Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1195227
BOOK OF LISTS 2020 | 11 ECONOMIC FORECAST // MANUFACTURNG Public-private partnerships to boost CT manufacturing will be tested in 2020 Q&A talks with Eric Brown, vice president of manufacturing policy and outreach at the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, about the major issues facing the state's manufacturing industry in 2020. What will be the main story line for Connecticut's manufacturing industry in 2020? The key for making significant progress on workforce, technology and other challenges facing manufacturers generally, will be the ability of the government, education leaders, nonprofits and private sector to work together in a collaborative and strategic manner – with a real sense of urgency. The appointment of the new chief manufacturing officer and the creation of the Governor's Workforce Council are two strong indicators that the administration is committed to accomplishing this goal. But the array of stakeholders playing in this space is enormously broad. So, I believe the overarching manufacturing story lines in 2020 will flow from how well we can meet this challenge. What are two other major issues that will impact manufacturing in 2020? A significant portion of state assistance for manufacturing workforce and technology over the past decade has come through a variety of programs administered through the Manufacturing Innovation Fund. The original $75 million of funding is almost gone, and it is unclear what will become of the highest- value programs. The $75 million was provided through state bonding. With the administration's emphasis on cutting the state's bonded indebtedness, it is unclear what, if any, further bonded funding will be available in the future. Finding a sustainable, reliable funding mechanism to assist manufacturers broadly evolve into the fourth industrial revolution is critical. A second major frontier is changing the mindset of parents, students and others with respect to careers in manufacturing. We are still suffering from the huge misperception that manufacturing is a low-skill, low-wage dirty job primarily for folks who can't go to college. Nothing could be further from the truth. Manufacturing is an amazing career where imagination, creativity, problem-solving and technical skills all come together to provide high-paying, professionally satisfying careers with almost infinite opportunities for advancement and career innovation. What state legislative issues will be top of mind for manufacturers in 2020? I believe the legislature will be called upon to support comprehensive recommendations put forward by the chief manufacturing officer and Governor's Workforce Council. In addition, organizations such as CBIA and the Connecticut Manufacturers' Collaborative will be working with the legislature's Manufacturing Caucus to make Connecticut a more attractive place for private investment in manufacturing. How will the Trump administration's trade war impact Connecticut manufacturers in 2020? Is there anything local producers can do to mitigate the impact? National policy on trade affects different companies differently. Affected companies are exploring alternatives in terms of materials, suppliers and the location of supply chain manufacturing. And they are communicating with their congressional representatives to push for quick resolutions. Many companies have long been negatively impacted by trade practices implemented by other countries. It remains to be seen whether that will change in 2020. In the meantime, as always, manufacturers continue to innovate. How will the new chief manufacturing officer position affect the industry in 2020? The appointment of Colin Cooper as the state's CMO has already instilled great hope and optimism within the manufacturing community. For the first time, they are confident of progress knowing they have a strong and knowledgeable advocate within state government. They are especially hopeful that this new approach will result in breaking down administrative and funding silos and get the entire manufacturing ecosystem in Connecticut working more strategically on key priorities. Colleges seek out new talent pools to fill manufacturing jobs Q&A talks to Mark Ojakian, president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, about efforts to fill the state's manufacturing workforce pipeline in 2020 and beyond. In early 2019, the CSCU system unveiled the Technology, Education, and Advanced Manufacturing (TEAM) Works advanced manufacturing strategic plan that had the goal of training 35,000 skilled workers needed for the state's 4,100 manufacturers. What is the plan and how is it going so far? TEAM Works is a collaborative approach bringing stakeholders from business, education and government together and to make sure we are all pulling in the same direction to meet the state's workforce needs. We have found particular success in collaboration between our community colleges that offer advanced manufacturing and area employers, ensuring that our curriculum lines up with workforce needs. At the same time, we continue to have additional capacity to serve more students. When it comes to workforce development for Connecticut's manufacturing sector, what will be the main storyline in 2020? From the CSCU perspective, our main storyline will be our continued push to show potential students that advanced manufacturing is an exciting career opportunity with real growth potential here in Connecticut. In particular, we are seeking to make that case to women, who — despite significant gains in recent years — remain underrepresented in the industry, and veterans. Advanced manufacturing can also provide career opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. As such, we are proud to partner with the Connecticut NAACP on the Million Jobs Campaign to help those reentering our communities find jobs. In 2020, what positions will CSCU manufacturing-trained graduates be qualified to fill? Our advanced-manufacturing graduates are trained in high-demand fields such as welding, mechatronics, lean manufacturing, machining, precision sheet metal fabrication, electro-mechanical and everything in between. In some cases, students can enroll in a pipeline program to get training in these disciplines in as little as five to 10 weeks to fill a job at one of the state's manufacturers, or they can enroll in a 10-month certificate or two-year associate degree program. How can manufacturers and educational institutions best promote careers in manufacturing to students? In all honesty, the best way for potential students to get excited about a career in manufacturing is to visit one of our advanced manufacturing technology centers and see for themselves the state- of-the-art facilities and interact with the passionate and dedicated instructors. It is a high-tech, exciting field that has evolved dramatically in recent years, and the job-placement rate is more than 90 percent for graduates of our advanced-manufacturing programs. A visit to our campuses shows just how cool a manufacturing career can be. In order to ensure Connecticut is training enough people to fill open manufacturing positions, what three things must be accomplished in 2020? Gov. Ned Lamont's workforce council is an important step in the right direction, and I am excited to be a part of that historic effort. For the colleges, we must continue and expand our relationships with the state's employers, work to bring more students into our advanced-manufacturing programs, and continue efforts to attract more women into advanced- manufacturing careers. Eric Brown Mark Ojakian