Manufacturing: Made in America

According to the latest economic forecast from the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), manufacturing will grow faster than the overall U.S. economy with a projected production rate of 3.2 percent in 2014 and 4.0 percent in 2015. These kinds of projections are quickly becoming realities as companies like Walmart and 3D Systems work to rebuild manufacturing jobs in the U.S.

This week, both of these companies announced initiatives that will support a U.S. manufacturing resurgence. While 3D Systems is working to refine advanced designs of critical manufacturing tools, such as inspection products and processing software, Walmart has come out with a new mantra: “Made in the USA,” which highlights the company’s $50 billion dollar effort to sell more American-made goods over the next ten years.

So what does this mean for mining? Supplying these American companies with the resources they need to create the next smartphone or television is critical to meet growing demand. Although the U.S. remains one of the largest consumers of minerals, our outdated, redundant mining permitting process can delay projects up 10 years! It is critical that we support legislation that will reduce permitting delays while maintaining environmental safeguards to best support and boost this manufacturing resurgence.  

By streamlining the federal permitting process, new mining projects would be able to more efficiently come online, contribute to a domestic manufacturing resurgence and create desperately needed jobs in both industries – mining and manufacturing.