Automation Alley: Gateway for Advanced Manufacturing Across the Globe

 
In October 2022, the White House launched its official National Strategy for Advanced
Manufacturing. This comprehensive strategy creates a vision for U.S. leadership in
Advanced Manufacturing to grow the economy, create high-quality jobs, enhance
sustainability, and strengthen supply chains. And when the U.S. leads, others will follow.
Therefore, it is critical to find innovators and disruptors who will lead the way and
provide a gateway for Advanced Manufacturing across the globe.

So, how exactly are these innovators and disruptors located and what is being done to
grow the advanced manufacturing industry in the U.S.?

Ron J. Stefanski knows where to locate those visionaries. One of his favorite go-to hubs
is Michigan’s Automation Alley, the nonprofit Industry 4.0 knowledge center and home
to the World Economic Forum’s US Centre for Advanced Manufacturing. Stefanski and
his co-host, Dr. Caesar, went straight to the top for this installment of
DisruptED, inviting Tom Kelly, Executive Director & CEO of Automation Alley, to share
his insights on the significant disruptions happening in the Advanced Automation space.

Even for someone with loads of experience like Kelly, keeping up with the fast-moving
changes can be daunting. Still, he sees advanced manufacturing as a golden
opportunity to jump-start the middle class in America.

“We need to recognize in America that if you make stuff, prosperity follows,” Kelly said.
“If you don’t make stuff, the rich get richer because the service economy allows the
knowledge to continue to grow, but we have to be a society for all people to have an
opportunity to be prosperous, and manufacturing is one path to that.”

Stefanski, Mickens, and Kelly’s conversation included:

The evolution of Industry 4.0 and the ability to create value in manufacturing

The U.S.’s position to be the global leader in advanced manufacturing

How Automation Alley uses its platform to grow U.S. interests in advanced global
manufacturing

“Automation Alley’s mission is to change culture,” Kelly said. “We talk a lot about
technology, but that’s the false flag we put out there. Technology is interesting, and it is
how you affect the ability to be effective and efficient at small scales going forward, but
we really need to change culture—get people to recognize that I am not in
manufacturing for manufacturing’s sake.”

Tom Kelly is a globally recognized expert on Industry 4.0 and its impact on business. As
executive director and CEO of Automation Alley, Kelly oversees strategic planning and
all ongoing activities for the organization, including programs and services designed to
help businesses increase revenue, reduce costs, and make strategic decisions during
rapid technological change. Kelly joined Automation Alley in 2014. He chairs the boards
of the U.S. Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, a partnership between Automation
Alley and the World Economic Forum, and Project Diamond, an additive manufacturing
marketplace. In addition, Kelly has launched three startup companies of his own.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Exceptional Customer Service in Healthcare is the Cornerstone of Building Patient Trust
November 12, 2024

The significance of excellent customer service in every corner and industry cannot be overstated. This notion is especially crucial in healthcare, where patient experiences often influence their recovery and overall well-being. The topic of customer service in the medical field is always a priority in healthcare because providers strive to enhance patient satisfaction and…

Read More
eVTOL certification
Safran’s AI, Telemetry, and Data Precision Pave the Way for eVTOL Certification
November 11, 2024

The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry is set to transform urban transportation by addressing congestion and promoting sustainable travel options. Experts predict the global eVTOL market will surge to $39 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.8% over the next decade. This rapid expansion is fueled by…

Read More
A Plan for the Future: A Legacy of Love, Giving from a Grand Dad with Ken Bissell
November 11, 2024

Everyone knows that parenting is not an easy feat, but raising twins takes parenting to another level. Such a journey is one that Ken Bissell had with his wife and now stands to showcase the power of partnership, patience, and resilience in family life. Including his twins, Bissell is a father to a total…

Read More
Fighting for Fair Healthcare Access Means Overcoming Certain Challenges
November 8, 2024

With healthcare costs continuing to climb, and the access to quality care remaining uneven, discussions on healthcare reform are quite an essential topic. Millions of Americans face high out-of-pocket costs and limited access to critical health services. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, nearly 40 percent of Americans have delayed medical care due to…

Read More