December 16, 2024 Publisher’s Letter

Volume 27 | Issue 4

This is typically the time of year when people are making resolutions, and sometimes even keeping them.

Click here to read the digital issue.

We at Industry Today remain resolute in bringing you pertinent news and information from key decision makers and influencers about manufacturing and industry. It’s a resolution we keep year after year.

We share the commitment to spreading the word about developments in our industry in our lead story, AEM Manufacturing Express: Celebrating the Backbone of America. Get on the bus with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and its AEM Manufacturing Express, a nationwide tour designed to promote the U.S. equipment manufacturing industry and its 2.3 million workers. Over the course of 18 weeks, the Express crisscrossed 13,500 miles, stopping at over 80 manufacturing facilities across 20 states and connecting with nearly 100 elected officials and engaging over 9,000 employees.

In other feature news, we take a look at how most auto manufacturers lack talent with nextgen skills to successfully transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and zero-emission transportation. Stella Ioannidou, industry analyst and Senior Research Director at human capital advisory firm The Josh Bersin Company, writes in How to Get to Cruising Speed in the Race to the EV Future, “The research shows that automotive manufacturers need to urgently invest in building a workforce equipped not only for traditional ‘metal-bashing’ production lines but also for emerging business models such as automated manufacturing, innovative product development, and direct-to- consumer sales…These new roles increasingly require IT and software expertise, skills that are also highly sought after in other tech-driven industries.”

Tech is also driving innovations in warehousing operations. Senior Editor David Soyka profiles America in Motion, which designs and builds all-in-one materials handling solutions deploying custom-built Automated Guided Vehicles (AVGs). These mobile robots can carry payloads ranging from several pounds to several tons and navigate independently within a facility. Read more about it in Mobile Automation is the Future.

In Together at Last: IT and OT, Matt Wyatt, VP of Professional Services at TeamViewer, points out that “A recent survey found that 90% of businesses report their IT and OT teams are isolated. Bridging this gap is more than improving efficiency, cost savings and quality – it’s about empowering frontline workers.” Learn how connecting IT and OT teams has the potential to create immense value.

BioMADE recently announced a $26.9 million investment in 17 projects to advance the domestic production of sustainable materials for consumer products and defense applications, while also building the manufacturing workforce of the future. The details are covered in Supporting U.S. Bioindustrial Manufacturing Innovation and Workforce Development.

Oklahoma is home to over 4,200 manufacturing businesses and nearly 130,000 workers. Read how the state powers this thriving industry in The Success and Resilience of Oklahoma Manufacturing.

What’s the secret to how Buffalo, New York created a pro-business environment to attract Canadian business expansion? Thomas A. Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, explains in Increasing Flow of Canadian Investment Into Buffalo Niagara. Also in this issue, we profile leading companies CIC Construction Group, Oldcastle APG, and Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

This digital edition is just one part of our comprehensive media platform. You can always find timely reporting on a weekly basis at industrytoday.com.

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