Manufacturing Leadership Journal February 2024

Smart Factories and Transformative Technologies

How can manufacturers harness the power of data analytics and advanced technologies to bring about smarter factories? From cybersecurity considerations to technology implementation to enabling workers on the frontlines, find these insights and more in the latest Manufacturing Leadership Journal.

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MLC Research Surveys

MLC research offers exclusive, in-depth analysis of what manufacturers are experiencing on the journey to Manufacturing 4.0. See the latest data on where manufacturers stand and what they anticipate for the future.

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Thought Leadership

Article : Plant Tour reviews

Leading through Values at the Vermeer Corporation

November 29, 2023

From its origins as a one-person shop on a central Iowa farm to its current status as a multinational global operation, the Vermeer Corporation has grown in every sense: number of employees, production locations and dealerships, the industries that it…

Article : ML Journal

SURVEY: Manufacturers Go All-In on AI

October 1, 2023

A growing number of manufacturing organizations have brought AI to the shop floor, and as usage grows, so do aspirations for its future impact, a new MLC survey reveals.

Article : ML Journal

Balancing Resiliency and Efficiency

August 1, 2023

Supply chains’ new optimization problem: becoming more resilient while minimizing costs. Here’s how to strike the right balance.

Article : ML Journal

Building Resilience Is a CEO Imperative

August 1, 2023

Manufacturers can future proof their supply chains using digitization, Lean and Agile methodologies, and 4.0 technologies.

Article : ML Journal

New Ways to Solve Old Problems

August 1, 2023

Blockchain-based solutions offer promise in solving supply chain issues around uncertainty of product, quality, and ethical practices.

Article : ML Journal

Moving Past the Crisis Mode

August 1, 2023

With supply chains moving toward more normalcy, it’s time to refocus on supplier risk management.

Article : Plant Tour reviews

At Hershey, a Sweet History and Saltier Future Powered by Digital

May 8, 2023

From its namesake chocolate bars to the immensely popular Reese’s Cups, The Hershey Company has been a maker of beloved confections for many decades. But no matter which variety is your personal favorite, Hershey’s powerhouse combination of manufacturing, fulfillment and…

Manufacturing Leadership Council Crystal Ball Series Manufacturing in 2030 Project
Article : Blogs

Crystal Ball: A Futuristic Workforce Odyssey

April 26, 2023

Extrapolating from the results of NTT DATA’s recent research report, Innovation Index: Shifting from Disruption to Growth, Kim Curley, NTT DATA’s Digital Evolution Leader and Vice President of People & Organization, shares her insights about the future of the manufacturing…

Article : Blogs

Hannover Fair 2023: It’s Not Technology Anymore. It’s All About Data, Data, Data.

April 25, 2023

Whatever advanced technologies manufacturers adopt, future transformational success will ultimately depend on data, from powering the latest digital tools to deliver more value, to creating entirely new industry-wide data ecosystems, to the foundation of enticing new Industrial Metaverse applications for…

Article : ML Journal

Dialogue: Yokogawa’s Autonomous Ambition

February 2, 2023

Last year’s 35-day field test of autonomous operations marked a new phase in the development of industrial AI control, believes Yokogawa Digital CEO, Hiroaki Kanokogi.

Article : ML Journal

Survey: Smarter Factories Are on the Way

February 1, 2023

Manufacturers will be pressing ahead with their M4.0 investments as they expand their digital deployments in operations, a new MLC survey reveals.

Schneider Electric Smart Factory Tour - Nov. 2022 - Lexington, KY
Article : Plant Tour reviews

Exploring Sustainability and Resilience at Schneider Electric’s Smart Factory

December 14, 2022

About 100 Manufacturing Leadership Council members, associate members, guests, and staff descended on Lexington, Ky., in November for a tour of Schneider Electric’s smart factory – a 65-year-old brownfield facility that showcases artificial intelligence, augmented reality, remote monitoring, and predictive…

Article : ML Journal

Survey: Sustainability Momentum Surges Dramatically

December 1, 2022

Sustainability is rapidly becoming one of the key drivers of industrial transformation for the rest of the decade, reveals the MLC’s latest exclusive research results.

Article : ML Journal

Morgan Advanced Materials Case Study

November 27, 2022

Morgan Advanced Materials’ thinkGREEN program helps identify and implement green technologies and processes and pursue continuous improvements.

Article : ML Journal

Creating a Listening Culture

November 23, 2022

Listening to employees and their ideas helps drive new ways of doing business, says Worthington VP, Joe Resko.

Article : ML Journal

Dialogue: Intel’s Sustainable Vision

November 18, 2022

Manufacturers have a huge opportunity to create products that will drive global sustainability and make their businesses stronger, says Intel CSO, Todd Brady.

Article : ML Journal

Digitalization, Sustainability, and Profit

November 18, 2022

Profitability and sustainability may have once been at odds for process manufacturers, but now, the two are intertwined like never before.

Article : Blogs

Digital Tech is Cornerstone for Sustainability

November 10, 2022

In his introduction to MLC’s recent Master Class session, Harnessing Digital Technology for a Sustainable Future, Paul Tate laid out the high stakes involved in sustainable manufacturing. “This is one of the most existential challenges and sources of opportunity for…

Ericcson USA - Holographic communications
Article : Plant Tour reviews

Imagining an Industrial 5G Future at Ericsson

October 27, 2022

Members of the Manufacturing Leadership Council were given a glimpse of the future of factory connectivity at the Ericsson USA 5G Smart Factory in Lewisville, Texas and Imagine Studio Tour in Plano, Texas. Exploring the theme Effectively Managing 5G and…

Article : ML Journal

POV: M4.0: There is No Looking Back

September 17, 2022

Industry has moved to an M4.0 phase where technologies are transforming how we work and create things.

Article : ML Journal

M2030 Enabling the Future of Enterprise-wide AI/ML

September 17, 2022

Augmenting AI/ML with enterprise systems allows manufacturers to create self-learning knowledge systems that will help them transform their businesses by 2030.

Article : ML Journal

Getting Started With 4.0 Technologies

September 17, 2022

Manufacturers embarking on a digital journey need to identify both the 4.0 technologies and the data that hold most potential.

Article : ML Journal

Rethinking End-of-Life Technology Value

September 16, 2022

Intelligent automation and AI can significantly extend electronic product lifecycles to provide greener and more profitable end-of-life solutions.

Article : ML Journal

Key Technologies In Manufacturing

September 14, 2022

Successful manufacturers find ways to ensure that digital change leads to evolution, not disruption.  

Article : Plant Tour reviews

Creating the Future Workforce at Lincoln Electric

September 1, 2022

Lincoln Electric has a long and storied history since its 1895 founding in Cleveland, Ohio, as a manufacturer of electric motors. Today, it is a global industry leader in welding equipment and consumables, additive manufacturing, and automation solutions, and has…

Article : ML Journal

DIALOGUE: AB InBev’s Award-Winning Dream

July 28, 2022

Multiple ML award winner AB InBev is harnessing the power of technology to create a future with more cheers, says Global VP Marcelo Ribeiro.

Article : ML Journal

POV: Making Cyber Responsibility Clear

July 27, 2022

The good news from MLC’s new cybersecurity survey is that more manufacturers than ever before — 62% in fact, according to the study — have put in place formal cyber plans and strategies to defend their companies against increasing numbers…

Article : ML Journal

Managing Supply Chain Cyber Risk

July 26, 2022

In highly connected industrial ecosystems, managing the supply chain landscape requires adapting traditional approaches to cyber risk.

Article : ML Journal

Beyond the Walls

July 26, 2022

As consumer products get smarter, how can manufacturers transfer security best practices from production environments into the devices in consumers’ hands?

