Research, Innovation and Technology

As modern manufacturing in the U.S. races toward the new economic era and pursues future technologies to lead new operational advances, federal policies must keep up with the industry’s needs, prioritizing both investment and innovation.

Key Facts

86%
of manufacturers think it's important for lawmakers to understand how manufacturers use AI
81%
of manufacturers agree that it is important for the federal government to support groundbreaking R&D and incentivize innovation

Powering Manufacturing 4.0

Manufacturers in the United States have created an innovation engine that has reshaped the world around us. New technologies and processes have brought us energy independence, new lifesaving medicines and medical devices and more efficient automobiles, to name a few – a significant transformation already underway known as Manufacturing 4.0.

As modern manufacturing in the U.S. races toward the new economic era and pursues future technologies to lead new operational advances, federal policies must keep up with the industry’s needs, prioritizing both investment and innovation.

Everybody really wants to be able to do their job better, faster, more accurately, more safely, more sustainably. AI … is going to help us do that, and by doing that, it’s literally elevating the role of people so we’re free to then use our creativity, our experience and our knowledge to really address the complex stuff.
— Rani Russell Shea, CEO, Siemens Advanta North America
AI can understand the rules of data structure, and that of our customers and suppliers, and it can be a translator between them.
— Karl Hutter, CEO, Click Bond

What Should We Do Now?

Below are critical policy recommendations that Congress and the president should act on to promote and strengthen Manufacturing 4.0.

READ MORE IN “COMPETING TO WIN”

  1. 1
    Deliver strong IP protections for manufacturers by advancing pro-innovation domestic policies; negotiating strong IP provisions in trade and other bilateral and regional agreements; and strengthening, not weakening, critical global IP rules.
  2. 2
    Pursue a federal approach to data privacy that provides flexibility for innovation, addresses domestic and global inconsistencies and maintains U.S. economic growth and technological leadership.
  3. 3
    Enact policies that curb abusive patent lawsuits while respecting IP rights for all industry segments.
  4. 4
    Modernize our communications laws to reduce unnecessary regulations, spur investment in our digital infrastructure and promote the deployment of next-generation wireless technology.
  5. 5
    Maintain a strong mechanism for the public and private sector to share real-time cyberthreat information and support reasonable reporting requirements for those under attack.

Share Your Voice

We encourage you to share with us your thoughts on why lawmakers should help to drive and strengthen the digital transformation underway throughout the industry known as Manufacturing 4.0. In doing so, you’re helping to equip the NAM with our most powerful advocacy tool: the manufacturing voice.