Progress Illinois - Foster Introduces Bill Aimed At Boosting Manufacturing Job Training

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Kids don't make stuff anymore, according to U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D, IL-11). That thought motivated him to sponsor legislation that would establish a charter of Fab Labs across the nation.

Fab Labs are open-to-the-public digital fabrication laboratories where products can be invented, designed and manufactured by adults and children alike. First instituted in 2008 by the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), there are approximately 160 Fab Labs nationwide with 150 more in development.

"A city grows when its manufacturing base grows," said Foster at a roundtable discussion on the legislation today. "As a country, you can only consume what you create."

Foster was joined at Waubonsee Community College in Aurora by representatives from the college; Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner; Christine Sobek, president of Waubonsee Community College; and Steve Kase, chairman of the Tooling and Manufacturing Association and CEO of ASK, a supplier for automotive, power and military tools.

"This is a back-door way to get kids to learn coordinate geometry, and ultimately learn to program machine tools," said Foster.

The Fab Lab Network Act of 2013 would charge a nonprofit with establishing a nationwide network of Fab Labs. According to Foster, the bill would institute a federal charter for Fab Labs, providing organizational structure and opening up opportunity for a potential donor. The legislation is not attempting to fund Fab Labs across the country, rather it would depend on investment from the private sector.

He said manufacturing companies in his district have a hard time filling computer-controlled design machine jobs due to a lack of training.

Fab Labs, he said, could serve as an introduction to manufacturing equipment and hopefully spark an interest for children.

"Maybe they'll even enjoy their next math course," he said, to a reception of chuckles.

Machines often found in Fab Labs include computer-controlled lasercutters that can be used for press-fit assembly of 3D structures and 2D parts, numerically-controlled milling machines for furniture making, and programming tools for embeded processors.

"Students don't have the opportunity to do anything hands-on anymore," said Sobek, president of Waubonsee Community College. "The challenge is funding."

Sobek said Fab Labs may also be popular for adults and seniors who have experience in the manufacturing trade.

The first place Foster said he'd like to establish a Fab Lab in his district would be in Aurora, where it would be housed by Waubonsee Community College. He said by attaching Fab Labs to already existing infrastructures, such as a school or library, investors can avoid costs such as rent or the hiring of new security guards.

According to Foster, basic machinery would cost an investor $50,000 and materials would cost an additional $50,000. The price would cost anywhere around "a couple hundred thousand [dollars]."

"We've been trying to get back to that point where manufacturers really help the whole quality of life and the wealth cycle of the area, and this is an attraction," said Kase, chairman of the Tooling and Manufacturing Association. "This whole hands-on area of training is so huge."

Kase hesitated to say whether his company would invest in a Fab Lab, saying "anyone who does small prototype manufacturing will have an interest."

The Fab Lab Network Act of 2013 has received 15 cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Randy Hultgren (R, IL-14,), Tom Massie (R, KY-4) and Chris Van Hollen (D, MD-8).

Foster said, because the legislation does not call for funding of the nationwide network of Fab Labs, it has not seen any opposition yet; noting U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) has assured him if it passes in the House, he would help push it through in the Senate.

Referring to the local manufacturing skill deficit, Foster said kids need to learn to build things.

"The total number of people employed by manufacturers in the U.S. has declined very rapidly," he said, adding that at the turn of the century America lost approximately one-third of all manufacturing jobs.

"Manufacturing is leading the way out of our economic downturn, which is something I feel great about, but we still haven't recovered all of those jobs," he said. "Everything starts at a city's manufacturing base."

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