State Launches Manufacturing Study Group In Clinton
State Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Gregory Bialecki joined dozens of manufacturing executives and public officials in Clinton this morning to launch a new group that aims to increase the viability of the advanced manufacturing sector in Massachusetts.
Gov. Deval Patrick this week announced the creation of the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative, which aims to promote the sector, create a steady flow of workers, provide technical assistance to advanced manufacturers, reduce the cost of doing business in the state and ensure adequate access to capital.
On Tuesday morning, Bialecki met with business leaders at the headquarters of injection manufacturer Nypro, where he kicked off the initiative.
"Manufacturing is seen as critical to a successful 21st century economy, and that's not just by us," Bialecki said during opening remarks at the event, which was attended by dozens of executives and other officials including U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester.
The initiative is in conjunction with a nationwide Advanced Manufacturing Partership, which has been spearheaded by President Barack Obama to study what is holding back the manufacturing sector in America and what can be done to help improve it.
In the past year, officials in Massachusetts have already begun studying that process. On Monday, Patrick released a 36-page report outlining a roadmap to move forward.
Targeting Bottlenecks
Mitch Tyson, a consultant from Lexington and one of the co-chairs of the committee that put together the report, said the idea is to identify bottlenecks in the industry and encourage collaborations among manufacturers in the state.
Now that these issues have been identified, Tyson said the key will be creating action items to address them.
"We don't have to convince anyone in the political world manufacturing is important. That has been recognized," he said. "Now we just need to do it."
Bialecki said after the event that promoting the manufacturing sector is one of the first and best things that can be done. Some businesses in the industry are unable to find the skilled labor they need at their companies and Bialecki said if there is greater awareness about the high-paying jobs in advanced manufacturing, more young workers will be interested in working in the field.
"(These solutions are) not rocket science, but if we can get more people together we can achieve some great things," he said.
In the coming weeks and months, members of the Advanced Manufacturing Initiative will break into groups to create those action items.
According to the state report issued this week, the advanced manufacturing industry employs 260,000 and has added 4,400 in the past two years.
The initiative follows up on similar collaborative study groups the state has launched for the life sciences and technology industries.
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