Skip to main content

INDUSTRIES

Advanced Manufacturing

High Tech and Innovative Companies, Business Parks, and Supply Chain – in the Heart of Chicago, Milwaukee & Rockford Business Triangle

Regional Collaboration & Partnerships for Growth

McHenry County is part of a regional effort to secure one of 12 nationwide “Manufacturing Community” designations awarded by the U.S. Commerce Department through the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) —an initiative intended to support job creation and accelerate growth in the manufacturing sector. Through IMCP, 11 federal agencies and programs with over $1.3 billion in federal economic development assistance will coordinate efforts to support the strategies developed by each of the 12 designated communities.

Advanced Manufacturing in McHenry County

Advanced Manufacturing in McHenry County

Advanced manufacturing is the process of using innovative technologies and methods to improve competitiveness in manufacturing sectors.

The primary goal of advanced manufacturing is to catalyze output by increasing flexibility, adaptivity, added value and quality, while at the same time decreasing underutilized capital, material content, inventory, unit quantities, and the time it takes to get the end product to market.

Traditionally, manufacturing has been based on the use of specific factory production lines with a serious lack of flexibility. On the contrary, Advanced manufacturing consists of very versatile methods pf production that fully utilize capital, and are more effective, responsive and efficient.  There are instances where some traditional production methods are still suitable, like long-term production runs. advanced manufacturing has the ability to accommodate a litany of production requirements and mass customization commonly encountered by today’s industry, without requiring excess capital investment.

Advanced manufacturing effects every aspect of a given value chain, from its beginning as a mere idea to its end-of-life considerations, relying on information communication technology (ICT) to integrate both manufacturing and business activities into a seamlessly efficient operation.

There are three main groupings of the technologies that are involved in advanced manufacturing:

  1. efficient production
  2. intelligent production
  3. effective organization.

Efficient production

Involves:

  • design
  • simulation
  • physical and computer modeling
  • advanced production technologies
  • control techniques

Instead of sequential engineering, the emphasis here is on being simultaneous.

Relevant production technologies include:

  • rapid prototyping
  • near net shape manufacture
  • precision casting, machining and joining techniques

 

Intelligent production

Involves:

  • The use of ICT in manufacturing and related logistics systems.
  • In addition to production-orientated intelligent machines, cells and production lines, Intelligent Production involves implementing systems to extend the life and optimize the use of production facilities by employing efficient monitoring, maintenance and repair strategies.

 

Effective organization

Involves:

  • efficient co-ordination of manufacturing resources
  • efficient exploitation of manufacturing resources

This includes both physical resources and knowledge.

  • Relevant topics include:
  • virtual tendering and enterprises
  • shared facilities and resources
  • novel organizations
  • incubation units
  • knowledge management and trading, and
  • electronic commerce.

The emphasis in this area is on using technology to enhance the participation and capabilities of organizations.

Top Companies in McHenry County

“The EDC has taken a leadership role in transportation, education and workforce development issues as well. They help businesses receive loans and grants to expand and locate in McHenry County. Any success the EDC has is also a success for ComEd. If anyone has any questions regarding economic development, they are welcome to call me.”
Don Westfall, External Affairs Manager, ComEd

10,154+ Businesses

Employing over 122,505 People

65 Trains Daily

Carrying 39,600 Commuters Each Way

Top 5 Ranking

of Healthiest Counties in Illinois

Manufacturing Trades & Industry Career Expo