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MLC events bring opportunities for networking, learning, and innovation for leaders on the M4.0 journey.  

The Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, welcomed its members and other leaders from the manufacturing community to several events in 2024, including plant tours and Rethink, the Council’s signature event. These images represent a sample of this year’s in-person events.

All images copyright of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). 

Rethink: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Manufacturing

June 2-5, 2024 / Marco Island, FL

The MLC welcomed a record number of attendees at its flagship event in 2024, with more than 900 manufacturing leaders joining either in person or virtually for the 20th anniversary edition in Marco Island, FL. The event kicked off with an economic panel discussion over breakfast, a first-ever Women in M4.0 luncheon, and the MLC’s Annual Council Meeting. It was followed by two days of main stage content and breakout sessions to help manufacturers accelerate their digital journey.

Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala 2024

June 5, 2024 / Marco Island, FL

The 20th anniversary Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala was a black-tie celebration of manufacturing’s world-class manufacturing innovation leaders. More than 150 digital manufacturing projects and high-performing individual leaders were recognized at the gala.

Plant Tour: Amazon Fulfillment Center

July 23-24, 2024 / Seattle, WA

Exploring how a culture of innovation feeds into business success at Amazon, attendees at MLC’s sold-out plant tour got a look at the company’s approach to data, supply chain and procurement and a deep dive into its progression from its earliest beginnings. The tour concluded with a session on Amazon’s pillars for manufacturing’s future: data as a foundation, AWS supply chain, and strategic procurement.

Plant Tour: Enersys

October 8-9, 2024 / Richmond, KY

How does a century-old operation evolve into a benchmark for modern lean manufacturing, assembly and distribution? MLC members found out at a plant tour at Enersys, a producer of batteries and battery chargers, seeing first-hand a playbook for how lean principles join with digital tools and employee-led initiatives to enable fast and flexible responses to customer needs.

About the author: 

Penelope Brown is Senior Content Director for the NAM’s Manufacturing Leadership Council

As 2024 winds down, the Manufacturing Leadership Journal is capping off the year with a special “Best of” issue that celebrates the most impactful moments, insights, and innovations from the Manufacturing Leadership Council. Launching in December, this edition is a treasure trove of highlights showcasing the best content we’ve produced this year — and it’s not to be missed!

Here’s what’s inside:

• Best of MLC Research: Unlock the top takeaways from our groundbreaking research surveys that shaped conversations around Manufacturing 4.0 in 2024.
• Best of Rethink: Relive the energy of our premier event with video highlights from thought-provoking sessions, dynamic panels, and more.
• Best of the Future of Manufacturing Project: Discover insights from this year’s flagship initiative, including highlights from virtual events, Future of Manufacturing Project Crystal Ball articles, and the pivotal survey report, Data Mastery: A Key to Industrial Competitiveness.
• Best of the Manufacturing Leadership Journal: Revisit this year’s standout articles, which are packed with ideas and insights sure to move your Manufacturing 4.0 journey forward.
• Best of Decision Compass Calls: Access this year’s standout Decision Compass calls and hear discussions that provided actionable strategies and inspiration for manufacturing leaders.

Plus, dive into a photo retrospective celebrating the 20th anniversary of Rethink and the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala, and exclusive plant tours at EnerSys and Amazon.

In addition to the “Best of” features, this issue includes brand-new content including an introduction to the MLC’s newest members, a Future of Manufacturing Project article by EY, and an exclusive Executive Dialogue interview with Angela Accurso, co-winner of the Manufacturing Leadership Award for Next-Generation Leadership.

This “Best of” edition is your chance to reflect on the strides made in manufacturing leadership this year and gear up for the opportunities ahead. Be sure to check it out this December to celebrate and learn from the best of 2024!

Nominations for the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s flagship awards are now open.

What’s going on: The Manufacturing Leadership Awards—given annually by the MLC, the NAM’s digital transformation arm—honor manufacturing companies and leaders for the groundbreaking use of digital manufacturing. Those interested in submitting company and/or individual names for consideration for the 2025 awards can do so through Jan. 17, 2025.

• Awards will be given in nine project categories and three individual categories. New for 2025 are Business Model Transformation (for projects) and Women in Manufacturing 4.0 (for individuals).

How they’re evaluated: For the individual categories, the judges—a panel of established digital manufacturing experts from outside the MLC—assess whether nominees have advanced digital transformation at their companies and whether they meet the criteria for being role models to other manufacturing leaders.

• For the project categories, judges evaluate how each undertaking improved manufacturing processes, furthered business goals and advanced company strategy.

What happens next: Finalists will be notified in March 2025 and announced shortly afterward. Winners will be announced at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala next June.

• “The Manufacturing Leadership Awards give the MLC the chance each year to honor some of the remarkable people and endeavors in manufacturing today,” said MLC Senior Content Director Penelope Brown. “We look forward to reviewing the nominations and learning more about the incredible innovation taking place in our industry.”

Get involved: Have a person or project in mind for the 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Awards? Submit their names here.

• MLC members receive one complimentary project entry and one complimentary individual entry.

EnerSys’ Richmond, Kentucky, facility opened its doors to Manufacturing Leadership Council members, offering a first-hand look at how a century-old operation has evolved into a benchmark for modern lean manufacturing, assembly and distribution. The visit was more than a tour—it was an immersive experience into lean principles that are not just deployed but embedded holistically across processes, people, and locations. The EnerSys Operating System and the integration of traditional and advanced battery production demonstrated the power of scalable lean ecosystems that operate seamlessly in both legacy and digitally transformed environments.

