§17115a Development of National Smart Manufacturing Plan

Summary

The Secretary of Energy, working with the National Academies, must create a national plan for smart manufacturing to help U.S. factories become more productive and use less energy. The plan must be finished no later than 3 years after December 27, 2020. It must say what federal actions would speed up development and use of smart manufacturing, reduce energy use and environmental harm, and make U.S. manufacturing more competitive. The plan must cover things like reviewing past Department work; setting voluntary connection rules and performance standards; using smart manufacturing to cut energy use and emissions across supply chains; improving cybersecurity; putting research into practice; using existing high-performance computing; and considering effects on current and future jobs. Until the plan is finished, the Secretary must report to Congress every year on progress. Not later than 2 years after finishing the plan, and at least every 2 years after that, the Secretary must update the plan to reflect new information and technology. Smart manufacturing means using advanced digital and automated tools—like simulation, computer-controlled machines, sensors, modeling, artificial intelligence, analytics, and networks—to run and monitor production, manage and cut energy use and costs, design energy-efficient products, link products and supply chains, and optimize building and factory energy performance.