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During a University of Illinois Extension webinar, Illinois
Manufacturing Excellence Center President David Boulay said
Illinois should be a leader in all phases of manufacturing.
“Illinois is just a manufacturing powerhouse regardless of what
measure you want to look at,” Boulay said. “We’re pretty much a
top 5 state whether it’s output, whether it’s jobs or the number
of establishments.”
According to the Illinois Manufacturing Association, 14% of the
state’s economy is made up of manufacturing jobs, totaling
60,000 across the state.
Boulay said this is a unique time in history for the
manufacturing sector.
“It is a manufacturing supercycle,” Boulay said. “I’m going to
go with that word, because I think we are in an 8 to 10 year
window with this powerhouse of Illinois manufacturing just like
everywhere in the United States resetting itself in due fashion
and due form and in their great opportunity.”
Boulay said it is unlikely we will see the supply chain issues
that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think what came out of the pandemic was not as much of ‘just
in time’, rather let’s see how much inventory we can put on the
shelf,” Boulay said.
Boulay said supporting and strengthening manufacturing through
legislation like the CHIPS Act, which provides a 25% tax credit
to semiconductor producers to work in the U.S. instead of China,
is one step in the right direction to assure national security.
Boulay took part in a statewide tour this summer of Illinois
manufacturers.
Mark Denzler, president of the Illinois Manufacturers
Association, said the “Makers on the Move” tour is a chance to
showcase the manufacturing industry and the broad spectrum of
opportunities for high schoolers, adults and college graduates.
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