The small private company located in New Hampshire, Warwick Mills, has survived the global competition in the textile industry by maintaining and developing innovative specialized fabrics that are used in gloves for industrial workers or body armor for the military. The company just joined the Defense Department in a $320 million project to bring the American textile industry into the new age. What sets them apart is technology. The plan involves putting tiny semiconductors and sensors into fabrics that can see, hear, and communicate. This development has the potential to change the game. The project represents a new frontier for The Internet of Things-putting sensors and computing in all kinds of objects to measure and monitor. The success of this new program, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, will be measured by creation of jobs as well as technology. The project holds the hope of reversing the decline of textile jobs in America. It holds the goals to create 50,000 jobs in ten years across all kinds of industries.
NY Times, 4/1/16, Steve Lohr
This is a really interesting article and a very interesting way to try and take an industry that seemed to be dying and use the knowledge they have and couple it with new and innovative ideas. This seems like a great way not only to pull ahead in a new technology, but also a great way to continue to create more jobs, diversify the IT industry, and to continue to stimulate and advance the economy through continued technological advancements. This is a great example of continually increasing the steady state as we learned in class through technology.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a really interesting article. I had never heard of such technology before. It is an incredible idea to combine an industry that used to be the powerhouse of America (textiles) with an industry that is now booming (technology). I wonder how far this technology will go and what its uses could be in other industries. It will be interesting to see if the creation of jobs for this industry will be for white collar or blue collar workers.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that this was a very interesting idea, and really is something new and innovative. With that being said, it seems like we continually pour large amounts of money into our military, and even if this does create/maintain jobs it still doesn't take away from the fact that I think this money could be used more effectively elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteAny idea that is geared towards creating more jobs is always welcomed, however I agree with Chris, I think that money could be used in other places such as education which would greatly help the economy move in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. It will be good to bring textile jobs back to the U.S. to create even more jobs than what has been created recently. The U.S. government is capable of creating many jobs in the country just by purchasing from domestic businesses.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to see that American companies can still compete with international firms that have labor costs lest than half of ours. I feel like high tech industries like was mentioned in article is something that America can continue to compete with internationally just because we are one of the few countries with the technological know how and resources required for these industries.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really interesting read. I think it's crazy that a small company located in New Hampshire found this success. Hopefully this method will expand beyond gloves and military armor. It is good to the see the government assist and help create jobs.
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