Manufacturing Institute

The Manufacturing Institute is the 501(c) 3 affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).  As a non-partisan organization, the Manufacturing Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers. We focus on developing human capital strategies through education reform and workforce development, conducting applied research to provide critical information to public policy makers on challenges and opportunities for today's industry, and advancing the innovation capacity of manufacturers.

Education A highly educated and skilled technical workforce is the single most critical element of innovation success, and a decisive factor in U.S. manufacturing global competitiveness.  The Institute’s National Center for the American Workforce designs and deploys leading-edge solutions to ensure manufacturers have continued access to talented individuals with the right skills to be successful in the workplace.  Our programs and resources provide a “one stop shop” for finding, recruiting, educating, employing, and advancing the manufacturing workforce.

Research Applied research is the foundation of effective policies, programs and solutions that produce real results. The Institute’s Center for Manufacturing Research and Innovation is committed to providing that foundation to the U.S. manufacturing sector. We generate the latest facts and data-based analyses around the opportunities and challenges for U.S. manufacturing, including the facts about the economy, the manufacturing image, structural costs associated with market competitiveness, solutions for innovation and market development, and innovative thinking on HR best-practices, education reform, and workforce development.

Innovation  Innovation is recognized as the most critical component for U.S. manufacturers to succeed in the global economy.  It leads companies to develop new products, product features, and services that drive economic growth and provides the United States with a competitive advantage over countries focusing on low-labor-cost manufacturing.    The Institute’s Center for Manufacturing Research and Innovation supports the efforts of U.S. manufacturers and regional economies to innovate by providing resources for R&D, market development, energy efficiency solutions, modeling and simulation, value chains, entrepreneurship, and talent.