The Richmond site produces battery chargers and batteries, some weighing as much as two tons. The batteries produced in Richmond include traditional lead-acid motive power batteries for industrial equipment, maintenance-free thin plate pure lead (TPPL) batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. Tour participants made their way through the company’s Mega Distribution Center and the battery manufacturing facility.

One highlight of the tour was EnerSys’ innovative 24-hour “book-and-ship” program, demonstrating how lean principles have enabled fast and flexible responses to customer needs. Visitors also observed how EnerSys identifies and eliminates waste to improve efficiency and enhance sustainability. This included a deep dive into how employee-led initiatives, coupled with digital tools, have driven continuous improvements in product quality, workplace safety and other areas.

These employee-led initiatives play a critical role in driving continuous improvements in quality, safety, and operational performance. Tour attendees were also invited to engage directly with these processes by completing Accountability Tag cards—an exercise EnerSys employees regularly use to spot and address operational deficiencies. The cards prompted participants to document potential problems, propose quick fixes, and complete a 5 Whys analysis to uncover root causes.

The tour concluded with two breakout sessions and a panel discussion and Q&A session where EnerSys leaders answered participants’ questions. The company’s leaders focused on the challenges of scaling the EnerSys Operating System, the role of technology in their processes, and what’s next for the company.

Participants left the event with actionable insights to apply within their own organizations. Many were inspired by EnerSys’ ability to seamlessly blend traditional manufacturing with modern technology, proving that even legacy operations can achieve agility and innovation.

All photos by Ian Wagreich / National Assoc. of Manufacturers, Copyright 2024

Industry 4.0 technologies offer novel ways to attract Gen Z talent, a generation that values involvement, autonomy, and purpose in its work.  

TAKEAWAYS:
● Industry 4.0 technologies that are revolutionizing manufacturing production processes can also shape the worker experience and attract Gen Z talent.
● Manufacturers can use Industry 4.0 technologies for data-driven empowerment, to eliminate repetitive tasks, and to enable collaboration.
● A demonstrated commitment to sustainability can attract Gen Z employees who are deeply concerned about environmental impact.  

We’re currently witnessing the convergence of two significant megatrends that are shaping the future of work and the workforce—namely, rapid technological advancements driving Industry 4.0 and the entry of Generation Z (Gen Z) into the workforce. Each trend is incredibly powerful on its own; together, they are creating a unique set of challenges and opportunities that businesses can’t afford to ignore (Table 1).

Table 1:  Parallels Between Industry 4.0 and Gen Z

Despite the alignment, traditional manufacturing environments often fall short of the dynamic, purpose-driven workplaces Gen Z expects. According to a McKinsey & Company article, since 2019, the proportion of Gen Z talent in manufacturing has declined, even as more Gen Z workers enter the overall workforce.

How do we bridge the gap between the sleek, digitally optimized vision of Industry 4.0 and the perception of manufacturing environments as gritty and uninspiring in order to attract the very talent needed to drive this transformation?

The solution entails creating a work environment that resonates with today’s employees’ values and expectations. To do this effectively, organizations should redefine the worker experience for productivity and engagement, make manufacturing appealing to the workforce of the future, and embed sustainability as a core value.

Redefine the Worker Experience for Productivity and Engagement

The Challenge: Traditional manufacturing work environments have often been structured around rigid hierarchies and repetitive tasks. This approach is increasingly out of step with the expectations of a younger workforce that values involvement, autonomy, and purpose.

The Solution: Industry 4.0 technologies—such as IoT, AI, virtual twins, collaborative platforms, and automation—are revolutionizing production processes in the factory of the future, and should also form the foundation of the worker experience. These technologies enable a seamless integration between human capabilities and advanced machinery, creating an environment where workers are more than just operators; they become active participants in innovation, decision-making, and problem-solving.

By integrating Industry 4.0 technologies into the workplace, companies can significantly boost employee engagement by creating a more empowering and collaborative environment. Manufacturers can use these technologies to make three significant improvements:

1. Data-Driven Empowerment: Provide real-time data access that allows workers to make informed decisions on the spot, enhancing their control and confidence in their roles.
2. Eliminating Repetitive Tasks: Use AI-driven automation to take over mundane tasks, enabling employees to focus on creative and impactful work.
3. Enabling Collaboration: Implement platforms that facilitate direct communication and idea-sharing between workers and management, ensuring that employee insights drive continuous improvement.

Together, these elements create a complete ecosystem where employees are not just participants but active drivers of progress, leading to higher satisfaction, motivation, and overall productivity.

Make Manufacturing Appealing to the Workforce of the Future

The Challenge: Manufacturing has a serious image problem—high turnover rates, perceptions of dirty and mundane work, and a lack of clear career paths make it difficult to attract and retain talent.

The Solution: Manufacturing can draw lessons from how the software industry reinvented itself to attract young talent. The evolution of manufacturing will likely follow a similar path—by aligning with values that matter to younger generations.

Table 2:  Engagement Strategies and Software Industry Lessons

Manufacturing leaders are already innovating by merging traditional Lean practices with Industry 4.0 technologies such as digital Lean boards, automation, and remote collaboration. This shift positions manufacturing as more aligned with the tech-driven expectations of the emerging workforce, setting the stage for broader industry transformation​.

Embed Sustainability as a Core Value

The Challenge: Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s a non-negotiable expectation from both consumers and employees, particularly among younger generations who are deeply concerned about environmental impact.

