Most readers are aware that AMT’s mission is to represent and promote U.S.-based manufacturing technology (MT) and its members. We strive to be an active partner with our members and assist in their quest to be global leaders in innovating, producing, and implementing advanced manufacturing technology solutions.
As such, it is imperative that AMT stays on top of its primary goals, two of which are leadership and globalization. The former addresses our ability to pioneer, guide, and influence the future of manufacturing technology, while the latter deals with advancing our members’ worldwide competitiveness.
Like the United States, most major, industrialized countries with a manufacturing base have an association representing their MT producers. AMT maintains relationships with more than 20 international counterparts. Since most of these organizations have long names, the international MT scene quickly becomes an acronym-filled world: JMTBA, KOMMA, CMTBA, CECIMO, SWISSMEM, UCIMU, and so on and so forth. Should you ever want to take a stroll down the international boulevard of manufacturing technology, just visit the second level mezzanine of the North Building at IMTS 2020, where almost all the foreign associations will be represented with their own booths.
While the well-known Group of Seven (G7) determines international intergovernmental economic coordination, the global manufacturing technology sphere looks for leadership from an “MTG10,” comprised of the top 10 MT-producing countries. In addition to the United States, this includes China, Germany, Japan, Italy, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, India, and Spain. It is no coincidence that all but two of these countries also represent the top 10 consumers of manufacturing technology (pop quiz: which two?).
AMT staff corresponds and meets with the associations of these MTG10 countries on a regular basis, often at one of the large international exhibitions (IMTS, EMO, CIMT, CCMT, JIMTOF, IMTEX, etc.). These meetings often take on the air of an informal side meeting during a U.N. session. Like the United Nations’ central mission, “the maintenance of international peace and security,” our objective is “the maintenance of a healthy future for manufacturing technology.” And, much like the U.N., the MT world accomplishes this by working together for the greater good while still naturally keeping in mind the best interests of each association’s sovereign objectives.
These meetings with our foreign counterparts allow everyone to look behind or beyond the politics and headlines and ask what the important ideas and developments in the industry are, and how can we cooperate to sustain strong global growth. They are refreshing and often enlightening.
The global collaboration and partnerships with these associations adds value to AMT members on several levels. Trade data is exchanged, allowing AMT to better assess foreign opportunities. Global standards, particularly with regard to MTConnect, are discussed, paving the way for global adoption and a competitive advantage for AMT members already utilizing it. Trends in the major manufacturing sectors are discussed, allowing us to better counsel our members. These associations are a go-to source for our distributor members seeking new foreign products to represent, and helpful to us when qualifying potential distributors in their country for our members.
AMT operates tech centers in China, India, Mexico, and Brazil, and an office in Poland. Our foreign staff maintain very close relationships with the staff of the corresponding foreign association. Helping our members increase their sales footprint internationally is part of our global leadership initiative. America’s manufacturing technology cannot continue to thrive unless we reach beyond our borders and sell products and services to the major markets outside the United States. We proudly play our part to make that happen for our members.
The answer to the pop quiz: Switzerland and Italy are top 10 MT-producing countries but are not top 10 consumers of MT.