Article : ML Journal

Cyber AI: Real Defense in Manufacturing

July 25, 2022

Cyber AI can be a force multiplier that enables organizations to respond faster than attackers can move, and to anticipate and react in advance.

Article : ML Journal

CASE STUDY: GM’s Award-Winning Factory ZERO

July 18, 2022

GM completely renovated, retooled, and expanded an existing factory into an ML award-winning plant to drive its all-electric vision for the future.

Article : Blogs

Rethink 2022: Avoiding a Digital Divide

July 11, 2022

When it comes to digital transformation, is there a way to ensure that all manufacturers have an equal opportunity to focus on digital initiatives – regardless of their size? A panel at Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Council Summit examined the…

Article : Blogs

Rethink 2022: Tomorrow’s Manufacturing Leaders Speak Up

July 5, 2022

Katelyn Kelsey didn’t expect to go into manufacturing, but as an engineer, the lure of digital transformation and the opportunity to solve emerging problems was too great. Participating in a panel discussion on next-generation leaders at MLC’s Rethink 2022 Summit,…

Article : Blogs

Rethink 2022: Data Literacy Connects Employees to a Common Digital Thread

July 1, 2022

In 1914, the Ford English School fostered shared language between the company’s workers who spoke many languages and had diverse perspectives. By establishing a shared understanding and fluency in the English language, Ford’s school led to increased safety and efficiency…

Article : Blogs

Rethink 2022: Supply Chain Through a New Lens

June 29, 2022

Lots of heads were nodding when Cynthia Farrer kicked off her opening comment of a fireside chat during the MLC’s Rethink 2022 Summit by noting that supply chain is something that everyone in the room is dealing with and it…

Article : ML Journal

POV: Digital Leadership and Workforce

May 30, 2022

Today’s manufacturing leadership teams must make bold decisions to realize the full potential of Manufacturing 4.0.

Article : ML Journal

Digital Transformations: Scale or Fail

May 29, 2022

To escape pilot purgatory and achieve value at scale, manufacturers must adopt a value-centric problem-solving approach.

Article : M2030 Perspectives

The Rise of Digital Manufacturing Ecosystems

May 23, 2022

The formation of value-added digital networks in manufacturing is underway, leading to new ecosystem partnerships that will reshape the industry in the years ahead.

Article : ML Journal

Enabling the Circular Economy

May 17, 2022

USM’s goal is to foster a closed loop program that recycles both metallic and non-metallic materials to be put back into production, says EVP Jodi Keller.

Article : ML Journal

Confronting the Onshoring Workforce Crisis

May 13, 2022

Workforce planning should be part of every manufacturer’s supply chain strategy, helping to maximize digital opportunities and drive industrial growth.

MLC members gather for a plant tour at Intertape Polymer Group in Utah.
Article : Plant Tour reviews

At IPG, A Relentless Focus on Business Value

April 28, 2022

For Intertape Polymer Group, a manufacturer of paper- and film-based packaging products, the last six years have been a time of significant growth – and change. Revenue during that period doubled from $750 million to $1.5 billion at the end…

Article : Blogs

5G Will Help Unlock M4.0’s Potential

April 12, 2022

5G networks vastly increase the speed and scope of data transmission and capture. Could 5G be the key that opens the door to the factory of the future?

Article : Press Releases

Manufacturing Leadership Council Unveils 2022 Leadership Awards

April 4, 2022

Washington, D.C. – The Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, today revealed the list of world-class manufacturing companies and individual leaders set to receive recognition as winners of the 2022 Manufacturing Leadership Awards, the industry’s…

Article : ML Journal

The Shift to 4.0 Supply Chains

March 29, 2022

Is Just-In-Time now DOA? Many manufacturers are now questioning whether JIT approaches are still valid in disruptive times.

Article : ML Journal

Fixing Broken Supply Chains

March 24, 2022

True supply chain resilience requires more than knee-jerk reactions. It requires a paradigm shift.  

Article : ML Journal

Building Resilient Supply Chains

March 21, 2022

Manufacturers can take a range of actions, from integrating for visibility to digital models, to create resiliency.  

Article : Blogs

Disrupt the Disruption in Manufacturing Supply Chains

February 23, 2022

The past two years will get plenty of blame for supply chain disruption, but disruption — from human and technology error to weather and other crises — has always been a challenge. Manufacturers are using dashboards to visualize performance measurements…

Article : ML Journal

SURVEY: Future Outlook: Hazy

February 1, 2022

While pandemic disruptions created a rush to move to M4.0, MLC’s latest Factories of the Future survey finds those plans have often been struck with a reality check.

Article : Blogs

Digital Transformation: The Necessity for ‘Unified Leadership Alignment’

February 1, 2022

As any company that has undertaken a digital transformation knows from sometimes painful experience, transitioning to the digital model of manufacturing includes overcoming many obstacles. Over the last several years, MLC research has revealed that dealing with legacy systems, keeping…

Article : ML Journal

POV: Factories of the Future

January 24, 2022

The pandemic accelerated the demand for M4.0, but those same challenges are also dragging it down.

Article : M2030 Perspectives

M2030 Perspective: Moving to M4.0’s Second Phase

January 24, 2022

Every industrial revolution goes through three overlapping phases: technology development, application, and ubiquity. The decade ahead will see manufacturing move into M4.0’s second phase.

Article : ML Journal

Transforming Operational Excellence

January 22, 2022

A digitally empowered performance management approach helps manufacturers identify key operational bottlenecks and directly tie improvements to bottom line business impact.

Article : ML Journal

Progress with Purpose

January 15, 2022

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal

3 Steps to Secure the Factory of the Future

January 14, 2022

As more companies move toward creating factories of the future, they need to prioritize cybersecurity as these new manufacturing models present new threats and require new defense strategies.     

Article : ML Journal

Get Agile With Smart Tech

January 13, 2022

Data-driven insights from smart technologies can help organizations regain ground lost during COVID-related downturns.

Article : ML Journal

Putting M4.0 to the Test

January 12, 2022

Middle market executives are increasingly shifting from a linear to a circular economy mindset because it offers a systemic approach to economic development that benefits business, overall society, and the environment. Advanced 4.0 technologies can help them get there.  

Article : ML Journal

Five Lessons for Digital Transformation

January 8, 2022

While it’s still early days in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, common errors can put organizations behind the curve on their ability to compete.

Article : ML Journal

It’s Time to Fix the Broken Feedback Loop

January 7, 2022

Using a Digital Twin to get feedback from the shop floor to the top floor will help manufacturers save their most precious commodity — time.   

Article : ML Journal

The Keys to Effective Roadmapping

January 7, 2022

Devising detailed roadmaps will enable manufacturers to transition their factories to a better future state, but such transitions will be most effective when aligned with a clear vision and strategic goals.   

Article : ML Journal

Creating People-Centric Future Factories

January 7, 2022

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal

Future Promise vs. Current Reality

January 6, 2022

Manufacturers are embracing the vision of highly automated and intelligent future factories, but many still have a long way to go on their digital transformation journeys.   

Article : ML Journal December 2021

Manufacturing’s Sustainability Challenge: The Race is On

December 6, 2021

The desire to adopt more sustainable and environmentally responsible practices is now an overwhelming sentiment among manufacturing executives, reveals the MLC’s latest sustainability survey. But the pace of change still needs to increase if the industry is going to achieve…

Article : ML Journal

Harnessing M4.0 to Embrace the Circular Economy

December 6, 2021

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal

Thinking Beyond Normal

December 6, 2021

Leaders need to be ready to think and act outside the normal lanes of operation and stay ahead of future threats to success, believes Lisle Corp. President, Mary Lisle Landhuis.

