.9B in mineral exports (2022) and a manufacturing workforce 15% more productive than the US average.

⚡ Schneider Electric’s $700M US Expansion Fuels AI & Energy Growth. Schneider Electric is investing $700M in US operations, adding over 1,000 jobs and launching a Robotics & Motion Center in Raleigh to enhance AI-driven automation. The expansion, one of the largest in the company's history, supports rising energy demand with modernized power distribution facilities nationwide. This brings Schneider’s total US investment to over $1B this decade, reinforcing North Carolina’s role in power grid innovation alongside Siemens, MetOx, and other industry leaders.

Robot Installations in the Auto Industry Up 90% Since 2013

🚌 The automotive industry saw a 96% increase in robot installations from 2013 to 2023, rising from 69K to 135K units. This significant growth highlights the industry's continued investment in automation to enhance efficiency, precision, and production scalability.

🌑 The rise of dark factories—fully automated production sites operating without human workers—is accelerating industrial robotics adoption, especially in high-precision sectors like electronics and automotive manufacturing. As labor costs rise and demand for 24/7 production increases, companies are investing in robotic systems that enable lights-out manufacturing, reducing operational expenses and improving efficiency.

Upskilling/Reskilling Initiatives

🚀 EDGE LIF & QuantaSim Launch Aerospace Engineering Bootcamp. EDGE’s Learning and Innovation Factory (LIF) and QuantaSim have partnered on a nine-month Engineering Bootcamp for early-career engineers in aerospace and defence. Centered on the V-Cycle model, it offers hands-on training in mechanical, electrical, aerodynamics, and control systems, integrating engineering simulation and real-world projects. The program equips local talent with AI, digital thread, and product lifecycle management skills to drive regional innovation.

🏗️ RPCC & LCTCS Launch Workforce Training for Hyundai’s $5.8B Steel Plant. River Parishes Community College (RPCC) and LCTCS will establish a $30M training center to support Hyundai Motor Group’s $5.8B steel facility in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The plant, Hyundai’s first US steel mill, will create 1,300 direct jobs and 4,100 indirect jobs. Set to open by April 2027, the center will train 320 employees annually, equipping local talent with industry-specific skills and supporting Hyundai’s workforce needs.

🏭 Shapiro Administration Invests $100K in Crispus Attucks York Workforce Program. Crispus Attucks York will receive a $100,000 MTTC grant from the Shapiro Administration to train young workers (18–24) from low-income families for manufacturing careers in South Central Pennsylvania. Partnering with the Manufacturers’ Association and 12 local employers, the seven-week training program will lead to apprenticeships and job placement for 20 participants annually. With 11,000+ new manufacturing workers needed yearly, this initiative strengthens York’s workforce pipeline.

Policy Initiatives

🚗 Michigan Strategic Fund Boosts Startups, Auto Suppliers, and Battery Manufacturing. The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved key investments to support startups, small businesses, and manufacturing jobs, including a $5 million allocation to the Michigan Innovate Capital Fund for high-tech startups and a $9 million US Treasury award to aid SEDI-owned auto suppliers in the EV transition. Additionally, the Lansing battery plant project will continue under LG Energy Solution, securing 1,360 jobs and over $2 billion in investment, reinforcing Michigan’s "Make It in Michigan" economic strategy.

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