Right now, our country is arguing over how to rebuild the American Dream and the continuing centrality of advanced manufacturing to that dream. Few agree on what it means or what kind of advanced manufacturing remains feasible here. We hear sweeping declarations about reversing decades of outsourcing. Yet, in the rush to embrace this domestic resurgence, the national dialogue is missing a critical piece of the fact base: starting with what we already have.
Many assume rebuilding our industrial core is a “zero-to-one” proposition – that it can emerge from a blank slate. That once you get to “one,” the prototype or working model, the hard part is over. Scaling manufacturing growth, especially that of complex products, is different. It is what we call a “one-to-100” challenge. It is the art of taking a smart, proven idea or prototype and scaling it into mass production that’s globally competitive. American inventiveness creating that initial prototype can arise from many locations, but turning that prototyped product into a manufactured product requires a massive industrial ecosystem at scale to compete on a global level. Few places in the world have this highly advanced and integrated ecosystem that Michigan possesses.
Our nation must focus on supporting the evolution of our existing industrial bases and their generational, skilled workforces. We must infuse them with the right technologies to augment the deep accumulated knowledge of our people with the powerful tools of today. No place on earth has a greater set of advantages to enable our nation to win this challenge than Michigan.
The ‘born-from-nothing’ myth
There is a persistent belief that industrial powerhouses are willed into existence out of thin air. Silicon Valley is frequently misread as a “born-from-nothing” miracle. In reality, it was built directly on top of a long-standing industrial base of defense research, semiconductors and decades of steady federal investment. It only became what it is today because of that strong, existing foundation.
Michigan’s historical dominance followed the exact same blueprint. In the late 19th century, Detroit wasn’t an automotive hub; it was the stove capital of the world. The region featured a massive cluster of foundries and tool-and-die shops making cast-iron parts. When newer technology arrived, those fabrication skills and foundries transitioned into making gearboxes and transmissions for the automobile.
Michigan’s heritage as the original Arsenal of Democracy was an achievement of bringing partners together around a shared goal and working as one team. Today, as we stand on the cusp of frontier industries – advanced manufacturing, autonomous mobility, robotics, dual-use aerospace and advanced energy – America must look to the growth industries in our own backyard and build from what we have.
In June, more than 2,000 leaders from technology, defense, finance and government converged in Detroit for the Reindustrialize Summit. The summit’s objective demonstrates how scaling this new chapter of industrialization functions in practice: startup companies scaling into growth stage (and beyond), employers, legacy plants modernizing and innovative partnerships putting public and private dollars to work.
Our one-to-100 future
A sustainable manufacturing comeback isn’t just about breaking ground on new facilities. The real magic happens when we supplement those new investments with upgrades to the plants, supplier networks and skilled people we already have. We can show the world how it’s done.
Michigan currently ranks as the No. 6 state for business – our highest ranking in history. This milestone reflects our unrivaled concentration of manufacturing, mechanical engineering and production talent. Yet, we remain focused on obtaining the #1 rank – not only for bragging rights but also to improve the personal incomes of Michiganders.
While we have a lot of work to do, events like the Reindustrialize Summit and its continued location in Detroit highlight Michigan as a beacon for America’s 21st Century industrial renaissance.
Michigan has the one-to-100 talent that most places lack. By anchoring major new project announcements into our existing industrial footprints and infusing them with advanced technology, we are doing more than just protecting our state’s economic future. We are building a model for our nation’s economy focused on what we do best: creating and bringing complex multi-component products to operational scale. Let’s ensure that the next generation of global innovation is born, built and scaled right here in Michigan.
Quentin L. Messer, Jr. is CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Why America’s reindustrialization runs through Michigan | Opinion
Reporting by Quentin L. Messer, Jr., For the Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Quentin L. Messer, Jr., For the Lansing State Journal | USA TODAY Network