Article : ML Journal

The Sustainability Calculus

December 6, 2021

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal

A Digital Path to Improved Sustainability

December 6, 2021

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal

Overcoming Roadblocks to Advance Sustainability Programs

December 6, 2021

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal

4.0 Sustainability and the Circular Economy

December 6, 2021

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal

Developing a Manufacturing Net Zero Action Plan

December 6, 2021

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal

The Circular Solution

December 6, 2021

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal

The Sustainability Gap

December 3, 2021

One of the major aspirations of Manufacturing 4.0 is to digitally unite a manufacturing company with a seamless flow of data that provides one, accurate picture of operations.

Article : ML Journal

Inside Procter & Gamble’s Push to Net Zero

December 3, 2021

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal October 2021

Pedal to the Metal

October 4, 2021

Manufacturers see data’s massive potential to improve operations, predict disruptions, and bring about new revenue streams, but realizing that promise continues to be a work in progress.

BASF Plant Tour | Bringing Operational Training to The Digital Age for Manufacturing
Article : Plant Tour reviews

Inside BASF’s Customized Digital Training Simulators

October 1, 2021

Wherever your company is on its Smart Manufacturing journey, one stubborn issue remains: reducing human error. Whether it’s insufficient operating practices and procedural follow-through, equipment operation failures, or inconsistencies in shifts due to capability issues, the human component is a…

Article : ML Journal

Coping With Volatility

October 1, 2021

Manufacturing needs to adopt a more flexible, resilient approach to global supply chains, believes Madison Industries’ Filtration Group CPO Tim Voortman.

Article : ML Journal

Building a 4.0 Digital Thread for Supply Chains

October 1, 2021

By taking a strategic and integrated approach to the adoption of multiple 4.0 technologies, manufacturing companies can create a powerful digital thread across their supply chains that allows them to share critical information across all parts of their business, including…

Article : ML Journal

Weaving the Silos Together

October 1, 2021

One of the major aspirations of Manufacturing 4.0 is to digitally unite a manufacturing company with a seamless flow of data that provides one, accurate picture of operations.

Article : ML Journal

Democratizing a Data Driven Workforce

October 1, 2021

In an M4.0 world, democratization not only means making data available to more people, but giving them the tools and guides to use that data effectively. 

Article : ML Journal

Streamlining Supply Chains

October 1, 2021

How advanced technologies can drive supply chain visibility and efficiency.

Article : ML Journal

How Manufacturers Can Amplify Intelligence with AI

October 1, 2021

Manufacturers struggling to scale value from investments in digital technologies and AI need to take a more holistic approach that ensures C-suite buy-in, addresses new skills requirements, and creates an AI-friendly culture for the future 

Article : ML Journal

Navigating Digital Transformation

October 1, 2021

It’s not enough to just automate. To succeed in today’s environment, manufacturers need to hyperautomate.

Article : Blogs

10 Reasons Why Semiconductor Firms Should Rapidly Embrace Cloud

September 23, 2021

Semiconductor Market Trends   The semiconductor industry has been growing at a rapid pace for the past few years. Market research firm IDC estimates that  the semiconductor industry grew at a rate of 10.8% in 2020 and will grow at 12.5%…

Article : COVID-19

Understanding Respiratory Protection and Face Coverings

September 15, 2021

This guide, developed by the National Occupational Research Agenda Manufacturing Sector Council’s COVID Workgroup, can help small businesses understand the difference between face coverings and respirators as part of deploying a respiratory protection program. This document explains the differences between…

Article : Plant Tour reviews

Nexteer’s Tracing System Drives Global Manufacturing Improvements

August 24, 2021

Nexteer Automotive is on a mission to make driving a car safer, more fuel-efficient, and future-focused through its production of steering and driveline safety-critical car and truck electronic and hydraulic power products. In addition to electric and hydraulic power steering…

Article : ML Journal

POV: M4.0 Data Mastery

August 10, 2021

Having access to a lot of data might make an organization smart, but extracting insights from that data and applying it to business decisions will make an organization truly intelligent.

Article : ML Journal

Growing Pains

August 10, 2021

Manufacturers see data’s massive potential to improve operations, predict disruptions, and bring about new revenue streams, but realizing that promise continues to be a work in progress.

Article : ML Journal

Harnessing the Data Overload

August 10, 2021

To truly harness data, we need to capture it, control it, understand it, and convert it to action.

Article : ML Journal

Crossing the Data Chasm

August 10, 2021

In 1991, Geoffrey Moore published his seminal book on high tech marketing called “Crossing the Chasm”. Moore’s thesis was that there is a gap, or chasm, between early adopters of a high technology product and the mainstream early majority.

Article : ML Journal

Making Big Data Consumable

August 10, 2021

Data strategies and next-generation tactics will help organizations embrace the new decision-making framework they need to fully operationalize data insights.   

Article : ML Journal

The Faster Path from Data to Decision

August 5, 2021

Many manufacturers find that collecting data is no great challenge, but an improper foundation of architecture, governance, and analytics can make it hard to put that data to use.   

Article : ML Journal

Cyber Paradigm Shift

August 5, 2021

OT cybersecurity has new importance for the future, believes Dragos VP, Peter Vescuso.   

Reimagining Possibilities at Rethink 2021
Article : Blogs

Rethink 2021: Reimagining the Art of the Possible

June 29, 2021

“We are in the midst of great change,” declared David R. Brousell, Co-Founder, Vice President, and Executive Director of the Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC) in his opening speech at the MLC’s 2021 Virtual Rethink Summit today. “It requires us all to…

Schneider Lighthouse
Article : Blogs

At Schneider, ‘Small Steps’ Led to a Lighthouse

June 29, 2021

Schneider Electric’s Lexington, KY, plant is one of only a handful of manufacturing facilities in the U.S. that enjoys the coveted status of being a World Economic Forum-designated “Lighthouse” factory. To achieve that distinction, the Lexington plant, built in 1957,…

Rethink 2021 Intelligent Platforms
Article : Blogs

Rethink 2021: Accelerating M4.0 with Intelligent Platforms

June 29, 2021

Manufacturers are generating more data, faster, and from more aspects of their operations than ever before. The key to harnessing all that data to produce higher quality products more quickly and efficiently, and to speed up the decision-making process, is…

Article : Blogs

Rethink 2021: Enabling Evolution of the Frontline with AR

June 29, 2021

“Augmented Reality is definitely cool, it’s relatively easy to use, and it can have a big impact on productivity and quality,” argued Jim Heppelmann, Chief Executive Officer of PTC in an exclusive Executive Dialogue session during the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s…

Article : Blogs

Rethink 2021: A Better World for Tomorrow

June 29, 2021

“Manufacturers do not accept that anything is impossible.” In his opening speech for Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Summit, National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons reflected on the world’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic and how digital technologies…

Article : Blogs

Rethink 2021: Shell utilizes AI to power the future

June 29, 2021

  When it comes to making a digital transition and realizing ambitious business outcomes, Shell believes that technology might be the least important element. During his session at Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Council Summit, Peter Westerink, General Manager of Digitalization…

Article : ML Journal June 2021

Work Reimagined: 5 Ways to Build a Future Workforce

June 1, 2021

With the world slowly recovering from the pandemic, digital technologies can helBy Paul Feeko and Roselyn Feinsodp manufacturers prioritize employee health and safety in the ‘new’ workplace.

Article : ML Journal June 2021

The Empowered Workforce, Accelerated

June 1, 2021

Improved experiences are key to employee retention and engagement, but manufacturers must prioritize deploying new digital tools.

