The successful Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP), a White House initiative launched to improve U.S. competitiveness in manufacturing, will kick off its second phase here at Georgia Tech. Because Georgia Tech President Dr. G.P. “Bud” Peterson is a member of the AMP 2.0 Steering Committee, the first of several regional meetings will be held at the Georgia Institute of Technology Global Learning Center in Atlanta on Feb. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The purpose of these meetings is to engage the manufacturing community in identifying challenges and solutions for today’s manufacturing sector. The event provides the perfect opportunity for manufacturing stakeholders to develop the roadmap for the United States’ resurgence as a global manufacturing powerhouse.

AMP 2.0 builds on President Barack Obama’s original AMP initiative that was announced in 2011. This renewed national effort aims to secure U.S. leadership in the emerging technologies that will create high-quality jobs and enhance America’s global competitiveness in the manufacturing arena. During the Feb. 3 meeting, participants will be asked to focus on rebuilding the U.S. manufacturing ecosystem by bringing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into the advanced manufacturing mix. By providing SMEs access to cutting-edge physical and virtual advanced manufacturing tools, they will be able to support and grow U.S. original equipment manufacturers. Topics to be discussed include:

• Workforce challenges for SMEs
• SME involvement and access to collaborative technology and America Makes, the national additive manufacturing innovation institute,
• Technology adoption limitations for SMEs, and more.

Advanced manufacturing will sustain U.S. competitiveness in the 21st Century. To ensure that the United States attracts manufacturing activity and remains a leader in knowledge production, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) recommended that the nation build a fertile environment for innovation and make investments to ensure the new technologies and design methodologies are developed in the United States and that technology-based enterprises have the infrastructure to flourish here. By attending these regional meetings, attendees can provide the needed feedback to help the United States maintain its edge in the global manufacturing arena.

For a full agenda or to register, please click visit: http://advancedmanufacturing.gatech.edu/