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Automa disparity
Rick Lazio and Myron Moser on closing America’ s small-manufacturer automation gap
America cannot lead the next era of artificial intelligence, defense production, and advanced manufacturing from a factory floor that is not modernizing fast enough. China installed roughly ten times as many industrial robots as the United States in 2024, and the consequences extend beyond productivity. The robotics race will shape America’ s economic competitiveness and national security, influencing how critical equipment is built and how quickly factories can respond during a crisis.
The United States still has world-class manufacturers, but too many small and mid-sized shops lack the technology and support needed to meet rising demand. Without faster modernization, these companies risk losing contracts and jobs to overseas competitors with lower costs and greater capacity.
Accelerating adoption will require more than convincing manufacturers that automation matters. Many don’ t know where to start or how federal and state tax incentives can reduce modernization costs. The result is a widening divide between advances in robotics and the ability of smaller manufacturers to put them to work.
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