Manufacturing Matters in Iowa

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) has proudly joined Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) in Iowa’s Year of Manufacturing efforts in recognition of the importance of the advanced manufacturing industry to Iowa’s economy.

With 6,100 manufacturers employing 200,000 Iowans, manufacturing is incredibly important to the state. Manufacturing contributes $31 billion to Iowa’s economy, which places the state consistently within the top 10 nationally of percentage of GDP derived from manufacturing. To strengthen this integral industry, the goal of the Year of Manufacturing initiative is to increase Iowa’s manufacturing GDP from $31 billion to $32 billion by 2022. The primary areas of focus include improving global competitiveness, promoting innovation and R&D, and building a skilled workforce.

ABI is involved in each of the areas, including ramping up its existing peer-learning program through adding an Operational Excellence Roundtable. The newly formed Operational Excellence Roundtable programming is of value for those leading the operations disciplines within their companies. It enables manufacturers to share best practices, collaborate on challenges and develop deeper business relationships. ABI members interested in this very unique and important avenue to strengthen manufacturing operations within Iowa are encouraged to reach out to ABI or visit www.iowaabi.org.

Many ABI members are already aware of the Elevate Advanced Manufacturing initiative, a marketing effort to improve the perception of manufacturing and to promote manufacturing as a preferred career choice to Iowa students, parents, educators and guidance counselors. Visit www.elevateiowa.com for more information about the Elevate Advanced Manufacturing initiative.

Finally, manufacturers are also encouraged to visit the online tool kit for a myriad of additional resources available to manufacturers at www.iowamfg.com.

We at ABI appreciate all of these people and programs. Together, they help continue to advance advanced manufacturing in Iowa.