The Solution: Companies need to go beyond greenwashing and integrate sustainability into every aspect of their operations. A key way to achieve this is through the use of virtual twins, which enable companies to fully integrate sustainability into their operations from the outset. By creating detailed digital replicas of processes and products, organizations can simulate, test, and optimize in a virtual environment before moving to real-world implementation. This approach helps identify waste, reduce resource use, and streamline production, ensuring that sustainable practices are embedded from the design stage onward. By using virtual twins as a strategic tool, companies can ensure that sustainability is not merely an add-on but a driving force behind all business decisions.

The convergence of Industry 4.0 and Gen Z entering the workforce isn’t just a shift—it’s a call to action. Companies that recognize this intersection as an opportunity to reinvent how they attract, engage, and retain talent will be the ones that stay ahead.

What’s Next?

Manufacturers must start by evaluating their current employee experience and identifying areas where Industry 4.0 technologies can empower workers rather than simply automate tasks. Invest in digital platforms that encourage real-time collaboration, build clear career paths aligned with upskilling opportunities, and integrate sustainability into core operations. Most importantly, engage directly with Gen Z employees to understand their values and expectations—co-creating solutions with them will ensure that the workplace is both future-ready and appealing to the talent needed to drive this transformation. The time to act is now, and those who do will shape the workforce of tomorrow.  M

About the author:

Buddhi Ratawal is a manager in the Strategy & Marketing Team at Dassault Systèmes.

Apply software observability to manufacturing to bridge the gap 

TAKEAWAYS:
● Leverage observability principles to gain real-time insights into your operations, empowering your team to make faster, data-driven decisions that enhance efficiency.
● Adopt digital technologies to break free from geographical constraints, enabling remote monitoring and control that optimize your production processes globally.
● Implement computer vision and AI to revolutionize your manufacturing, improving efficiency, safety, and overall operational excellence by capturing and analyzing real-world data.  

The software industry has experienced a seismic shift with the introduction of observability. Gone are the days of guesswork and reactive problem-solving. Today, software systems boast unprecedented transparency, empowering engineers to comprehend system behavior, swiftly identify anomalies, and fine-tune performance. As the manufacturing sector embraces digital transformation, the principles of software observability offer a powerful framework for achieving operational excellence.

Central to software observability is the ability to collect, process, and analyze real-time operational data. Metrics, logs, and traces provide granular insights into system health, performance, and user experience. In manufacturing, this translates to machine sensor data, quality control reports, production line performance metrics, and more. By correlating this data, manufacturers can gain unparalleled visibility into their operations, paving the way for data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.

Imagine a manufacturing landscape where processes are as meticulously version-controlled as software code. Every assembly line configuration, machine parameter, and quality control check is systematically recorded and traceable. This level of control, once a distant aspiration, is now within reach as manufacturing and the digital realm converge.

Software observability principles relevant to manufacturing extend beyond data. A fundamental shift has occurred in the relationship between humans and computers. In the past, software engineers were tethered to physical machines, often working in close proximity to the hardware. Today, the majority of software development is cloud-based, with engineers accessing and managing systems remotely. This decoupling of geography from computation has opened up new possibilities for collaboration and innovation.

Leveraging remote monitoring and control allows manufacturers to oversee operations from anywhere, detect issues early on, and respond swiftly to minimize downtime.

Similarly, manufacturing can benefit from breaking free from geographical constraints. Traditional manufacturing models often necessitate proximity to suppliers and labor pools. While these factors remain important, observability and digital technologies introduce a new level of flexibility. By leveraging remote monitoring and control, manufacturers can oversee operations from anywhere, detect issues early on, and respond swiftly to minimize downtime. This capability is invaluable for global operations and in scenarios with limited on-site personnel.

However, unlike the digital realm, where data is inherently observable and repeatable, the physical world introduces complexity. Quality issues, for example, often stem from analog faults that are difficult to capture digitally. To address this, manufacturers need to go beyond traditional logs and incorporate rich video and metadata to accurately represent the state of the real world.

To fully unlock the potential of observability in manufacturing, computer vision systems will be instrumental. By digitizing the physical world through video, manufacturers can capture a wealth of information about processes, equipment, and personnel. Advanced computer vision platforms can then analyze this video data to extract actionable insights, identify anomalies, and optimize operations. For instance, by tracking the movement of objects on a production line, computer vision can pinpoint bottlenecks and inefficiencies. By analyzing worker behavior, it can identify safety hazards and optimize ergonomics. The fusion of video data and AI-powered analysis will be essential for achieving the level of observability needed to revolutionize manufacturing.

The principles of software observability offer a compelling blueprint for reimagining manufacturing operations. By approaching production processes as software systems and harnessing technologies like computer vision, manufacturers can attain unprecedented levels of visibility, control, and efficiency.  M

About the Author:

Eric Danziger is CEO and Co-Founder of Invisible AI.

Invisible AI is a proud partner of MLC’s Future of Manufacturing Project.

Digitalization, big data and intelligent analytics place new demands on smart factory initiatives. 

TAKEAWAYS:
● Leading through influence, as opposed to authority, helps to get people on board with digital transformation, empowering them to collaborate in support of common goals.
● Focusing on solving specific, high-priority problems aligns relevancy and effectiveness for digital transformation initiatives.
● An effective framework and leadership will set the stage for a feasible solution that meets smart factory goals, creates business value and supports a long-term strategy.   

