Rep. Mercuri holds manufacturing, workforce development hearing

Pennsylvania Rep. Rob Mercuri (R-Allegheny) said for the state to remain competitive in manufacturing, it must prepare for the manufacturing and workforce of tomorrow.

In a hearing hosted by the House Republican Policy Committee, legislators listened to two panels – one focused on the economic impact of current manufacturers and what they need to grow and expand, the other on workforce development of the future.

“The time to start innovating for the future of manufacturing in Pennsylvania is now,” Mercuri said. “To remain competitive throughout the country and around the globe requires us to adapt to the rapid advancements in our tech and manufacturing sectors.”

Bryan Iams, vice president and chief communications and government affairs officer with PPG, said advanced manufacturing will create jobs and revenue for local governments.

“By promoting advanced manufacturing, we can make the products that will boost our economy, protect our country, and make life easier for consumers right here in Pennsylvania while providing quality jobs in the workforce and a significant tax base for state and local government,” he said.

Matt Blackburn, senior manager of government relations at Aurora AI, said programs like those at his company, launched in connection with Pittsburgh Technical College to create an associate degree in Science, Robotics, and Autonomous Engineering Technology, would help train Pennsylvania for future workforce needs.

“Programs like ours are helping to shape what manufacturing looks like in the future. They are programs that connect the digital work of computer science with the physical work of hardware and mechanical design,” Blackburn said. “The connection of these two disciplines — often seen as separate and disconnected — is accelerating the new manufacturing revolution that is happening here in Pittsburgh and across the country.”

Mercuri said the multi-pronged approach was necessary to keep the state competitive when attracting new businesses.

“The introduction of these new programs geared toward the incoming college students who are eager to catch this wave of technological development is a great step forward,” Mercuri said. “I’m thrilled that the western side of Pennsylvania is trailblazing in the effort to change the way we approach job training and manufacturing as a whole.”