In the latest episode of The Manufacturing Report podcast, Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, showcases the ambitious initiative by tech company Orbic to bring electronics manufacturing back to the United States. Project Patriot, a $250 million investment, aims to create over 1,000 new manufacturing jobs across four solar-powered facilities in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York.
The podcast features interviews with key players in the project, including Danny Adamopoulos, Orbic’s Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Operations; Edward Werheim, the Town Supervisor of Smithtown; Eric Bowman, Project and Repair Supervisor at Orbic; and Davishi Nerula, Director of Operations and Innovation at Orbic.
Adamopoulos discusses the company’s product lineup and plans for US manufacturing, highlighting the desire for Made in America products, control over the supply chain, quality, and security as the main reasons for reshoring. He also emphasizes the potential for creating a local ecosystem of suppliers and downstream manufacturers, as well as partnering with local community colleges to bring in new skill sets and education.
We’re also investing in the people as well in our workforce, making sure that our employees and our students have the training and the vocational skills they need. Since I believe that was the reason why we were outsourcing it to the countries since they have all these strong systems set up, and I think that’s a good opportunity to bring in here. It gives us more control on the supply chain, on the security of the products, and the quality as well.
Werheim, the Town Supervisor of Smithtown, underscores the importance of the Hopag Industrial Park and its economic output, as well as the collaboration with Orbic to bring manufacturing back to the US. He discusses plans for expediting permits and processes to support the project, the potential for high-tech positions and partnerships with local colleges, and the development of mixed-use housing to accommodate young professionals working in the park.
Bowman, Project and Repair Supervisor at Orbic, shares the significance of the expansion for Orbic and the US electronics manufacturing industry, as well as the company’s workforce development plans, which include reaching out to local communities and colleges. He highlights the advantages of a US-based electronic supply chain, such as easier communication and collaboration, and offers advice for people interested in the industry, emphasizing the importance of online resources, community colleges, and hands-on experience.
“First advantage off the top of my head is having access to not only the local economy, the local people. This skill set, the workforce that exists here, being able to work with that is really big. But the other thing too is instead of having to extend overseas communications with other companies and our vendors and our suppliers, bringing that here makes it on a localized time frame a lot easier.”
Nerula, Director of Operations and Innovation at Orbic, discusses the opportunities for bringing electronics manufacturing back to the US, investing in workforce training and vocational skills, and the benefits of local manufacturing, such as control over the supply chain, security, and quality. She also highlights the company’s partnership with Fuji Corporate America and local community colleges, the diverse career opportunities in electronics manufacturing, and plans to expand the training program to other colleges in New York and nationwide.
Project Patriot serves as an example of how public-private partnerships, workforce development, and a commitment to domestic manufacturing can help rebuild America’s electronic supply chain. As Orbic leads the charge in reshoring electronics manufacturing jobs, it sets the stage for a more resilient and innovative future for the industry.
To learn more about Orbic and their groundbreaking initiative, visit www.orbic.us. Stay tuned for more insights and stories from the frontlines of American manufacturing on The Manufacturing Report podcast.
