AMT Applauds Presidential Appointment

AMT—The Association For Manufacturing Technology says it is optimistic that President Obama’s creation of a new post overseeing manufacturing policy is a step in the right direction toward establishing a national manufacturing strategy. Ron Bloom was named Special Assistant to the President for Manufacturing Policy within the White House’s National Economic Council. As the administration’s “auto czar” since 2009, Mr. Bloom oversaw the restructuring of the auto industry.

The organization has been advocating such an appointment for nearly two years as part of its Manufacturing Mandate, which calls for a consistent, cohesive approach to managing the government’s manufacturing initiatives.

“I’m hopeful that this is recognition from the administration that job creation and competitiveness depend on a national agenda that emphasizes the importance of manufacturing,” says Douglas K. Woods, AMT president. “We see Ron Bloom’s appointment as a step toward reconciling the dozens of conflicting policies related to manufacturing, and we look forward to better collaboration and coordination among agencies on more meaningful manufacturing initiatives.”