Classic operational technology project challenges are more complex in the Manufacturing 4.0 era. A prime example is predictive technology implementations. Long considered a maintenance best practice across the industrial spectrum, predictive maintenance solutions are valued for helping to detect degrading asset conditions in time to prevent machine failure and the risks and costs that come with unplanned downtime.

The emergence of the cloud, smart sensors, AI and machine learning gave rise to remote condition monitoring and real-time integrated predictive maintenance, which increasingly leverages AI-enabled predictive models, prescriptive analytics supporting corrective actions for streamlined decision making and automated work order generation.

As a result, once discrete initiatives such as vibration monitoring on a critical motor bearing for predictive maintenance are now just one facet of a broader digital transformation, with applications throughout the organization.

With the extraordinary pace of innovation, key leadership skills are more essential to ensure success in implementing today’s best practices and sophisticated technologies, while preparing the organization for the next evolution of manufacturing.

Top Challenges in M4.0 Leadership and How to Overcome Them

Digital transformation leaders are faced with three distinct challenges that can be managed with leadership best practices.

Challenge #1: Have a clear understanding of the problems you are trying to solve and maintain focus on them.

Best practices:

• Avoid the hype: Do not allow the industry and vendors to define your problems for you. Identify and set priorities that match your organization’s specific needs and goals, whether they involve machine reliability, operational support, product quality or otherwise.
• Start small: Identify and target manageable problems, such as adding a sensor to retrieve vibration data from a problematic machine in order to predict and prevent unplanned downtime. It will lay the foundation and provide the evidence to make the case for the next, bigger step on the journey.
• Stay focused: Do not lose sight of why a problem is worth solving. This helps to avoid the pilot purgatory, endless experimentation and scope creep that come from showing what can be done, even if it is not worthwhile for the business, rather than solving known problems.

Challenge #2: Establish a digital transformation approach that offers the most flexibility and agility.

Best practices:

• Plan ahead: Develop a solution framework that focuses on evolution rather than revolution and allows you to potentially solve other problems down the line. For instance, adding sensors to machines could lead to connecting to machine controls, which could lead to integrating with a manufacturing execution or asset management system.
• Optimize the data: Choose solutions that work with data from a variety of sources, and then contextualize that data in a way that is meaningful relative to the problems you are trying to solve.
• Do not get boxed in: Flexibility is lost if you choose conflicting or divergent technological solutions, such as a machine-specific solution that is not compatible with other machines on the line or with other assets in the plant.
• Avoid competing projects: Managing a coherent program saves time, effort and costs. It avoids the solution silos and future integration challenges that arise when too many people solve the same problem in different areas and in different ways.
• Get help: Identify and leverage digital transformation experts and advisors as needed, both internal and external, to ensure a cohesive approach and framework.

Challenge #3: Gain and sustain buy-in and organizational awareness for what you are trying to achieve.

Best practices:

• Celebrate the wins: Use each proof of concept, even the smallest ones, as evidence to make the subsequent business case to your teams as well as to those who may not yet believe in what you are trying to achieve.
• Have a plan: Create a strategy and clear action plan for improving the business culture. Be sure to include benchmarking metrics and systems for monitoring and measuring progress.
• Optimize the talent: Empower all levels of your team with the skills, resources and capacity for digital transformation, whether using internal personnel or trusted partners. Consider R&D, engineering, project management, maintenance, operations, IT/OT, networking, data governance, regulatory, cybersecurity, external audit and corporate roles.
• Close the deal: Align the culture and work process to the new solutions as they are deployed.

Soft and Hard Leadership Skills are Crucial for Success

In the M4.0 era, communicating a clear vision of what you are trying to accomplish to all levels affected by the change is more important than ever. For some, the benefits are self-evident, and for others, digital transformation concepts are not as intuitive.

Leading through influence, as opposed to authority, helps to get people on board with digital transformation. It leverages relationships, expertise and active listening to engage and empower the individuals who develop a sense of ownership and the confidence to collaborate in support of the common goals.

Team building involves getting capable people into key positions, setting expectations, developing skill sets as needed and encouraging trust and collaboration. Resolving conflicts and rewarding efforts also come into play.

Organizational culture change leadership helps to cement the transformation. When high engagement, data-driven results, continuous improvements and employee safety and well-being are ingrained in the culture, team members are more motivated and committed to the program’s success.

The Future of Transformation Leadership

As M4.0 and beyond evolves, so will the role of leaders. For example, more data than ever will be available and needed to redefine strategic, data-driven decision making, and enhanced cybersecurity and IT/OT convergence will become the norm. Consequently, continually growing soft and hard leadership skills will be essential to ensuring program success.

Emerging leaders aiming to excel in digital transformation need to cultivate a visionary mindset to drive innovation, effectively build cross-functional teams and understand when to integrate new technologies and seek outside expertise.

Leveraging trusted partners can help fill skill gaps in your team and integrate scalable technology solutions. Additionally, partners with decades of diverse experience throughout various manufacturing environments ensure you can employ data-driven strategies with deep smart-factory expertise to help optimize your results.

Ultimately, an effective framework and leadership will set the stage for a feasible solution that meets smart factory goals, creates business value, supports a long-term strategy and can potentially provide a catalyst for new business models and markets.

About the Author:

Chris LeBeau is the Chief Technology Officer at Advanced Technology Services, Inc. (ATS)

To mitigate an acute labor shortage, manufacturers can source local talent, develop internal talent, or create partnerships to grow talent externally. 

