Advanced manufacturing and engineering services use innovative technology, high-precision equipment, and engineering methods to improve products or processes. In the Berkshires, key growing segments range from production engineering systems to advanced materials, defense armaments, and medical and life sciences. Other legacy segments within the cluster include paper and plastics. As a cluster of companies, advanced manufacturing and engineering services develop products or provide services to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), or they manufacture their own product line for the business or consumer market.

There are approximately 6,500 Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Services jobs in the Berkshires, and the average wage/salary for Berkshire County jobs in this field is approximately $72,477. This cluster contributes $917,000,000 to The Berkshires’ gross regional product annually, the most of any of the priority clusters. Additionally, this cluster has a job multiplier of 4.8, meaning that for every job created in advanced manufacturing and engineering services, 3.8 are created in other industries.