Issues in Materials Manufacturing
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Issues in Materials Manufacturing In late January, the Bush administration announced that it was proposing an Advanced Materials and Processing Program (AMPP) as a new FY93 initiative ".. .to improve the manufacture and performance of materials to enhance the nation's quality of life, security, industrial productivity, and economic growth." This proposal carried with it a budget request to Congress for an additional 10% funding for materials R&D. Barely one month later the President's science adviser, D. Allan Bromley, announced that a Manufacturing Initiative would undergo intense study and planning this fiscal year in preparation for proposed funding in FY94. The April MRS Bulletin, with its focus on materials manufacturing, gave readers timely technical insight into this aspect of materials science and engineering for several materials industries and manufacturing methodologies. As a further attempt to sharpen the awareness of scientists, engineers and managers, and to more clearly identify issues inhibiting the successful application of laboratory work, we asked representatives knowledgeable about manufacturing in several industries to present their views about theresearch-to-manufacturingprocess. The following comments are from Ed Bostick, who has spent a career in polymer manufacturing; from John Fan, who currently heads an advanced electronics materials fabrication company; and from Peter Johnson of the Metal I'owder Industries Federation. Most materials scientists are well aware that implementing their laboratory discoveries and developments in a manufacturing or fabrication setting is a slow, difficult process. We welcome additional comments from the materials community as the Materials Research Society examines both the issues associated with materials manufacturing and the Society's possible role in improving the situation. Gordon F.. Pike Manager, Materials and Process Sciences Operations Office Sandia National Laboratories Chair, MRS External Affairs Committee
It's About Time There seems to be a ground swell of soulsearching and self-examination by almost every social group in the United States about our productivity, especially about the manufacturing process which creates capital goods. It's about time. The science and technology community has an excellent record of creativity and innovation. Tens of thousands of patents exist. Our literature is active and full of new observations that have scientific merit. Then, what is the problem? I believe we have lost the ability to translate and implement this vast scientific wealth into manufactured goods for use by our world society. As a result, science and technology have fallen into disfavor with the national forces that control financial resources. This situa-
tion has led to a spiral of downsizing, importing offshore research and development, and loss of leadership. What should be done? Well, all scientific institutions in this country are part of a team even if they don't realize it. This includes academia, government, and industry. This team should
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