News and Insights
Upskilling the Manufacturing Workforce for AI
August 31, 2026To bridge labor gaps, manufacturers must upskill their workforce to transition from task execution to AI supervision and operational governance. Manufacturers are under growing pressure to do more with a constrained workforce. In June 2026, there were 481,000 manufacturing jobs open nationwide, according to the
Welcome New Members of the MLC August 2026
August 20, 2026The Manufacturing Leadership Council welcomes its newest members. Ramsey Aljahmi COO EM Dynamics
Modernizing Maintenance for Sustainable Productivity
August 20, 2026The manufacturers closing the productivity gap are augmenting automation with maintenance operations that are data-driven, predictive and connected. A pump fails on a Friday night. A technician shows up, diagnoses the problem from memory, fixes it in two hours, and goes home. No record of what he found. Limited documentation of what he did. No…
Embracing the Industrial Intelligence Era of Manufacturing
August 7, 2026The next era of manufacturing will be won by companies who strategically plan, architect, and know how to derive value from their technologies.
Survey: In Manufacturing Data We Trust—Mostly
July 30, 2026The Manufacturing Leadership Council’s latest survey reveals steady progress toward data mastery, alongside persistent gaps in verification, integration and untapped potential “In God we trust, all others must bring data.” Most commonly attributed to statistician and business theorist William Edwards Deming, those nine words make for a popular post on LinkedIn and elsewhere online. Irony…
Rethink Opening Address: The Inevitability of Autonomous Operations
July 8, 2026Autonomous operations are becoming inevitable as AI, robotics and other advanced technologies converge in manufacturing. The article argues that human oversight, guardrails and governance must remain central.
Rheem, General Motors Named Top Winners in 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards Competition
June 25, 2026Rheem’s Alan Machuga was named 2026 Manufacturing Leader of the Year, while General Motors won Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year. Pure & Gentle earned Small/Medium Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year in the Manufacturing Leadership Awards.
Managing Data Complexity with Trusted Hybrid AI
June 9, 2026A hybrid approach combining generative and symbolic AI brings control and explainability when interpreting complex, real-world data.
MLC Plant Tour: An Up-Close Look at Kohler’s OT/IT Integration
June 5, 2026MLC members toured Kohler’s new 1-million-square-foot Arizona smart factory, learning how OT/IT integration, wireless networking and automation support bathtub production and warehouse operations.
Building An AI Governance Framework for the Factory Floor
May 21, 2026AI governance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Learn the five key pillars manufacturers need to confidently scale AI.
Dialogue: Building Rheem’s AI-Ready Future
May 18, 2026Joe Palomba shares how Rheem aligned leadership, process and data to build a connected AI-ready enterprise.
Managing Data Complexity with Trusted Hybrid AI
May 13, 2026A hybrid approach combining generative and symbolic AI brings control and explainability when interpreting complex, real-world data.
Engendering Technology Trust in Physical and Agentic AI
May 13, 2026Manufacturers adopting physical and agentic AI must build trust in reliability, security, and safety. Success depends on safe operating boundaries and preserving human accountability in AI-driven processes.
Orchestrating Material Handling with AI & Automation
May 1, 2026AI, automation, virtualization and secure IT/OT orchestration can turn material handling constraints into scalable competitive advantage. A unified digital foundation helps manufacturers reduce risk, unlock data and optimize operations across the enterprise.
Welcome New Members of the MLC May 2026
April 30, 2026Introducing the latest new members to the Manufacturing Leadership Council
MLC welcomes new members from McCain Foods, Bosch, Bloom Energy, General Mills, Abbvie, Workday, Smurfit Westrock, Pioneer Service and Standex. Learn more about the association’s newest member leaders.
Building an OT Organization in an IT World
April 24, 2026Manufacturers need intentional IT/OT structures to clarify ownership, automate workflows, and close capability gaps. A future-ready organization should fit company size, talent access, and evolving digital needs.
Engendering Technology Trust in Physical and Agentic AI
April 19, 2026Manufacturers adopting physical and agentic AI must build trust in reliability, security, and safety by using defined safety envelopes and preserving human accountability. As adoption grows, trust will separate leaders from laggards.
Manufacturing Leadership Council Announces Finalists for the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards
April 10, 2026Manufacturing Leadership Council named finalists for the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards and Partners in Collaborative Innovation, recognizing digital transformation leaders across the manufacturing sector.
Manufacturing Leadership Council Appoints Ron Castro as Chairman and Will Bonifant as Vice Chairman of Board of Governors
April 7, 2026Manufacturing Leadership Council names IBM’s Ron Castro chairman and Hormel Foods’ Will Bonifant vice chairman of its Board of Governors to guide manufacturing digital transformation efforts.
