What We’re Reading

At the Center of Excellence, we closely follow aerospace and manufacturing news to understand what’s happening in our sector from across the globe to across the street. Our reading encompasses data, opinions and insight into the present and future of manufacturing. Here are a few of our favorite recent articles:

Snohomish County-based battery maker awarded $100m federal grant. Group14 Technologies, based out of Woodinville with future facilities in Moses Lake, will receive dollars from the Department of Energy, part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to expand domestic battery manufacturing. They expect to hire 500 people in Moses Lake.

Aviation Commission Recommends Two Potential Paths. From the WSDOT Blog, the Aviation Commission recommends two potential paths to add passenger and air cargo capacity. It offers two options: 1) Build out at Paine Field and 2) construct a new two-runway airport in Pierce or Thurston county. 

Charts and notes from Sam Ro on October’s Institute for Supply Management Business Survey. Key quote: “The U.S. manufacturing sector continues to expand, but at the lowest rate since the coronavirus pandemic recovery began.”

Contrast this with October’s jobs report from USDOL. The Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics shares that the manufacturing sector has added 367,000 jobs in 2022, including 32,000 in October. The department cites growth in durable goods manufacturing, including transportation equipment, computer and electronic products and fabricated metal products. 

From the New York Times, Factory Jobs Are Booming Like It’s the 1970s. The Times doesn’t attribute this to re-shoring or China concerns but instead to expansions in pharmaceuticals and specialty food and drink.