The history of manufacturing in the United States covers more than a century and contains more ups and downs than the most thrilling roller coaster in any theme park. For many years, particularly those decades after the end of World War II, the U.S. led the world in manufacturing output and innovation.

Beginning in the 1980s, however, historians note a steady decline in American manufacturing as the U.S. moved toward a service-based economy and other countries around the world began to offer cheaper production options. The last few years since the COVID-19 pandemic have seen a resurgence of manufacturing in the U.S.

Will it continue? Experts believe that it can indeed continue, and one of the areas that could spur the most new jobs might surprise some: biotech. In a recent IndustryWeek article, author Douglas Friedman sets forth his belief that “we have a unique opportunity to leverage exciting advancements in biotech to bring back and diversify wide swaths of manufacturing production.”

Friedman explains that “[b]ioindustrial manufacturing uses biological systems—including microbes such as bacteria, yeast, and algae—to produce new materials or sustainable alternatives that are incorporated into products we use every day, like bio-based cement, plant-based nylon, and lab-grown cocoa.”

According to Friedman, by continuing “the development of innovative biotechnologies that improve our health, food and environment…the U.S. can become the world leader in bioindustrial manufacturing, creating millions of jobs in the process.”

In fact, the U.S. is already seeing benefits from bioindustrial manufacturing. Friedman points out that bioindustrial manufacturing already accounts “for roughly $440 billion added to our bioeconomy as of 2019 and 1.65 million jobs created by the bioproduct industry as of 2017.” As this sector grows, Friedman estimates that “[e]ach additional 1% of the market share brought to the U.S. through bioindustrial manufacturing would add $60 billion to the U.S. economy.”

While biotech holds great potential for expanding U.S. manufacturing, hurdles remain, including a significant one facing all manufacturers: finding skills workers to fill open positions. Workers in bioindustrial manufacturing facilities will need hands-on skills working with advanced automation technologies, as well as process control and instrumentation equipment.

Fortunately, employers don’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to effective process control and instrumentation training. Partnering with a training solutions provider with a proven track record can help any manufacturer or educational institution train workers with the hands-on skills they’ll need to hit the ground running in the workplace.

For example, DAC Worldwide offers a wide variety of training systems that teach basic to advanced process control and instrumentation skills. Its newest flagship process control and instrumentation trainer, the Smart Process Plant Training System (603-SP), is a fully-functional, industrial-quality fluid process system that provides hands-on training in the measurement and control of five of the most common process variables: level, pressure, temperature, flow, and pH.

The system groups these process control elements into one complete piping system, which allows it to teach multiple configurations of flow loops, controls, and communications. The system incorporates both new and legacy technologies so that users are prepared for anything they might encounter on the job.

The Smart Process Plant Training System features a wide variety of common, industrial-quality components and instruments to provide learners with a realistic training experience that will build skills that translate easily to the workplace. The Smart Process Plant also includes multiple experiments, which simulate both continuous and batch process control loops that are widely used in many process industries. These experiments include:

• Basic and Advanced Bioreactor Applications
• Clean-In-Place (CIP) Skid Application
• Boiler Drum Level Application
• Wastewater Treatment Application

The Smart Process Plant Training System is only one of DAC Worldwide’s many process control and instrumentation training systems. Visit DAC Worldwide online to learn more about its many other training systems!