Article : ML Journal June 2021

Building M4.0-Ready Skills

June 1, 2021

To realize the full value of M4.0, companies must elevate their approaches for managing and deploying skills aligned with new technology.

Article : ML Journal June 2021

Making Data a Team Player

June 1, 2021

Relying on outside expertise can be a starting point, but lasting results happen when manufacturers develop their own digital bench strength.

Article : ML Journal June 2021

Next Gen Leadership

June 1, 2021

Will the collaborative organizational model finally take hold?

Article : ML Journal June 2021

Competing for Talent in a Tech-Centric World

June 1, 2021

To realize the full value of M4.0, companies must elevate their approaches for managing and deploying skills aligned with new technology.

Article : ML Journal June 2021

Going for Growth

June 1, 2021

The World Economic Forum’s Lighthouse Network is pointing the way to enterprise-wide transformation, business model change, and economic growth, believes the WEF’s Head of Advanced Manufacturing, Francisco Betti.

Article : ML Journal June 2021

Tackling the Talent Shortage Problem

June 1, 2021

I’ve been working in the manufacturing industry for 23 years. All during this time, and likely before, manufacturers have had difficulty finding skilled workers and filling open jobs.

Article : ML Journal June 2021

Reimagining the Art of the Possible

June 1, 2021

COVID has instigated a host of strategic and tactical changes in manufacturing which will be permanent features of the industrial landscape for years to come, rewriting leadership’s playbook and redefining the rules of competition.

Article : ML Journal June 2021

Learning from Disruption

June 1, 2021

The disruptive impact of the pandemic has highlighted the importance of more flexible, demand-driven approaches that can adapt to sudden change, believes Goodyear VP of Global Operations Bruce Beach.

Article : Plant Tour reviews

IBM Plant Tour: Driving Innovation Through Relentless Reinvention

May 7, 2021

IBM’s digital journey is keenly focused on building a cognitive enterprise that embraces an agile culture of innovation, combined with a client focus that leverages exponential technologies to deliver greater value. IBM executives on the MLC’s recent virtual tour of…

Article : ML Journal April 2021

COVID-19: A Catalyst for M4.0 Culture

March 30, 2021

The pandemic has spurred a paradigm shift in cultural transformation as manufacturing companies have leveraged M4.0 to accelerate digital adoption, collaboration, innovation, and integration across their enterprises, reveals the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s latest M4.0 Cultures survey.

Article : ML Journal April 2021

M4.0 Integration Essentials

March 30, 2021

Lean principles led to standardized performance, but digital performance systems are their high-powered successor.

Article : ML Journal

Innovating for the Future

March 30, 2021

Accelerated innovation driven by digital transformation can solve some of the world’s greatest challenges, believes retiring MLC Board Member & Protolabs CEO, Vicki Holt.

Article : ML Journal April 2021

6 Pillars of Successful M4.0 Execution

March 30, 2021

To successfully adapt to change, including big disruptions like the pandemic, manufacturers need to embrace a set of technologies that enable changes to business operations quickly and to innovate for changing times.

Article : ML Journal April 2021

The Culture is the Company

March 30, 2021

Fostering a culture of collaboration, partnership, and agility is key to leadership success, believes ALOM Technologies’ CEO Hannah Kain.

Article : ML Journal April 2021

POV: M4.0 Cultures

March 30, 2021

COVID-19 has provided an extraordinary impetus to the transformation of M4.0 cultures.

Article : ML Journal April 2021

Rewarding a Culture of Continuous Learning

March 30, 2021

It’s time manufacturing companies rethink how they create a learning culture to develop, manage, and support their workers in the digital age.

Article : ML Journal April 2021

Unlocking the Value of M4.0

March 30, 2021

Deliberately shifting culture through practical behavior changes is the key to more agile and sustainable manufacturing.

Article : Plant Tour reviews

Manufacturing Cyber Security: MxD’s Protection Framework

February 25, 2021

As manufacturers accelerate the deployment of digital technologies to modernize and interconnect their facilities and supply chains, they also open up new risks for cyber-attacks, stressed Chandra Brown, CEO of MxD, during a recent virtual plant tour for Manufacturing Leadership…

Article : COVID-19

Ventilation Strategies to Reduce the Risk of COVID-19 in Manufacturing

February 21, 2021

What ventilation practices can manufacturers put in place to create a safer workplace in the era of COVID-19? The National Occupational Research Agenda Manufacturing Sector Council’s COVID-19 workgroup has developed an online document that can assist manufacturers in this area.…

Article : ML Journal February 2021

The Future, Coming More Into View

February 1, 2021

There is nothing like an existential crisis to spur change. And the manufacturing industry seems determined not to waste the opportunity.

Article : ML Journal February 2021

Fast Forward for Future Factories

February 1, 2021

The COVID pandemic has triggered a surge in M4.0 adoption across almost every function of manufacturing production that promises to rapidly transform the way factories are designed, operated, and managed in the next decade, reveals the MLC’s latest Factories of…

Article : ML Journal February 2021

Leaving China? It’s Not That Easy

February 1, 2021

Trade tensions and the global pandemic’s effect on supply chains have compelled manufacturers to rethink their strategies in China. But pulling up stakes in China is far from simple and may not be in a manufacturer’s long-term interest.

Article : ML Journal February 2021

Technology-Driven and Human-Centered

February 1, 2021

Digital will drive manufacturing’s transformation, but only if it goes with a people-first approach

Article : ML Journal February 2021

GM Prepares For an All-Electric Future

February 1, 2021

Gerald Johnson, EVP of Global Manufacturing, believes that technology-powered production agility holds the key to a rapid realization of the company’s “Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, Zero Congestion” vision.

Article : ML Journal February 2021

Disruption Will Be Business as Usual

February 1, 2021

Supply chain resiliency and agility are manufacturing’s highest priorities in a world where disruption will become the new business normal, believes ResMed VP Brendan Mullins.

Article : COVID-19

Reduce Risks and Safeguard Workers with New Technologies

January 28, 2021

The road to recovery and resilience begins with great ideas paired with great technology to create and implement a strong risk-reduction strategy that will continue to protect your organization and its people for years to come.

Article : COVID-19

Fighting COVID-19 With Analytics

January 14, 2021

Data analytics are being employed at the heart of the battle against COVID-19. Tracing the outbreak and modeling data to predict outcomes is critical in this crisis. Businesses and governments around the world are starting to apply a wide range…

Article : Plant Tour reviews

Teaching Analog Systems Digital Tricks

January 14, 2021

Manufacturing Leadership Council members recently took a virtual tour around MxD’s Innovation Center in Chicago to learn how to integrate digital manufacturing technologies using existing legacy equipment in ways that can help increase agility without breaking the bank or getting…

Article : COVID-19

NAM Webinar Tackles Vaccine Questions

December 24, 2020

As COVID-19 vaccines such as those from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna begin to become available, manufacturers have a lot of questions about vaccination in relation to their workforces. To provide as many answers as possible at this point in the vaccination…

Article : Blogs

Three Steps Toward Manufacturing Resiliency

December 18, 2020

To stay in business and remain competitive, manufacturers must anticipate and respond to both foreseen and unforeseen changes. What’s the key to this responsiveness? Manufacturing resiliency. And the driver behind this resiliency is data-driven production execution supported by digital technologies.

Article : ML Journal December 2020

Putting Intelligence Back into AI

December 8, 2020

Today’s version of artificial intelligence is at risk of undercutting the power of knowledge.To free this important technology, here are 10 recommendations that will enable AI in manufacturing operations to prosper.

