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The Lean Post / Articles / The State of US Manufacturing and Its Role in Innovation: a Conversation with Ben Armstrong and Jim Morgan

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Product & Process Development

The State of US Manufacturing and Its Role in Innovation: a Conversation with Ben Armstrong and Jim Morgan

By Ben Armstrong, James Morgan, PhD and Matthew Savas

April 11, 2024

Ben Armstrong and Jim Morgan explore America’s industrial past, assess its present, and discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

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Be among the first to get the latest insights from LEI’s Lean Product and Process Development (LPPD) thought leaders and practitioners. This podcast was delivered to subscribers of The Design Brief, LEI’s newsletter devoted to improving organizations’ innovation capability. It is the second of four in a series on process development entitled “Making Things Well.” Read the first in the series here.

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In this episode of the WLEI podcast, we speak with Ben Armstrong, Executive Director of MIT’s Industrial Performance Center, and Jim Morgan, Senior Advisor at the Lean Enterprise Institute. They share perspectives from Ben’s extensive research on the history and future of US manufacturing and Jim’s first-hand knowledge of developing new products and production processes. 

In our discussion, we explore:

  • The rise and decline of America’s manufacturing expertise and how the decoupling of design and production has impacted innovation.
  • Challenges currently facing small and medium manufacturers, and what investments they should consider.
  • The role of industrial policy and government support in spurring new growth in US manufacturing.
  • Emerging technologies like AI and how they could transform manufacturing operations going forward.
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Written by:

Ben Armstrong|
James Morgan, PhD
|
Matthew Savas

About Matthew Savas

Matt serves as content director at the Lean Enterprise Institute responsible for the institute’s content strategy in all mediums. He previously served as Director of the Lean Global Network, where he supported the network’s 30+ institutes and partners to spread lean thinking around the globe.  Matt has a BA in East…

Read more about Matthew Savas

About James Morgan, PhD

Jim is a senior advisor at Lean Enterprise Institute and a board member at Adrian Steel. He has a unique blend of industry leadership experience and rigorous scholarship, which he draws upon to improve organizational performance at a select group of companies.  Jim’s most recent industry experience was as Chief…

Read more about James Morgan, PhD

About Ben Armstrong

Ben Armstrong is the Executive Director and a Research Scientist at MIT’s Industrial Performance Center, where he co-leads the Work of the Future initiative. His research and teaching examine how workers, firms, and regions adapt to technological change. His current projects include a working group on generative AI and its impact on jobs, as well as a book on American manufacturing competitiveness. His research has been published or featured in academic and popular outlets including the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Sloan Management Review, Times Higher Education, Boston Review, Daedalus, and Economic Development Quarterly.

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