In advance of MFG Day on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, a panel of manufacturing publication editors and a representative of The Manufacturing Institute discussed how the industry is doing in its attempt to win over a new generation of young people. Attracting skilled and unskilled workers to factories remains difficult, despite a growing number of people saying technical fields provide young people with a great alternative to college.

Discussing these issues were:

• Jen White, director of student engagement at The Manufacturing Institute, who spoke about the history of MFG Day and what businesses are doing this year
• Traci Purdum, editor-in-chief of Chemical Processing, who discussed on ongoing series of stories her staff is writing about preparing the workforce for the future in the process industries
• Andrea Corona, senior editor at Pharma Manufacturing, who discussed how high-tech producers are facing challenges
• Geert De Lombaerde, editor-at-large for IndustryWeek parent company Endeavor Business Media, who discussed the Perceptions of the Trades research study that shows parents and young people more interested in skilled trades, but not as much in manufacturing skilled trades
• Rehana Begg, editor-in-chief of Machine Design, who discussed how equipment producers are rethinking controls and machine interfaces to make their easier to use and more familiar to younger workers (touchscreens replacing dials, for example)
• Moderator Robert Schoenberger, editor-in-chief of IndustryWeek

In this podcast, you’ll hear gain key insights from Newcastle Systems’ CEO John O’Kelly on why warehouses struggle to retain workers, and some of the secrets to attracting and retaining workers. And no, it’s not all about the money.

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Key Insights into Retaining Warehouse Workers Companies must create a culture where employees feel valued. Written by John O'Kelly Read by Adrienne Selko Read the article

Between presidential election politics, declining orders in manufacturing and rate cuts, the economy has been unpredictable and difficult for most manufacturers in 2024. But, smaller companies have unique challenges and opportunities. Our panel of seasoned manufacturing CEOs from smaller companies discussed the importance of tracking the economy, difficulties they've had in hiring critical people (especially maintenance professionals) and the weirdness of the current market with some industries posting massive gains and others struggling to make ends meet.

Our panelists for this Sept. 19 live discussion were:

• Laura Putre, senior editor at IndustryWeek
• Jack Schron, CEO of Jergens Inc.
• Blair Haas, CEO of Bud Industries

Manufacturers have been collecting and analyzing data for decades – using that data to inform design work and draft simulation programs, and to analyze performances and direct resources. And all this experience has many manufacturers asking what precisely is the role for artificial intelligence?

Pico MES CEO Ryan Kuhlenbeck and MORryde Process Improvement Engineer Greg Whitt joined Smart Industry's Scott Achelpohl for a discussion on how small and midsize factories can transition from manual to digital manufacturing, starting right down on the factory floor.

Vikki Young is the global research and development group leader for Sherwin-Williams high performance floor coatings. Vikki received her bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota before working at Tennant Company for more than 20 years. Vikki recently spoke with Thomas Wilk, editor in chief of Plant Services, to answer a really interesting question: what goes into reliable flooring in EV battery production facilities, and how are these floors maintained to ensure asset reliability and worker safety?

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Laura Davis, editor-in-chief of New Equipment Digest dives deep into the world of robotics, exploring six inventions that are reshaping industries and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. From a baseball-playing drone developed by MIT to a flame-throwing robot dog, and from a beach-cleaning quadruped to a record-breaking Rubik's Cube solver, she covers an exciting array of robotic advancements.

Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a manufacturing professional, or simply curious about the future of robotics, this episode offers fascinating insights into the latest research and development in the field. Listen as Laura unpacks these innovations and discusses their potential impact on manufacturing and beyond.

In this “Talking EHS” podcast, Katie McLaughlin, manager-HSE RAVS with ISN, shares her insights on the implications of OSHA’s new worker-walkaround rule, as well as the impact the new rule will have on safety managers.