Where Manufacturers Will Lead in 2022

After a challenging 2021, manufacturers set their goals for the new year

BY JAY TIMMONS

LOOKING BACK at the challenges manufacturers faced in 2021—a raging pandemic, vaccine distribution, attacks on our democracy, unprecedented supply chain disruptions, a worker shortage, threats of a return to archaic tax policies—any one of them could have been a year-defining challenge.

Yet our industry faced all of them down as we always do: head on, and with a commitment to provide solutions for our country and our world. Manufacturers in Delaware and across America played a pivotal role in leading the country through crises and laying the foundation for our continued recovery. And as we begin 2022, though challenges persist, there is plenty of reason to be hopeful for the future.

It was just about two years ago when the first news about coronavirus began to make headlines. Now, not only are vaccines and booster shots readily available in the United States, but a majority of the entire world’s population has at least one shot and even more treatments are becoming available. Manufacturers made that possible.

Out of crisis has come innovation—not only in pharmaceuticals and the products we make but also how we make things. COVID-19 upended factories and shop floors, leading companies to rely more on the latest Manufacturing 4.0 technologies—from augmented reality and robotics to artificial intelligence and digital twins. Forty percent of manufacturers report that the pandemic accelerated their digitalization plans, and 85 percent permanently increased their use of digital collaboration tools—according to a recent poll conducted by the National Association of Manufacturers’ Manufacturing Leadership Council. This increased adoption of digital technologies will make us more competitive and more adaptable.

Adaptability will be a requirement for all manufacturers, as we continue to face the strains in our supply chains and our workforce. But again, the industry is focused on providing solutions. Last year, the NAM and The Manufacturing Institute—our workforce development and education partner—launched our industry-wide Creators Wanted campaign with a goal of closing the skills gap by 600,000 by 2025 and measurably improving the perception of manufacturing careers among parents. We have built a rapidly growing roster of talent, inspired by our campaign and tour, who are eager to join the industry.

In addition, thanks to manufacturers’ years of advocacy, President Biden last fall signed bold infrastructure investment into law—launching projects nationwide that will enhance not just our roads and bridges but also our ports, waterways, electric grid and internet connections, all of which will help manufacturers better serve their customers. The infrastructure bill— which manufacturers ensured did not roll back tax reform—was exactly the type of legislation the NAM had long advocated with our “Building to Win” plan, first released in 2016.

To build on this success, we will continue to advance manufacturers’ many other policy priorities: expanded trade opportunities, comprehensive immigration reform, a more competitive tax code, and reforms to strengthen our supply chains. It’s not always easy, but the past year proved that even in a sharply divided Washington, manufacturers can help forge consensus.

In all this work, we are grateful for the partnership with the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. Through collaboration, manufacturers helped lead the country through a difficult 2021, and in that same spirit, we will lead the country forward into a more promising 2022.

Jay Timmons is president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).