Ohio Manufacturing Summit Event Highlights

Ohio Manufacturing Summit Thought Leadership Panel Including Dan Janka, Greg Knox, Josh Mook, and Pete Zelinski

Regional manufacturing collaboration will strengthen the overall competitiveness of manufacturers in the Southwest Ohio and Tri-State region. This was a key takeaway from the inaugural 2018 Ohio Manufacturing Summit held May 10, 2018 in West Chester, Ohio. Industry experts including Dan Janka, President of Mazak Corporation; Greg Knox, President of Knox Machinery; Josh Mook, an Engineering Leader for GE Additive; and Pete Zelinski, Editor-In-Chief of Modern Machine Shop and Additive Manufacturing, shared this and other insights during the Summit.

Other key takeaways included:

A Thriving Manufacturing Sector Provides Economic Benefits

·         Average manufacturing workers earned $82,000 annually compared with average annual salaries of $64,000 in other industries.

·         According to the National Association of Manufacturers, for every $1 spent in manufacturing, $1.89 is returned into the economy.

Industry 4.0 Is Changing the Manufacturing Landscape

·         Obtaining real-time machine performance data is driving uptime efficiencies.

·         Smart machines put out more parts with less labor.

·         Leveraging technology enables 3X to 5X productivity gains per worker.

·         Advanced technology will continue to increase American competitiveness.

·         Global adoption of manufacturing robots continues to grow rapidly.

Additive Manufacturing Is Growing in Prominence

·         Additive Manufacturing streamlines the manufacturing process through consolidation of individual parts and improves production rates.

·         Finding skilled labor is one of the main challenges in additive manufacturing. A lack of skilled labor leads to increased investment in automation.

·         Additive manufacturing requires a significant commitment. If you participate in additive manufacturing, aim to be an additive manufacturing leader.

Workforce Development and Recruitment is Critical for On-going Manufacturing Success

·         There is a 30 year gap in backfilling for retiring baby boomers.

·         Incentivizing high school students to pursue manufacturing careers requires engagement of local school districts, high school counselors, and parents.

·         Select industry and educational partnerships enable high school graduates to attend two years of post secondary education and obtain jobs that pay $50,000 annually with little or no student debt.

·         Finding workers who can pass a drug test is an ongoing concern.

Environmental Stewardship Is Important For Industry and Societal Success

·         It is important to build environmental stewardship into manufacturing business models.

·         Responsible use of water is critical to the future success of industrial businesses.

·         Waste management and compliance testing should be a regular occurrence.

Prepare for Succession Planning

·         Always run your business as though you are getting ready to sell it.

Organizations That Can Promote Regional Manufacturing Collaboration 

·         DRMA – Dayton Regional Manufacturers Association

·         TTMA – Tri-State Tooling & Manufacturing Association

·         OMA – Ohio Manufacturing Association