- § 18811. Definitions
- § 18812. Leveraging existing agency programs to assist small and medium manufacturers
- § 18813. Leveraging smart manufacturing infrastructure at National Laboratories
- § 18814. State manufacturing leadership
- § 18815. Report
§ 18811. DefinitionsIn this part:
(1) Energy management system
(2) Industrial research and assessment centerThe term “industrial research and assessment center” means a center located at an institution of higher education, a trade school, a community college, or a union training program that—
(A) receives funding from the Department;
(B) provides an in-depth assessment of small- and medium-size manufacturer plant sites to evaluate the facilities, services, and manufacturing operations of the plant site; and
(C) identifies opportunities for potential savings for small- and medium-size manufacturer plant sites from energy efficiency improvements, waste minimization, pollution prevention, and productivity improvement.
(3) Information and communication technology
(4) Institution of higher education
(5) North American Industry Classification System
(6) Small and medium manufacturersThe term “small and medium manufacturers” means manufacturing firms—
(A) classified in the North American Industry Classification System as any of sectors 31 through 33;
(B) with gross annual sales of less than $100,000,000;
(C) with fewer than 500 employees at the plant site; and
(D) with annual energy bills totaling more than $100,000 and less than $3,500,000.
(7) Smart manufacturingThe term “smart manufacturing” means advanced technologies in information, automation, monitoring, computation, sensing, modeling, artificial intelligence, analytics, and networking that—
(A) digitally—
(i) simulate manufacturing production lines;
(ii) operate computer-controlled manufacturing equipment;
(iii) monitor and communicate production line status; and
(iv) manage and optimize energy productivity and cost throughout production;
(B) model, simulate, and optimize the energy efficiency of a factory building;
(C) monitor and optimize building energy performance;
(D) model, simulate, and optimize the design of energy efficient and sustainable products, including the use of digital prototyping and additive manufacturing to enhance product design;
(E) connect manufactured products in networks to monitor and optimize the performance of the networks, including automated network operations; and
(F) digitally connect the supply chain network.
(Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title V, § 40531, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1068.)
§ 18812. Leveraging existing agency programs to assist small and medium manufacturers
The Secretary shall expand the scope of technologies covered by the industrial research and assessment centers of the Department—
(1) to include smart manufacturing technologies and practices; and
(2) to equip the directors of the industrial research and assessment centers with the training and tools necessary to provide technical assistance in smart manufacturing technologies and practices, including energy management systems, to manufacturers.
(Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title V, § 40532, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1069.)
§ 18813. Leveraging smart manufacturing infrastructure at National Laboratories
(a) Study
(1) In general
(2) InclusionsIn identifying ways to increase access to National Laboratories under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A) focus on increasing access to the computing facilities of the National Laboratories; and
(B) ensure that—
(i) the information from the manufacturer is protected; and
(ii) the security of the National Laboratory facility is maintained.
(3) Report
(b) Actions for increased access
(Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title V, § 40533, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1069.)
§ 18814. State manufacturing leadership
(a) Financial assistance authorized
(b) Applications
(1) In general
(2) Criteria
The Secretary shall evaluate an application for financial assistance under this section on the basis of merit using criteria identified by the Secretary, including—
(A) technical merit, innovation, and impact;
(B) research approach, workplan, and deliverables;
(C) academic and private sector partners; and
(D) alternate sources of funding.
(c) Requirements
(1) Term
(2) Maximum amount
(3) Matching requirement
(d) Use of funds
A State may use financial assistance provided under this section—
(1) to facilitate access to high-performance computing resources for small and medium manufacturers; and
(2) to provide assistance to small and medium manufacturers to implement smart manufacturing technologies and practices.
(e) Evaluation
The Secretary shall conduct semiannual evaluations of each award of financial assistance under this section—
(1) to determine the impact and effectiveness of programs funded with the financial assistance; and
(2) to provide guidance to States on ways to better execute the program of the State.
(f) Authorization of appropriations
(Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title V, § 40534, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1070.)
§ 18815. Report
The Secretary annually shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report on the progress made in advancing smart manufacturing in the United States.
(Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title V, § 40535, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1071.)