Week 7 in Manufacturing News

Department of Energy Awards $187 Million to Strengthen U.S. Manufacturing Competitiveness; UK economy saw zero growth at the end of 2019; A Look Through Futurists’ Eyes; Manufacturing Trends to Watch.

Department of Energy Awards $187 Million to Strengthen U.S. Manufacturing Competitiveness

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced approximately $187 million in funding, including $48 million of cost share, for 55 projects in 25 states to support innovative advanced manufacturing research and development. These projects address high-impact manufacturing technology, materials, and process challenges.

The goal is to strengthen domestic manufacturing competitiveness and position the U.S. for global leadership in advanced manufacturing.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy.

UK economy saw zero growth at the end of 2019

The UK economy saw no growth in the final three months of 2019, as manufacturing contracted for the third quarter in a row and the service sector slowed around the time of the election.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the car industry had seen a particularly weak quarter.

The ONS figures also showed the economy grew by 1.4% in 2019, marginally higher than the 1.3% rate in 2018.

Source: BBC.

A Look Through Futurists’ Eyes

World-renowned futurists provide their insights into which technologies possess the staying power to fuel today’s manufacturers into the winner’s circle tomorrow.

Slideshow at IndustryWeek.

Manufacturing Trends to Watch

#1 Fast manufacturing is getting faster

Whether its rapid market sensing, co-created and hyper-personalized products, or flexible and adaptive manufacturing, companies are able to build real-time feedback loops and develop product ranges that are much more responsive to consumer needs in each moment.

#2 Packaged good

People want to reduce their environmental impact, and they’re thinking much more critically about how their products are used and packaged.

#3 Convenience, but just right

Convenience today is about doing the small things well, focusing on the detail and using digital technologies to deliver something that’s “just right” for each individual when they need it.

Source: IndustryToday.