TAKEAWAYS:
● Manufacturers can achieve cost savings and realize operational benefits by developing strategies to recruit and retain local talent.
● Companies can develop robust “in house” training programs to develop much-needed skills, but such initiatives require significant time and money.
● By managing the skills gap through external collaborative public-private partnerships, manufacturers can build a talent pipeline for near-term and long-term needs.  

A recent study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute indicated that the manufacturing skills gap could result in 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030, representing a cost of $1 trillion in 2030 alone. From a manufacturing perspective, the skills gap is generally defined as the inability to find workers who have the manual, operational, and highly technical skills, knowledge, or expertise to fill open positions. However, the manufacturing skills gap is a problem that many manufacturers are not only anticipating for the future, but they are also facing today. The ability to recruit manufacturing talent at all levels and retain that talent is at the forefront of problem-solving for many global manufacturers.

Companies have started to develop many strategies to mitigate the risks of the skills gap. From increased automation to changes in immigration policies, companies are working to develop solutions to ensure they have the workforce required for their production lines. JLL’s site selection and location strategy team has helped clients navigate the complexities of global labor markets. We highlight three strategies that can help solve immediate labor market shortages and develop a pipeline of talent to shrink the anticipated gap:

1. Find Local Talent: Companies derive immense strategic value when they identify areas that have the specific types of talent they need for a production process and then locate operations there. By developing strategies to recruit and retain local talent, companies can realize massive financial savings and operational benefits.
2. Develop Talent Internally: Many companies seek to develop manufacturing skills internally through internal training programs, especially when a local market cannot supply sufficient talent or a specific type of talent.
3. Grow Talent Externally: As a complementary option to the first two strategies, manufacturers can enhance collaborations with local communities, community colleges, technical schools, and universities to proactively develop the skills they will need and build a pipeline of talent for the future.

Find Local Talent

Labor markets across the U.S. and the world are inherently different and no two markets have the same size and composition of skills. Each labor market also has an existing ecosystem of manufacturers that create a unique competitive environment for talent. Manufacturers can strategically locate in markets with large volumes and deep concentrations of the skills their production process requires. This strategy also requires an understanding of the existing demand for that talent to ensure a company can both recruit and retain talent. While companies can use many published sources to understand the supply side of talent markets, the demand side often requires in-person interviews with local subject matter experts.

As an example, highly automated manufacturing processes that employ mainly skilled technicians and engineers will want to locate to labor markets with deep pools of technical talent. In contrast, a more manual production process that can hire lower-skilled employees does not need to locate to the same technical labor market but could seek a talent market with more general manufacturing skills.

According to EMSI Lightcast, the current highest in-demand jobs in manufacturing include maintenance technicians, machine operators, material handlers, and forklift drivers. When looking into the future, most studies suggest that the in-demand manufacturing jobs will have an increased focus on engineering, technology, and robotics. Job titles such as machine operator, production technician, and process engineer are just a few of the jobs that will grow in demand and technological complexity (Table 1).

Table 1: Most In-Demand Manufacturing Jobs (August 2023–July 2024)

To illustrate the differences between labor markets, consider the two highest in-demand jobs––maintenance technicians and machine operators. For maintenance technicians, large volumes of talent exist in all major metropolitan areas, but there are relatively few large metro areas that also have a large concentration of that talent (meaning high proportion of maintenance technicians as compared to the national average). Stand-out markets include Houston and Detroit, which have typically been dominated by the oil & gas and automotive industries. What the supply-side data do not illustrate is that the level of competition in both these markets is very high (Figure 1). As an example, recent interviews with local recruiters in Houston indicated that nearly all maintenance technicians are employed by local energy companies that offer above market salaries and are nearly impossible to compete against.

Figure 1: Maintenance Technician Volume & LQ by MSA

In contrast, the landscape for machine operators is more concentrated in the Midwest. These markets have typically been dominated by the automative industry for decades and have developed a large volume of skilled operators. Also, the automotive industry and manufacturing in general have been the largest employers in the region, giving these markets high concentrations of machine operator talent as well. Stand-out markets include Detroit, Cleveland, Grand Rapids, and Milwaukee. While the supply-side view of the data do not provide any insight on the competitive nature in those markets, recent interviews indicate a generally lower level of competition in many of the Midwest’s legacy manufacturing markets (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Machine Operators Volume & LQ by MSA

Once manufacturers identify a market that has a good alignment between the skills they require and those that are available locally, they need to develop a robust recruitment and retention plan to ensure the ability to hire and keep that talent. These strategies include shortened hiring times, streamlined interview processes, competitive compensation packages, first-line supervisor leadership training, and flexible work schedules, to name a few.

Develop Talent Internally

Internal training has become a growing standard among manufacturers that need specific skills that they cannot recruit locally, or even nationally. Many skills, such as the maintenance technician, are in high demand in nearly every market across the U.S., creating a nationwide shortage that cannot be solved by location strategy alone. Internal training for these highly skilled positions, or even lower-skilled positions, enable manufacturers to enlarge the recruitment catchment pool by removing specific skills, education, and/or years of experience requirements. Companies then focus on developing robust internal training programs to cultivate the skills they need, whether that is general production operator skills training or more robust maintenance technician apprentice programs.

Consider this example: If a manufacturer were seeking to hire CNC programmers, the national labor pool is 29,010. At the entry level, a CNC programmer typically requires a certificate or associate’s degree and 2–3 years of experience. Should a manufacturer widen its search and seek to employ CNC operators and train them internally to be programmers, the total labor pool would increase to 218,362 (Table 2). Moreover, if a manufacturer were willing to spend additional training time it could broaden its recruitment pool to include general machinists and machine operators, increasing the total talent pool to over 1.7 million potential candidates nationally.