Article : ML Journal December 2020

The Shape of Things to Come

December 8, 2020

The future state of manufacturing is envisioned as a highly efficient, high-tech engine of mass customization. But competitive advantage will flow only to those companies that master the use of advanced technologies and orchestrate change well.

Article : ML Journal December 2020

Reimagining the Cybersecurity Workforce

December 8, 2020

Prepared for a cyber war? As cybercrime targets proliferate, manufacturers will need an army of cybersecurity experts to repel the hackers. MxD has identified 247 cyber roles that manufacturers need to consider.

Article : ML Journal December 2020

Leadership for the Digital Future

December 8, 2020

What new skills, roles, teams, or new internal functions will manufacturers need in 2030?

Article : ML Journal December 2020

Visions of the Decade to Come

December 8, 2020

Customized, autonomous, micro-networked, localized, AI-rich, modular, and more sustainable? What will global manufacturing look like in the decade to come? Members of the MLC’s Board of Governors share their unique perspectives on the future of manufacturing in 2030.

Article : ML Journal December 2020

Connected Customers: The Next Frontier

December 8, 2020

Consumers have more choice now than ever. Why wouldn’t you use readily available data from today’s increasingly connected customer to anticipate their needs, drive innovation, and earn their loyalty?

Article : ML Journal December 2020

Spatial Computing: Digitizing the Future of Work

December 8, 2020

By 2030, spatial computing applications that precisely locate and map 3D movements to improve operations and maximize the multiple interactions between humans, machines, objects, and working environments will become ubiquitous.

Article : ML Journal December 2020

Disruption Brings Endless Opportunities

December 8, 2020

The reality is that end-market disruption is only going to increase. If you want to play a pivotal role in shaping the American economy for the next decade, you need to consider how to face that disruption with strengthened innovation…

Article : ML Journal December 2020

The Evolving Role of Middle Management

December 8, 2020

Middle managers have been a part of organizational hierarchy since humans started working together. But that role must change as traditional manufacturing transforms to a data-driven digital engineering model.

Article : ML Journal December 2020

Reimagining the Human-Machine Relationship

December 8, 2020

Manufacturers must prepare the human workforce now to work alongside increasingly collaborative, even sentient, robots.

Article : ML Journal October 2020

Predictive Opportunities Ahead

October 4, 2020

Targeted automation projects harnessing predictive analytics will help manufacturers become more efficient, agile, and flexible while maintaining great quality, believes Haemonetics SVP Josep Llorens.

Article : ML Journal October 2020

COVID-19: An Unlikely Inspiration

October 2, 2020

Spurred by the need for agility and flexibility in a time of crisis, manufacturers appear determined to accelerate their investments in digital technologies.

Article : ML Journal

Sustainability Reaches an Inflection Point

September 30, 2020

Novelis VP Bea Landa believes manufacturing is at a turning point in creating a sustainable circular industrial economy for the future.

Article : ML Journal October 2020

Enabling ‘Tech Intensity’ in AI

September 30, 2020

Artificial intelligence is a major component in manufacturing transformation projects, but using the technology to invent new digital capabilities that will create competitive advantages requires a disciplined use case approach.

Article : ML Journal October 2020

Turning Up the Fire

September 30, 2020

This year, the omnipresence of the COVID-19 virus has affected nearly every dimension and aspect…

Article : ML Journal October 2020

5G and Smart Manufacturing

September 30, 2020

As companies advance along their journey to smart manufacturing, 5G communication technology promises to overcome the current networking constraints hindering the creation of more effective real-time, high-volume, and secure data-driven applications.

Article : ML Journal October 2020

Bounce Forward, Not Back

September 30, 2020

Manufacturing resilience and the power of technology.

Article : ML Journal October 2020

An Accelerated M4.0 Future

September 30, 2020

Manufacturers scramble to digitize in immediate response to pandemic strains, but the payoff could be greater down the road.

Article : ML Journal October 2020

POV: Transformative Technologies

September 30, 2020

Manufacturers have trouble keeping up with new technologies but they still have faith in them.

Article : ML Journal October 2020

The Three Rs for the Next Normal

September 30, 2020

Harnessing digital technologies to reimagine workspaces and the workforce, create more resilient operations, and refactor innovation across the enterprise will help determine which manufacturers thrive and survive in the post-COVID world.

Article : ML Journal October 2020

Industry 4.0: A Realistic Approach for Practical Times

September 29, 2020

To successfully navigate the journey to Manufacturing 4.0 and ensure talent retention, leaders must shift their management mindset from command and control to cultivate and monitor by creating an environment that fosters motivation and psychological safety.

Article : COVID-19

Building a Digital Return-to-Work Strategy

September 25, 2020

Countering disruption with resilience and agility COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruption and pushed organizations to find new ways of staying competitive and relevant. Business leaders have realized the need to build resilience for the long haul as they come to…

Article : ML Journal June 2020

AR and How We Work: The New Normal

September 3, 2020

Digital transformation has arrived for the first time in frontline work. Augmented reality technology has the power to boost frontline worker productivity by as much as 50% and reduce human errors by up to a whopping 90%. Transforming frontline work…

Article : Plant Tour reviews

Protolabs hosts MLC’s first-ever virtual plant tour

September 2, 2020

Only July 22, the Manufacturing Leadership Council hosted its first-ever virtual plant tour in conjunction with Protolabs, a manufacturer of custom prototypes and on-demand production parts. More than 300 attendees joined the tour, which “visited” six of Protolabs’ U.S. facilities…

Article : COVID-19

The Connected Enterprise Shouldn’t be Next for Manufacturers – It Should be Now

August 26, 2020

The Connected Enterprise has been a priority for manufacturing companies in recent years but has experienced unprecedented acceleration due to COVID-19 in 2020. Manufacturing leaders from Lockheed Martin, VirTex Enterprises, and IBM discussed major drivers of this acceleration, including enablement…

Article : Blogs

5 Ways the Cloud is Transforming Manufacturing

August 11, 2020

The manufacturing sector faces a slew of challenges due to the pandemic. A recent survey by the U.S. National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) found that nearly four out of five manufacturing companies expect a financial hit from COVID-19. More than half (53.1%)…

Article : ML Journal August 2020

The Reckoning

August 6, 2020

As manufacturers prepare for an explosion of data over the next few years, they will need to learn fast and embrace new analytical technologies, internal structures, and corporate cultures to turn that data into meaningful business-changing predictive insights, according to…

Article : ML Journal August 2020

Opportunity from Disruption

August 6, 2020

While pandemic disruption may dominate current supply chain strategies, the impact of data will deliver the greatest opportunities in the longer term, believes Jim Hooven at Standex International.

Article : ML Journal August 2020

Accelerating the M4.0 Learning Curve

August 6, 2020

With in-person training on hold during the pandemic, digital training can fill an important role and generate an ROI as high as 127%.

Article : ML Journal August 2020

A Broader View of Industry 4.0

August 6, 2020

Manufacturers have expanded their expectations about the benefits of digital transformation, but issues around workforce skills, organizational silos, and skittishness about embracing disruption may be holding some back.

Article : ML Journal August 2020

M4.0 Success StartsWith a Digital Culture

August 6, 2020

Getting the right technologies helps many companies improve, but success can only be maintained if the workforce has the digital acumen to support it.

Article : ML Journal August 2020

A Practical Guide to Scale Industry 4.0

August 6, 2020

Pilot and scale purgatory are two problems that limit manufacturers from realizing the benefits of I4.0. Here’s a five-step plan to overcome the obstacles.

Article : ML Journal August 2020

When Cultivating Motivation is Key

August 6, 2020

To successfully navigate the journey to Manufacturing 4.0 and ensure talent retention, leaders must shift their management mindset from command and control to cultivate and monitor by creating an environment that fosters motivation and psychological safety.

