About

Why the Center Exists?

The Center to Advance Manufacturing serves as a crucial conduit between industry, higher education, and economic development. By bringing partners together, we help manufacturers navigate challenges such as workforce development, student engagement, training opportunities, applied problem-solving, and industry connections.

We work through our signatory educational partners: Bowling Green State University (BGSU), Owens Community College (OCC), and the University of Findlay (UF). Together, these institutions bring unparalleled access to training resources, applied research capabilities, and learning environments that align directly with industry needs – strengthening pathways for talent development.

To ensure Northwest Ohio continues its leadership in manufacturing and innovation, employers need intentional support in building talent pipelines and adopting new technologies. In response, BGSU, OCC, and UF partnered to establish the Center to Advance Manufacturing, supported by the Ohio Legislature, the Ohio Department of Development, and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. This collaboration provides a foundation that will benefit manufacturers for years to come.

The Center serves as a networked interface between the business community and our educational partners – gathering information on workforce, technology, and operational needs, and coordinating relevant training, applied learning, and research solutions across the institutions.

By strengthening alignment between employers and higher education, the Center enhances talent
development, supports upskilling opportunities for adult learners, and connects companies with resources
that drive innovation and growth across Northwest Ohio’s advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors.

Educating, training, researching, analyzing, and innovating – the Center to Advance Manufacturing is here to support industry and meet the region’s evolving needs.

Ready to work with the Center?

WHY NORTHWEST OHIO?

Northwest Ohio brings together unparalleled access to North America’s population, manufacturing base, world class academics, skilled workforce and connected infrastructure including Interstates 75, 80 and 90, Sea Port Access and the CSX North American Intermodal Hub. These attributes and assets support one of the broadest clusters of manufacturing in the world. Northwest Ohio has more than double the United States average of associates employed in manufacturing. As you can see in the graphic, the percentage of people per county that work in manufacturing can run from 15% all the way to almost 40%. That means our communities understand the importance of manufacturing and what it means to the livelihood of our friends and families.

Northwest Ohio is also home to more robots and automation per capita than anywhere in the United States. This manufacturing base requires an ongoing pipeline of skilled employees and the Center to Advance Manufacturing is here to help keep that pipeline filled. Manufacturing is experiencing generational changes with new policies including the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS Act, and the USMCA. In addition, supply chains are still realigning as a result of the lessons learned during COVID. Reshoring to North America is a reality!

Finally, changes within the automotive industry related to electrification, autonomous driving and safety technology, and other global pressures are all resulting in Original Equipment Manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers reviewing workforce needs and capital investments. Northwest Ohio has led innovation in the automotive sector for the past century. The Center is supporting the auto industry as it continuously improves while retaining and expanding the existing base of manufacturers.

GOVERNING BOARD

RODNEY ROGERS

President

DIONE D. SOMERVILLE

President

KATHY FELL

President

ADVISORY BOARD

The Center has established an Advisory Board comprised of local manufacturing representatives to help guide our work. As a major resource for the manufacturing community of Northwest Ohio, we continually check the pulse of the industry and adapt to its changing needs.