Table 2: Volume of CNC Programmers and Related Occupations

This approach, while generally effective, requires both a long lead time and a large capital expenditure to create the classroom environment and on-the-job training conditions required to train complex skills. Also, some training will require 2–3 years, and manufacturers will need to plan sufficiently for the long lead time required to train in-house. Moreover, the investment of time, money, and resources will require manufacturers to look at retention plans and work to maximize employee engagement and retention so that the capital invested to train candidates does not end up elsewhere once they complete training.

Grow Talent Externally

A third strategy to managing the skills gap is through collaborative public-private partnerships between manufacturers, local community colleges or technical colleges, universities, and local economic development agencies to proactively develop training programs and curriculum to support the skills required by the manufacturing industry. This approach applies to both the skills needed in the near term, and those anticipated into the future. Many examples exist in which local communities and higher education institutes directly influence the volume and quality of candidates that enter the labor market. This approach to skills development plays a critical role in developing a talent pipeline, sometimes across generations, as many communities are introducing manufacturing skills and education as early as the primary school level.

Finding communities that have either made or are willing to make a notable investment in technical training programs either through existing community colleges or training institutes is a good starting point to solving the skills gap challenge. Often it is easier to incrementally enhance an existing skills training program than start from scratch with an entirely new initiative. In fact, many states and local communities are extremely proactive, forward thinking, and collaborative, and are willing to make the necessary investments to enhance the talent pipeline supporting a community.

The map below highlights the volume of graduates from maintenance repair-related programs (either associate’s degrees or certificate programs) (Figure 3). Phoenix has the large volume of graduates (5,000+), followed by Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston.

Figure 3: 2023–2023 Maintenance Repair-Related Programs

Conclusion

The skills gap is a current and future problem with massive consequences for the U.S. manufacturing industry. The need to find immediate solutions while also developing strategies to mitigate future difficulties has driven many manufacturers to turn significant focus on their “people operations.”  Whether companies choose to locate (or relocate) their operations into a specific labor market, develop internal training programs to fill local skills shortages, partner with local communities to develop a pipeline of manufacturing talent, or use other strategies, the need to proactively solution around a nationwide shortage of manufacturing skills exists for most companies across the manufacturing industry. Manufacturers that proactively work to develop solutions are likely to gain significant advantage in an increasingly tight national labor market.  M

About the authors:

Shannon Curley is executive managing director, Business Consulting at JLL.

Matt Jackson is executive managing director, Business Consulting at JLL.

To establish talent and skills for smart manufacturing, start at the beginning—of the employee relationship, that is. 

TAKEAWAYS:
● The right approach to workplace culture might be the missing piece in attracting talent for the future of manufacturing.
● Could rethinking your hiring strategy unlock your workforce’s true potential?
● What if creating growth opportunities for all employees – regardless of education level – was the key to preparing for a tech-driven future?  

The workforce remains a top-of-mind concern for manufacturers grappling with a trifecta of labor shortages, an aging employee population, and modern skill deficits as factories become more automated. Companies need clarity around what the digital future looks like in order to determine the right mix of skills and talent to efficiently drive success. This is not a new challenge—we have been discussing it in this forum for years. But workforce change is complex, and many manufacturers are still struggling to build momentum.

West Monroe recently conducted a survey of manufacturing executives, covering a broad range of topics, including workforce challenges. While most respondents feel their company is very or moderately prepared to adapt to future workforce needs, 89% believe that attracting skilled talent will have a major impact on their ability to do so.

To continue advancing toward a digital future, manufacturers must find a way to move the meter with respect to the workforce. One way to do so is to focus on the front end of the employee relationship.

1. Be intentional about organizational culture

You cannot start bringing in the right people without first defining what “right” means. That is where culture comes in.

Manufacturing has traditionally been highly output-focused, with less attention paid to workplace culture. Culture is a significant factor in retaining workers, but it is increasingly important in attracting them in the first place—particularly given the new type of talent required for smart manufacturing.

Culture is a set of aspirational behaviors, values and beliefs that drive how work is done in an optimal way. The ideal behaviors should stem from both the culture you want to have and a clear employee value proposition, grounded in labor analysis, which spells out the emotional (alignment to mission, vision, and purpose), contractual rewards (promised compensation and benefits), and experiential (interconnectedness of company culture and employee career journey) reasons why people choose to work for your organization.

Source: West Monroe

In a smart manufacturing environment, desired behaviors will include things like effective collaboration and communication, use of data to make decisions that improve performance, and a bias toward continuous performance improvement. But these are just the basics. This is a chance to be bold and differentiate your workplace—but you will need to back it up. For example, if you want your culture to be known as “energizing,” you will need money, activities, and the flexibility to fulfill this vision.

Adapting corporate culture for a changing business strategy is complex. West Monroe has identified nine critical drivers for enabling culture to influence business outcomes. These fall in three categories: strategy, operations and talent. All require intentional design and investment. Yet, this is critical up-front work, because it influences role design and then who you hire for the role.

2. Hire for culture rather than just current capacity

While there may be urgency to fill empty seats or add people to increase current capacity, the evolution of digital manufacturing increasingly depends on hiring the right people—workers who can demonstrate the competencies, skills and behaviors that will elevate performance. These include attributes such as analytical and critical thinking, detail orientation, problem solving and adaptability to rapid change.