Article : ML Journal August 2020

Connected Leadership Changes Everything

August 6, 2020

Combining the idea of agile-based connected leadership with Delta Leadership’s Six Domains of Leadership Model can create a culture of leadership well suited to a time of disruption.

Article : ML Journal

Seeking Equilibrium After Turbulence

August 6, 2020

Cisco’s new SVP of Global Manufacturing & Logistics, Mike Coubrough, believes collaborative teamwork, digitization, and shared innovation can help manufacturing transform the future of supply network effectiveness.

Article : ML Journal June 2020

COVID-19 Recovery: A Rocky Road Ahead?

July 24, 2020

Can leveraging digital technologies help manufacturers along the potentially long and difficult road to recovery over the next two years?

Article : COVID-19

The COVID Effect: Managing Liability and Health with Technology

June 24, 2020

Whether your manufacturing activity ramped up for relief and recovery efforts, completely shut down, or remained open in limited capacity, the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the way many manufacturing organizations will function moving forward. Beyond physical cleaning,…

Article : COVID-19

Pella Accelerates Adoption of AR Technology During Pandemic

June 18, 2020

In the 12th town hall meeting of Manufacturing Leadership Council members, Don Lanke, Director of Engineering at Pella Corporation discussed how the window and door manufacturer is leveraging augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and remote assistance technology in response…

Article : COVID-19

IPG Rolls Out COVID-19 Response Playbook

June 12, 2020

In the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s 12th town hall since COVID-19 began, two leaders from leading tape manufacturer, IPG, shared details of their company’s response plan. Council members tuned in to hear Jai Sundararaman and JK Perumal, both of IPG’s Business…

Article : ML Journal June 2020

RECOVERY: Dim Outlines

June 10, 2020

Recovery is coming for manufacturers, but there will never be the same normal.

Article : ML Journal June 2020

FRONT LINES: The Response

June 10, 2020

Manufacturers from nearly every sector of the industry stepped up to the front lines of the crisis, adapting and pivoting production to meet the health and safety needs of Americans. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Article : ML Journal June 2020

Linde: Reaching New Limits

June 10, 2020

Adaptation to technology can mean succeeding in a short-term crisis and a long-term business plan. We can no longer operate our business in the way that we used to do it. It is necessary to face and accept that reality.…

Article : ML Journal June 2020

Maxion: Behind the Shield

June 10, 2020

Wheel manufacturer Maxion partners with high school robotics team to meet local needs for PPE. Maxion Wheels, a global manufacturer of light and commercial vehicle wheels, has been producing car steel wheels in Sedalia, Missouri, for more than 40 years.…

Article : ML Journal June 2020

Proving Grounds for M4.0

June 10, 2020

Focusing on purpose, practice, pursuit, and perfection can help organizations shape and deliver

Article : ML Journal June 2020

MXD: When Flexibility Really Counts

June 10, 2020

MxD, a partnership with the Department of Defense, addressed the urgent need for face shields by employing digital manufacturing techniques, crowdsourcing, and its manufacturing ecosystem. When people hear the term digital manufacturing, several concepts like Industry 4.0, IIOT, and data…

Article : ML Journal June 2020

Hershey: To Protect and Feed

June 10, 2020

The Hershey Company is collaborating with a host of industry, technology, community, and global partners to respond to the COVID crisis. In late April, leading food manufacturer The Hershey Company announced an entirely new $1 million production line dedicated to…

Article : ML Journal June 2020

Learning for the Future

June 10, 2020

Focusing on purpose, practice, pursuit, and perfection can help organizations shape and deliver

Article : ML Journal June 2020

The Opportunities Ahead

June 10, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on much of the industry so far this year, but manufacturers see a host of operational, supply chain, and cultural improvement opportunities emerging from the crisis.

Article : ML Journal June 2020

A Better, Stronger Industry Will Emerge

June 10, 2020

the 20th century, two of the most important disciplines that manufacturers embraced were lean manufacturing and safety…

Article : ML Journal June 2020

Succeeding in the Next Normal

June 10, 2020

Focusing on purpose, practice, pursuit, and perfection can help organizations shape and deliver

Article : ML Journal June 2020

Managing in the ‘New Normal’

June 9, 2020

Focusing on purpose, practice, pursuit, and perfection can help organizations shape and deliver

Article : ML Journal June 2020

Leadership in Times of Crisis

June 7, 2020

Focusing on purpose, practice, pursuit, and perfection can help organizations shape and deliver

Article : COVID-19

Automotive Manufacturers Outline COVID-19 Guidelines

May 22, 2020

In the 10th town hall meeting since COVID-19 began, the Manufacturing Leadership Council welcomed two of its members from automotive manufacturers to share how they’ve been planning return to work policies and procedures. Britt Autry, Vice President of Manufacturing at…

Article : COVID-19

Manufacturing’s Recovery from COVID-19 Linked to Digital Acumen

May 21, 2020

As manufacturing leaders continue to grapple with the COVID-19 crisis, the topic of the latest Manufacturing Leadership Council Critical Issues webinar – Digital Acumen: Does Your Leadership Team Have What It Takes? — was especially timely. Three panelists discussed the…

Article : COVID-19

COVID-19: Two Manufacturers Share Real-World Strategies

May 15, 2020

During their 9th town hall meeting since COVID-19 began, members of the Manufacturing Leadership Council gathered once again to discuss the latest strategies for dealing with the crisis. Two manufacturers, The Bradbury Group and Greene, Tweed, joined to share their…

Article : COVID-19

4 Priorities for Manufacturing Leaders as the COVID-19 Crisis Continues

May 6, 2020

Manufacturing Leadership Council members gathered this week for their 8th town hall meeting since the COVID-19 crisis began. Leaders joined the conversation to discuss, several months in, how their companies are handling the pandemic and how it’s impacting their businesses,…

Article : Blogs

Help Wanted: Military-Grade Talent for Challenging Times

April 30, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has tested manufacturers’ resilience in unprecedented ways, straining supply networks, shuttering factories, and pushing some industry sectors to the brink. Now more than ever, the times call for an agile, adaptable, and responsive workforce. Manufacturers are continuing…

Article : Blogs

RPA in Manufacturing: 4 Common Use Cases

April 21, 2020

In these particularly challenging times, business operations are being disrupted in unprecedented ways. Amid extreme and sudden changes in supply and demand, manufacturers are putting together action plans and recovery initiatives to manage the current pandemic crisis, and they’re looking…

Article : ML Journal April 2020

Transforming Operational Value

April 10, 2020

Chip Hilarides is helping to lead a corporate-wide initiative at Koch Industries to accelerate the adoption of transformative cultures, strategies, methods and technologies across its global operations.

Article : ML Journal

Vermeer’s Digital Journey

April 10, 2020

As the equipment maker takes advantage of digital instructions, the IoT, and 3D printing, a step-by-step approach, flexibility, and careful employee engagement underpin its Manufacturing 4.0 strategy.

Article : ML Journal April 2020

POV: The M4.0 Data Imperative

April 10, 2020

First-mover advantages are now being enjoyed by leaders in digital manufacturing

Article : ML Journal April 2020

Small Start, Big Finish

April 10, 2020

Prioritizing digital projects to make early gains can

Article : ML Journal April 2020

The Reach for Data Monetization

April 10, 2020

Manufacturers have more data than ever, but leveraging it is a continuing struggle.

