There are over 5,000 small, medium and large manufacturers in greater Philadelphia, one-third of all manufacturers in Pennsylvania. They design and produce everything from chocolate to rocket launchers to medical devices to state-of-the-art helicopters, powered by high-precision machining, electronics and electrical-equipment-contract manufacturing.
On Friday, October 3, the
Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC) is hosting the
Greater Philadelphia Manufacturing Summit to demonstrate the vigor of this essential sector.
According to DVIRC, "manufacturing is a healthy and diverse economic powerhouse that supports over 150,000 jobs, and contributes millions to the regional economy."
"DVIRC’s entire focus in on helping manufacturers to grow profitably as they are a critical component of our regional economy in terms of jobs, technology and innovation," adds DVIRC president Barry Miller. "The goal of the summit is to share manufacturing best practices, particularly around workforce but inclusive of advanced manufacturing practices as well."
Miller expects about 250 manufacturers and those who support the manufacturing sector to attend, especially economic development professionals and representatives of the region's workforce investment boards.
The program will feature keynote speaker Adam Steltzner, lead landing engineer of
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Project; his topic: "Breakthrough Innovation: Making the Impossible, Possible." Other programming will focus on strategies for growth, strategies for continuous improvement, innovation in workforce development and energy.
The all-day summit will be held at
Simeone Automotive Museum (6825-31 Norwitch Drive) in Philadelphia.
Source: Barry Miller, DVIRC
Writer: Elise Vider