Biden Pushes Digital Investments to Strengthen Supply Chain

The White House has announced several new actions to bolster domestic supply chains, including ramping up the deployment of digital technologies for smart manufacturing. 

As part of the new strategy, the Department of Energy (DOE) will also sponsor a study to devise a national smart manufacturing plan, identifying key investments to support new digital and AI technologies. 

The investments will “enhance the productivity and security of the manufacturing systems that are critical for maintaining domestic supply chains,” according to the White House.

The Biden administration also announced the launch of the quadrennial supply chain review, set to be completed by Dece. 31, 2024. As part of the review, the administration said the council will update criteria on industries, sectors and products defined as critical to national and economic security. 

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is driving the manufacturing boom while preserving the communities and workforce that have powered our nation for generations,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “With these historic investments, DOE will bring new economic opportunities and ensure these communities continue their key role in strengthening America’s national and energy security.”

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The initiatives are just two of nearly 30 proposed actions to strengthen supply chains “critical to America’s economic and national security.”

Among these additional actions is a new Supply Chain Mapping Tool from the Department of Defense, designed to analyze supplier data for 110 weapon systems.

The Department of Commerce is also establishing a new Supply Chain Center, “integrating industry expertise and data analytics to develop innovative supply chain risk assessment tools, and…coordinating deep-dive analyses on select critical supply chains to drive targeted actions to increase resilience.”