One particular area of attention in hiring should be leadership potential. While executive leadership sets the cultural tone, front-line managers are the day-to-day face of it. Simply put, good leaders engage, develop and retain talent. Bad leaders lose talent. In a 2024 LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Survey, 7 in 10 respondents said they would leave a job because of a bad manager. One study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) quantified the impact. One in five respondents said they had left a job in the past five years due to workplace culture—and more than half (58%) claimed their manager was the reason for leaving. That turnover costs American corporations $44.6 billion annually.

To continue advancing toward a digital future, manufacturers must find a way to move the meter with respect to the workforce.

Many manufacturers interview primarily for the ability to perform a particular task, such as running a machine. This will not get you any closer to the future. Keep in mind that it is easy, relatively speaking, to teach technical aspects of work but harder to teach behavior. Therefore, manufacturers need to flip the process: Interviewing for desired cultural attributes and training for the rest. Here are some ways to assess behavioral attributes:

• Behavioral interviewing should probe how a candidate has handled past situations—for example: Tell me about a time you recognized a problem on the line and helped solve it in a way that improved performance. Share an example of how you went above and beyond, and the impact that had.
• A mock group setting can show how candidates handle a hypothetical situation. For example, if the role calls for strong teamwork, ask the candidate pool to agree on a list of 10 survival items they want to have on a deserted island. This offers a chance to assess how individuals work within a team, how they interact, and their communication styles.
• A facility tour as part of the interview also shows how a candidate interacts with others, and the extent to which a candidate asks questions can indicate the degree of curiosity or motivation. If a safety culture is important, try leaving something askew or in the way, and see how the candidate reacts. Did she say something or just step over it? After the tour, ask the candidate for ideas about improving the process or what stood out.

Of course, it is challenging to change gears when the most immediate concern is having enough people to do the work today. Consider alternative workforce strategies such as temps or contractors to meet short-term needs, while establishing a plan and timeline for filling key roles with the right people. This is also an area where you can start small—with a few critical roles that require attributes such as critical thinking, data analysis or teamwork—and expand as time goes on.

3. Make the opportunities attractive to all

There is a mixed pool of people coming into today’s manufacturing workforce—some with college education, and some without. Manufacturers need to make sure both groups see opportunity to evolve and be part of the smart factory of the future.

To attract college-educated workers with desirable skillsets, manufacturers must redefine roles and offer attractive career paths. This is a win-win for employers and employees. If done well, it will increase the value derived from current roles—and justify higher salaries.

For the latter group, manufacturers should market roles not just as a job with benefits but an opportunity to grow and gain marketable experience comparable to earning a “degree.” Positioning the role as a “degree” plan opens minds to learning new skills and technologies and exploring how things work—the foundation of a continuous improvement mindset and the evolution of the worker.

Culture is a significant factor in retaining workers, but it is increasingly important in attracting them in the first place—particularly given the new type of talent required for smart manufacturing.

This approach can also help address fears that automation will eventually eliminate jobs. It is important to be open about the impact of technology on jobs. Technology will replace some jobs—that is necessary to remain competitive as a business—but also create new roles that do not exist today. These changes will not happen overnight. There is time and opportunity for people who are willing to learn and evolve with the smart factory.

Incentivizing learning can accelerate this mindset. For example, incorporating learning and skills into a variable pay program—“If you develop this skill or mastery, you get a 50-cent increase at the next pay raise”—can be a strong motivator.

4. Foster—but do not force—a multigenerational culture

For the first time, there are as many as six generations in a workforce. Blending generations creates challenges for any organization. For manufacturing, being able to do so effectively is critical for retaining the institutional knowledge of retiring workers.

Manufacturers have a real opportunity to leverage younger talent joining the workforce to help more experienced workers develop technology and data literacy, while having seasoned workers share their institutional knowledge. This will take targeted effort, however. Mentorship needs to happen in a way that does not feel forced upon the participants. Trust is a key to any effective relationship, and that does not develop overnight.

It is important to continuously assess who is strong and who is struggling when it comes to Manufacturing 4.0 and encourage conversations in a way that builds trust. Look for new avenues that foster organic rather than assigned relationships—for example:

• Expert networks can help people find others with certain skills, techniques or processes and approach them on their own terms. A new employee who wants to understand the finishing process better can find and ask questions of a 30-year veteran who is an expert in finishing. Their dialogue ultimately could surface insight that is useful to both parties.
• Cohort networks that cross generations and/or processes and functions can create a sense of community where members share interactions and learn about the evolving business together and from each other. This type of program is common in universities and MBA programs.

These strategies create a safe haven for employees with questions, as well as a way for newer employees to build credibility.

An investment in smart manufacturing success

There is a common denominator to the work described above—a culture of behaviors that can advance smart manufacturing and the business value it promises. Thus, the four areas of focus described above cannot be discrete activities. They must be addressed in concert. They are also very tactical efforts—not necessarily quick wins or new “programs” that you can stand up, but rather process changes that must endure. As such, they will require consistent focus and effort, and expertise in organizational change management. But these are investments in hiring the right people and bringing them effectively into the organization that will pay dividends going forward—in the form of lower turnover, higher job satisfaction and productivity, and faster realization of new value from smart manufacturing.  M

About the authors:

Leah Jacobs is Senior Manager at West Monroe

Glenn Pfenninger is Director at West Monroe

Kris Slozak is Director at West Monroe

Manufacturers can apply a three-step strategy to recruit and retain a diverse pool of talent that will enable them to be and remain competitive.