Article : COVID-19

Manufacturers Offer 4 Tips for Dealing With COVID-19

March 24, 2020

On a recent conference call held by the Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC) and its parent, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), leaders from Premio Foods and Trane Technologies discussed tips and tactics for safeguarding workers and strengthening  operations throughout the…

Article : COVID-19

ADMINISTRATIVE — Employee Leave and Absenteeism

March 20, 2020

What types of changes are you making to employee leave policies? How do you accommodate employees who suddenly need to be home with children? Are you putting measures in place to discourage sick employees from reporting to work, or employees…

Article : COVID-19

ADMINISTRATIVE — Internal Communications about the Crisis

March 20, 2020

How frequently are you communicating with employees, and through what means? What can be done to reassure workers during an anxious time? What types of resources are you providing for employees who want more information about coronavirus?

Article : COVID-19

ADMINISTRATIVE — Travel Restrictions

March 20, 2020

Are corporate travel restrictions causing a slowdown in operations? Have you limited or banned employee personal travel? What is your policy for any employee who has visited a high-risk area? What guidance are you using to determine when it will…

Article : COVID-19

ADMINISTRATIVE — Remote Work Considerations

March 20, 2020

How has your IT team responded to setting up remote operations for those who can work from home? What challenges have they encountered? Have you created a formalized work-from-home policy for employees? What types of training have you offered to…

Article : COVID-19

PROTECTION MEASURES — Symptom Check Protocols

March 20, 2020

Are you taking employees’ temperatures on the work site, and what types of protocols do you follow for this process? Are employees permitted to monitor and log their own symptoms? If an employee presents symptoms, what is protocol for removing…

Article : COVID-19

PROTECTION MEASURES — Visitors, Contractors, and Vendors

March 20, 2020

Are you continuing to allow visitors on your work site? What types of restrictions or limits are in place for visitors or workers from other companies (i.e. vendors) at your plant? If you employ contract technical or mechanical staff, are…

Article : COVID-19

PROTECTION MEASURES — On-Site Protective Measures

March 20, 2020

Are you enacting social distancing measures? How are they enforced? Have you staggered shifts or breaks to allow more personal space? Have you enacted new cleaning or PPE protocols? Have you limited on-site meetings between employees? How do you handle…

Article : COVID-19

PROTECTION MEASURES — When an Employee Becomes Ill

March 20, 2020

Has an employee in your facility tested positive? What are your protocols after a reported illness? Do you have measures in place to track who may have been in contact with an infected employee? What are your requirements for allowing…

Article : COVID-19

OPERATIONS — Contingency Planning and Business Continuity

March 20, 2020

Do you feel the emergency planning your company had in place has been adequate for this crisis so far? What are the best practices for creating a business continuity plan? Have you created special task forces or committees at your…

Article : COVID-19

OPERATIONS — Labor Shortages

March 20, 2020

Are you prepared to deal with disruptions from factory floor absenteeism? How can you minimize the impact?

Article : COVID-19

OPERATIONS — Supply Network Disruptions

March 20, 2020

How are you working to keep your supply chain intact? What types of discussions are you having with your current suppliers? What specific disruptions are threatening your business continuity?

Article : COVID-19

RESOURCE — Recording: MLC COVID-19 Town Hall March 19, 2020

March 20, 2020

The Manufacturing Leadership Council hosted an open forum for its membership to discuss their operational status at the emergence of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Topics covered included adjustments to leave policy, on-site temperature checks, and setting up…

Article : COVID-19

RESOURCE — NAM Coronavirus Resources

March 20, 2020

Visit nam.org/coronavirus for the NAM’s comprehensive COVID-19 Policy Action Plan and the latest resources and information.

Article : Plant Tour reviews

Hunting for Treasure at Intertape Polymer Group Inc.

March 17, 2020

“Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.” While that old saying might be a maxim for household budgeting, it also could describe Intertape Polymer Group Inc.’s (IPG) approach to developing an award-winning energy management program. Its…

Article : COVID-19

Manufacturing Operations Best Practices for Handling COVID-19

March 11, 2020

Yesterday the Manufacturing Leadership Council and the NAM hosted an informational call about how manufacturers can protect their workers and strengthen their operations during the coronavirus outbreak. You can listen to the recording here. The call features Trane Tech’s Director of…

Article : ML Journal February 2020

POV: Future Factories

February 13, 2020

First-mover advantages are now being enjoyed by leaders in digital manufacturing

Article : ML Journal February 2020

Driving Culture Change in Disruptive Times

February 11, 2020

Manufacturing needs to invest more in workforce knowledge and skills to bridge the gap between the needs of the business and its ability to execute in a digital world, believes John Schultz at Allied Reliability.

Article : ML Journal February 2020

A Peek Into the Future

February 11, 2020

n January of 2012, the Manufacturing Leadership Council published its first study on the subject of future factories…

Article : ML Journal February 2020

Finally, Double-Digit I4.0 Impact at Scale

February 11, 2020

To move beyond the pilot stage and achieve scale with Industry 4.0, manufacturers must adopt a financial-impact first approach that can yield double-digit improvements in cost savings, capacity, and asset efficiency.

Article : ML Journal December 2019

Getting More Disciplined on Sustainability

December 2, 2019

the 20th century, two of the most important disciplines that manufacturers embraced were lean manufacturing and safety…

Article : ML Journal December 2019

POV: Sustainnovation

December 2, 2019

Manufacturing’s new mandate is to innovate for a more sustainable future.

Article : ML Journal December 2019

In the Vanguard of Sustainability

December 2, 2019

Manufacturers continue to lead the charge in protecting the environment. And the NAM’s partnership programs with the Department…

Article : ML Journal December 2019

Digital Twins

December 2, 2019

The transition from atoms to bits in manufacturing reduces waste in time, energy, and materials

Article : ML Journal

Volvo’s Sustainable Ambition

December 2, 2019

Marc Gombeer, Volvo’s VP of Manufacturing Americas, believes sustainability will become a critical factor for success in the global auto industry.

Article : ML Journal December 2019

Leveraging M4.0 to Enhance Sustainability

December 2, 2019

A combination of advanced technologies and new design thinking approaches could help manufacturing companies create a more sustainable…

Article : ML Journal December 2019

The Sustainability Imperative: Embracing the External Dimension

December 2, 2019

Sustainable manufacturing strategies are now critical to the industry’s ability to drive future competitiveness and growth, and improve corporate reputations, according to the latest Manufacturing Leadership Council survey. But a lack of appropriate funding, the right technologies, and clear employee…

Article : Plant Tour reviews

Clif Bar: A ‘Different Kind’ of Manufacturer

November 20, 2019

Manufacturing Leadership Council members toured Clif Bar’s three-year old energy bar plant in Twin Falls, Idaho, and learned about the company’s 5 Aspirations business model.

Article : Plant Tour reviews

At Plant Tour, Amway Details its High-Performance Workforce Initiative

November 1, 2019

In 1979, McDonald’s launched the Happy Meal, ESPN hit the airwaves for the first time, and Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” became the first Top 40 rap single. It was also a year when Amway undertook a massive hiring effort for…

Article : ML Journal October 2019

Creating a Smarter Future

October 4, 2019

Winner of the MLC’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, Jim Davis believes a deeper grasp of data context, better ways to combat complexity, and a more broadly embraced industrial culture of collaboration and innovation are essential to manufacturing’s future.

Article : ML Journal October 2019

Transformative Technologies

October 4, 2019

Advanced tech can be complex and confusing but inaction isn’t a cure. As Dr. Seuss wrote in The Lorax, “It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.” Today, the good doctor’s thought could be applied…

Article : ML Journal October 2019

Starting on the Right Foot

October 4, 2019

The digital transformation of manufacturing isn’t easy. But the right selection of technologies coupled with smart implementation strategies can enable manufacturers to realize the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Article : ML Journal October 2019

The Case of the Missing Insights

October 4, 2019

Manufacturers can build on Ideas from Sherlock Holmes to derive value from data using artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.

