A Blueprint
for Success
“By 2030, a typical manufacturing enterprise
will have more highly skilled workers, more
sophisticated automation, require more
advanced infrastructure and depend on
new innovations and new global markets
to succeed. Things that are not yet conceived
of will be produced in places that cannot
currently compete. Some places will emerge
as the best destination for manufacturing,
and other places will see manufacturing jobs
disappear. The question is what can our policy
makers do to improve the region’s long-term
manufacturing competitiveness.”
– “A New Blueprint—Making the
American South’s Manufacturing
Sector More Competitive by 2030”
The manufacturing industry has long
been a vital component of the American
economy. Despite the rapid-fire challenges
resulting from globalization, automation
and technological advancement, accord-
ing to the 2016 Global Manufacturing
Competitive Index, the U.S. remains one
of the top three countries for manufac-
turing, along with China and Germany.
Currently, the U.S. produces close to 20
percent of all products worldwide, and
by 2020, the U.S. is expected to retake
the number one spot.
Reaching that top spot will require in-
novation and investment on both a state-
wide and national level within the U.S.
manufacturing industry. In an effort to
identify areas of improvement and incite
action within the industry, Ted Abernathy,
the managing partner at Economic Leader-
ship LLC, published “A New Blueprint—
Making the American South’s Manufactur-
ing Sector More Competitive by 2030.”
According to the blueprint, “If the United
States and the American South want to
compete for new manufacturing, we need
to maintain our business competitiveness,
educate and train our citizens with new and
higher skills, enhance our infrastructure
with an emphasis on digital and improve
the flow of new ideas and innovation.”
JENNIFER JETT PREZKOP
WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM
S P R I N G 2 017
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