During his time in California, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons joined manufacturers, students, parents, employees and business and community leaders to discuss manufacturingâs confident future, the rewarding opportunities the industry offers and the urgent need to build a modern manufacturing workforce across the country.
âInnovation is changing the way our industry looks. But it doesnât change whatâs at our core: men and women who have lent their talents to build something bigger than themselves, people finding purpose in making things that matter,â says Timmons. âManufacturing in America is a confident industry. Weâre growing and the American people want to see manufacturing in this country grow even stronger.â
âCalifornia is a hub for innovation and technology, and itâs driving modern manufacturing. The research and development happening in the Golden State is paving the way for our industryâs future. We are thrilled to be in California to meet the people transforming modern manufacturing,â he adds.
Timmons began the day at NextFlex, a group of companies, academic institutions, nonprofits and government agencies with a mission to advance U.S. manufacturing of flexible hybrid electronics, where he participated in a panel discussion with parents, students and business leaders. He then traveled to Paccarâs Innovation Center for a facility tour, a product demonstration and a roundtable discussion about Paccarâs role in modern manufacturing and transportation. Paccarâs Innovation Center opened in late 2017.
âCalifornia is at the intersection of innovation, technology, and modern manufacturing,â says Dorothy Rothrock, president of California Manufacturers & Technology Association. âWhile our country struggles to fill important jobs in the manufacturing sector, our employers are committed to upskilling the workforce so that as we create new, well-paying jobs in manufacturing, we are also ensuring we have the skilled workforce to fill them.â
âPaccarâs new Innovation Center is using advanced technology, research and development to improve the performance of our commercial vehicles,â says Paccar Innovation Center General Manager Jake Montero. âOur research experts are leading the truck manufacturing industry in next-generation product development, showcasing the capabilities of modern manufacturing.â