Article : ML Journal October 2019

Transforming People Tech is Critical for M4.0

October 4, 2019

Digital Human Capital Management platforms for managing and transforming your workforce are not always on the radar of manufacturing executives, but they’re critical to bringing your people along during your M4.0 journey.

Article : Plant Tour reviews

How Oracle Chose a Five-Day Lead Time for Servers

August 13, 2019

Oracle Corp. is widely recognized as one of the largest software companies in the world. Founded in 1977, Oracle has developed and sold database management programs, applications, and other software products for decades, amassing more than 147,000 customers in 175…

Article : ML Journal August 2019

Scaling an M4.0 Culture

August 1, 2019

Sudhi Bangalore, VP of Industry 4.0 at Stanley Black & Decker, believes that scaling manufacturing transformation to the point of enterprise excellence is essential to the future of the industry.

Article : ML Journal August 2019

POV: M4.0 Cultures

August 1, 2019

What defines culture in the era of Manufacturing 4.0? According to the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s latest survey

Article : Blogs

M4.0: Is the U.S. Keeping Up With Global Competition?

June 20, 2019

“It will be very difficult for the U.S. to grow competitively in the future without increasing the speed of M4.0 adoption,” warns MLC Board Chairman John Fleming at the 2019 ML Summit.

Article : Blogs

2019 MLC Summit: Maximizing return on data for real transformation

June 12, 2019

Data is manufacturing’s new gold, but much like any raw material, it only has value once it’s mined, refined, and polished to make it shine. Manufacturers generally have no problem collecting massive amounts of data, but leveraging it to its…

Article : Blogs

Creating new engagement narratives for the connected customer

June 7, 2019

A vast array of technology advancements has quickly coalesced to create a smart and connected world. The advent of cutting edge digital technology including big data and analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, analytics and the cheap availability of bandwidth,…

Article : ML Journal June 2019

Rethinking Leadership in a 4.0 World

June 6, 2019

Digital acumen, collaboration, behavior change, and corporate restructuring will be vital to M4.0 leadership, says MLC Hannover panel.

Article : ML Journal June 2019

A New Baseline for Leadership

June 6, 2019

PPG Senior Vice President of Automotive Coatings, Rebecca Liebert, believes that achieving data-driven productivity across the industry will require leaders who learn continuously and are open to a host of new digital opportunities.

Article : Blogs

Are you ready to skydive into Industry 4.0?

June 6, 2019

… or does investing in the digital revolution seem like jumping out of a perfectly good plane without a parachute? “Industry 4.0” refers to the fourth industrial revolution: the age of digital technologies such as the internet of things, artificial…

Article : ML Journal June 2019

Rise of the connected and intelligent enterprise

June 3, 2019

Diverse and disparate products and devices get connected over the Internet of Things (IoT). This is giving way to personalized consumer experiences, workforce empowerment, optimized operations and novel business models. In the past, customers were forced to buy a product…

Article : Plant Tour reviews

Seeing the Future State of Distribution at Future Electronics

May 14, 2019

Now attuned to the fast-and-getting-faster world of e-commerce, consumers have come to expect a much shorter time window between when they click “buy” and when that item will show up at their door. That’s true of the average person who’s…

Article : Blogs

Can blockchain pave the way for ethical cobalt?

May 7, 2019

Benoit Nemery, a professor of toxicology at the Belgian university K.U. Leuven, has long been involved, together with researchers from the University of Lubumbashi, in investigating the “collateral damage” caused by mining activities in the copper-cobalt belt in the Democratic…

Article : Blogs

Is this workbench the key to a smart factory?

April 23, 2019

Today, Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things are monumental forces in manufacturing, transforming the way companies gather data and do business. But five years ago, it was a different world. Back then, Keith Jackson, the CTO of UK-based…

Article : Blogs

IBM, USC partner to fill the manufacturing skills gap

April 18, 2019

An education in manufacturing is not what it used to be. In years past, said Hossein Haj-Hariri, the Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at the University of South Carolina, aspiring manufacturers learned the fundamentals of mechanics, materials,…

Article : ML Journal

AI in Manufacturing

April 9, 2019

When I think about artificial intelligence, particularly concerns about its effect on jobs, I’m reminded what Franklin D. Roosevelt said at the height of the Great Depression in his

Article : Plant Tour reviews

VW Plant Tour, Wolfsburg, Germany: The Fast Lane of Mass Production

April 5, 2019

Hannover MLC Report Day 5 –– An hour’s drive outside Hannover, Germany, lies the city of Wolfsburg, home to Volkswagen’s massive showcase production facility, now Europe’s largest automotive factory, which produces an astounding 3,500 cars a day. That was the…

Article : Blogs

Hannover Forum Says Data Holds the Key to the Future of M4.0 and Beyond

April 2, 2019

Hannover Fair MLC Report Day 3 – One of the most significant challenges facing industrial companies as they proceed on their digital journeys is to determine how best to manage increasingly large volumes of data arising from pervasive connectivity. Tackling…

Article : Blogs

MLC Delegation Focuses on Latest M4.0 Technologies at Hannover Fair

April 1, 2019

Hannover Fair MLC Report, Day 2 –– Interoperability, IoT, collaborative robotics, AI in the factory, and digitally-driven enterprise strategies dominated the MLC Delegation’s stand visits during the first full exhibition day at this year’s Hannover Fair in Germany. First stop…

Article : Blogs

MLC Delegation Attends Opening of Hannover Fair in Germany

March 31, 2019

Hannover Fair MLC Report, March 31, 2019 — The Hannover Fair, the world’s largest industrial exhibition, opened last night in Germany as political and industrial leaders, including a delegation of Manufacturing Leadership Council members, gathered in the Hannover Congress Centrum to…

Article : Blogs

MLC’s First IoT Workshop Reveals Some M4.0 Truths and Lessons

March 11, 2019

Several months ago, a member of the Manufacturing Leadership Council from the automotive sector approached the MLC team with a proposition: What if they could host an IoT-themed workshop at their headquarters to discuss manufacturing digitization – and enlist the…

Article : Plant Tour reviews

ABB Plant Tour: A Competitive Advantage through Integrated Business Teams

February 14, 2019

At the ABB Dodge plant in Marion, NC, the keys to success are integrated business teams that function on a foundation of collaboration and trust, as well as operations that concentrate on standardized processes and a top-grade safety culture. These…

Article : MLC Research

High Expectations Attend Transformative Technologies

October 15, 2018

The Manufacturing Leadership Council’s latest survey on Manufacturing 4.0-related technologies reveals that companies are expecting big things from IIoT, analytics, 3D printing and other new technologies. But few are approaching their adoption strategically.

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At Adient, Empowered Workers Drive Results

August 24, 2018

Manufacturing Leadership Council members gathered last week at car seat manufacturer Adient’s factory in West Point, GA, and learned about the company’s High Performance Teams program.

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Video on the Factory Floor: A New Poka Yoke Tool for Operators

July 11, 2018

On May 21, Jeff Moad wrote an article entitled, Should Manufacturers Video Plant Floor Performance? In it, Jeff described the technology coming out of my company, Drishti, which uses video-based systems to observe human activities for automatic validation and measurement.…

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Taking the Next Step on Digital Transformation

July 5, 2018

For me, the most significant message that emerged from the recently-concluded 14th Annual Manufacturing Leadership Summit was this: More manufacturing leaders are moving beyond the early stages of Manufacturing 4.0 digital transformation—characterized by technology research and one-off proof-of-concept projects—and are…