{"686715":{"#nid":"686715","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Manufacturing\u2019s Future Is High Tech ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor decades, manufacturing has been synonymous with job creation, a pillar of economic growth and stability. Today, the industry is evolving into something far more dynamic: a hub for innovation, sustainability, and purpose-driven careers. Experts say this transformation is reshaping not only what manufacturing looks like but why it matters.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBeyond the Assembly Line: A High-Tech Reality\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cPeople still picture manufacturing as the assembly lines of the early 20th century,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/kurfess\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThomas Kurfess\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute. \u201cThe reality is very different. Modern plants are among the most advanced environments you\u2019ll find, packed with robotics, automation, and data-driven systems. In fact, if you want to see the largest number of robots in one location, it will be at an automotive assembly plant.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat disconnect between perception and reality is one reason manufacturers struggle to fill roles despite record demand. Kurfess notes that students often overlook manufacturing careers because they assume the work is low tech. \u201cWe need to expose educators, parents, and students to what manufacturing truly looks like,\u201d he says. Facility tours and partnerships with technical colleges can help shift the narrative.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/pinar-keskinocak\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPinar Keskinocak\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, agrees: \u201cShowcasing innovations like AI-driven automation, 3D printing, and smart factories is key to changing perceptions.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGreen Tech and Digital Transformation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe rise of electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy is accelerating this shift. \u201cGreen technology presents a transformative opportunity for U.S. manufacturing,\u201d Kurfess explains. \u201cIt is not just about sustainability; it is about national security and global competitiveness.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese sectors are inherently digital, says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/nagi-gebraeel\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENagi Gebraeel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Power Term Professor in the College of Engineering. \u201cGreen tech manufacturing is being built in an era when advanced digital technologies are mature and widely accessible. Factories are designed from the ground up with automation and sensing embedded, creating highly interconnected systems.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis evolution demands new skills. The labor force must navigate environments where operational technology and information technology converge. Gebraeel predicts that by 2035, manufacturing leaders will increasingly come from operations and data-driven backgrounds rather than traditional IT.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Workforce Challenge\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite the promise of high-tech careers, talent pipelines remain thin. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/hora\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManpreet Hora\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, senior associate dean in the Scheller College of Business, points to a \u201cdemand-supply mismatch\u201d driven by rapidly changing skill requirements. \u201cManufacturing now needs workers who combine technical, digital, and soft skills,\u201d he says. \u201cMeanwhile, younger workers often gravitate toward service industries for perceived growth and tech exposure. The manufacturing sector will collectively need to reposition themselves as employers of choice by making their digital tools visible, highlighting career progression, and offering flexible learning pathways.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExperts agree that education must adapt. Kurfess advocates for a systemwide approach starting in elementary school, while Gebraeel emphasizes integrating AI into curricula and offering modular micro-credentials for upskilling. Hora adds that hands-on training should reflect realities like AI-enabled operations and sustainability-focused processes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPurpose and Innovation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor younger professionals seeking meaningful work, manufacturing offers more than a paycheck. \u201cThese are high-tech, high-impact roles where workers build products that move the world, from aircraft and medical devices to renewable energy systems,\u201d Kurfess says.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo position the industry as an innovation hub, leaders must embrace technologies that enhance efficiency and quality while fostering collaboration across schools, businesses, and government. \u201cModernizing the image of manufacturing demands aligned messaging and shared investment,\u201d he adds.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking Ahead\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy 2035, experts envision a workforce fluent in AI, committed to lifelong learning, and working in environments where cyber and physical systems are seamlessly integrated. Manufacturing will remain a cornerstone of economic strength, but its true value will lie in its ability to innovate, adapt, and deliver purpose-driven careers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EManufacturing is undergoing a major transformation, evolving from traditional assembly lines into high-tech, purpose-driven hubs of innovation and sustainability. Modern factories now feature robotics, AI-driven automation, and smart systems, creating dynamic career opportunities in areas like green technology and digital manufacturing. Experts emphasize the need to change outdated perceptions, address workforce challenges, and integrate advanced skills training to meet growing demand. As industries embrace electric vehicles, renewable energy, and interconnected systems, manufacturing is positioned as a cornerstone of economic growth and global competitiveness\u2014offering meaningful, future-ready careers.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Modern manufacturing blends AI, automation, and sustainability to create meaningful careers and economic resilience. "}],"uid":"35798","created_gmt":"2025-12-03 14:35:04","changed_gmt":"2025-12-03 15:40:25","author":"Ayana Isles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-03T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-03T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678750":{"id":"678750","type":"image","title":"Manufacturing\u2019s Future Is High Tech","body":null,"created":"1764775644","gmt_created":"2025-12-03 15:27:24","changed":"1764775644","gmt_changed":"2025-12-03 15:27:24","alt":"Manufacturing\u2019s Future Is High Tech","file":{"fid":"262824","name":"2ff401e1-aa86-4f80-b386-0a86f8ab908e.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/03\/2ff401e1-aa86-4f80-b386-0a86f8ab908e.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/03\/2ff401e1-aa86-4f80-b386-0a86f8ab908e.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":81039,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/03\/2ff401e1-aa86-4f80-b386-0a86f8ab908e.jpg?itok=Cy5lExLD"}}},"media_ids":["678750"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"215","name":"manufacturing"},{"id":"2835","name":"ai"},{"id":"59541","name":"workforce development"},{"id":"4147","name":"labor"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:aisles3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAyana Isles\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESenior Media Relations Representative\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}