TAKEAWAYS:
● To attract diverse talent, manufacturers need to develop an effective and intentional talent sourcing strategy.
● Trade schools, college campus events, women’s associations, veterans’ groups, and high school programs are potential talent sources.
● A strategy for creating a diverse and inclusive workforce must embrace diversity of personnel and diversity of thought.  

As manufacturing becomes more digital and as industrial businesses find themselves in a fiercer battle for talent with tech companies and other sectors, building a diverse employee base is essential. Diversity is not just paramount when it comes to skill sets. Having a more diverse workforce in terms of racial, gender, educational, generational, and cultural backgrounds can allow companies to tap into new perspectives and ideas, giving them a competitive edge to drive innovation. Being intentional and strategic about attracting and engaging a diverse workforce can better equip companies to scale the business and increase profitability.

The manufacturing industry has historically suffered from a lack of diversity, especially among women and minorities, who are underrepresented in both entry-level and leadership roles. As a result, businesses miss out on a huge pool of potential talent that could bring new ideas, creativity, and problem-solving abilities to the table. And in the current labor market, manufacturers cannot afford to miss out on appealing to a broader talent pool.

There are signs that companies are making changes, however. According to the RSM US Middle Market Business Index special report on workforce published in January 2024, 41 percent of middle market firms indicated they are focused on recruiting a more diverse base of employees—that is, minority, disabled, and older workers. (The RSM US Middle Market Business Index survey data in the fourth quarter of 2023 was derived from a panel of 1,500 executives recruited by The Harris Poll using a sample supplied by Dun & Bradstreet.)

“Being intentional and strategic about attracting and engaging a diverse workforce can better equip companies to scale the business and increase profitability.”

“In a tight labor market, businesses continue to optimize workforce strategies through human capital management,” the report noted. “Those include recruitment and retention tactics—such as remote or hybrid work, wage increases and other compensation offerings—talent experience initiatives that align with business objectives, and assessments of their physical workspaces.”

Three key steps can help companies approach these recruitment and retention tactics while prioritizing diversity.

Step 1: Develop a Sourcing Strategy

For most manufacturers, defining their talent pools, their brand as an employer, and overall employee value proposition will likely be the place to start in developing an intentional talent sourcing strategy. Human resources teams should collaborate with other functions of the business—such as operations, production, finance, and marketing—to identify where and how the company can reach out to diverse candidates. Potential sources include trade schools, high school programs, campus events, women’s associations, veterans’ groups, and others.

Employee value proposition will be a key part of the sourcing strategy. Companies need to offer a compelling story about why someone would want to join their team and what makes them stand out from other employers in the industry. Manufacturers will also need to align their sourcing strategies with their workforce plan—essentially by creating a road map of current and future talent needs based on business goals.

In the current labor market, businesses also need to understand the value of transparency for job seekers. Considering the prevalence of platforms and online communities where current and former employees can share salary information and overall workplace reviews, manufacturers that proactively engage in these forums might find opportunities to extend their talent pool reach and build their brand.

Step 2: Implement Systems to Enable Those Talent Pools

Technology is another central element of a successful strategy to build a diverse workforce. Companies need to have systems and tools in place that enable them to connect with and recruit efficiently and effectively from a variety of talent pools.

Applicant tracking system software, for instance, can automate and streamline parts of the recruiting process and help companies push their listing through a wider variety of platforms. Such systems can also help collect and screen applications, schedule and conduct interviews, send offer letters, and track other data. Tracking systems and other HR tools enabled by automation and/or artificial intelligence don’t just help the employer, they can also improve the candidate experience overall.

Applicant tracking systems and other automation tools for job listings can also make it easier for businesses to use more inclusive language in job descriptions and other communications. This can be critical in helping a broader array of potential employees feel welcome and understood.

Step 3: Educate your Workforce on how to Recruit

Companies need to educate their existing teams—especially hiring managers—on how to recruit a diverse range of candidates and make them feel welcome and valued as new hires or potential hires. This education might come in the form of training and guidance on unconscious bias, cultural awareness, compliance, interviewing skills, and other topics.

Hiring managers and employees throughout the business also need to feel empowered to be ambassadors of the brand and culture from a workplace perspective. Organizations might encourage employees to share their on-the-job experiences and stories with potential candidates.

“Companies need to offer a compelling story about why someone would want to join their team and what makes them stand out from other employers in the industry.”

Employee involvement in attracting a more diverse workforce might also come in the form of candidate referrals, employee participation in recruitment events, and mentorship programs. On the education front, leadership needs to train teams on how best to create a culture of inclusion and retain diverse talent.

It’s not just employee diversity that is becoming more important. Other forms of diversity are imperative.

“Diversity of thought is important at every level of the business, including the board of directors,” as noted in “Diversity among middle market manufacturers: A pivotal talent priority,” another RSM article published in March 2024. “In 2021, Nasdaq introduced rules requiring companies listed on the exchange to disclose board diversity, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission followed suit. Such standards for public companies can often become the de facto standard for private companies, too.”

A Workforce for the Future

By following these three steps, manufacturers can start building a more diverse and inclusive workforce that can bring new skills, perspectives, and value, all of which can ultimately lead to a more robust bottom line. Companies need to be intentional and strategic about this plan; those that are not proactive about building a multifaceted approach to recruitment and retention will be at risk of falling behind.  M

About the authors:

Kendra Blacksher is a partner and industrials senior analyst at RSM US LLP.

Marni Rozen is a principal at RSM US LLP.