<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:foaf="http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/" xmlns:og="http://ogp.me/ns#" xmlns:rdfs="http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#" xmlns:schema="http://schema.org/" xmlns:sioc="http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns#" xmlns:sioct="http://rdfs.org/sioc/types#" xmlns:skos="http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0" xml:base="https://www.nist.gov/"> <channel> <title>Manufacturing Innovation Blog</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/</link> <description>Manufacturing Innovation Blog blog posts</description> <language>en</language> <atom:link href="https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/> <item> <title>The One Workforce Attraction and Retention Strategy You Probably Haven’t Considered</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/one-workforce-attraction-and-retention-strategy-you-probably</link> <description>Here at America Works, we’re all about workforce innovation. We know that the existing workforce development system isn’t working as efficiently as it could, so companies need to try every strategy in the book to retain their workers (rather than expect to replace departing workers with new ones). To accomplish this, I’ve written about becoming an employer of choice, the importance of focusing on the employee experience, and how employers need to stop pushing the “easy button” on their workforce efforts. I thought that after eight years working at the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network</description> <pubDate>Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matt Fieldman</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1735376</guid> </item> <item> <title>Bernadine Hawes: My Manufacturing Story</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/bernadine-hawes-my-manufacturing-story</link> <description>This blog is part of a series for Black History Month to celebrate and share the stories of Black American manufacturing leaders. I didn’t start out even remotely as part of the manufacturing ecosystem. I started my career at the nation’s first urban research park, the University City Science Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I was trying to complete my doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania. I finished all my coursework but had not completed my Ph.D. dissertation. In hindsight, that wasn’t the failure many seemed to think. Going to work at the Science Center led to the kind of career</description> <pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Bernadine Hawes</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1735006</guid> </item> <item> <title>Asia Dillon: Making a Name for Herself as a Manufacturer</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/asia-dillon-making-name-herself-manufacturer</link> <description>This blog is part of a series for Black History Month to celebrate and share the stories of Black American manufacturing leaders. Asia Dillon is not your average 15-year-old high school student in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has already made a name for herself as a manufacturer. Asia is the owner of Sassy A Cosmetics, a company she started four years ago with the help of her mother. The start of Sassy A Cosmetics Asia considers herself “a little Jackie of all trades,” and sees opportunities where others might not. For example, her younger sister suffers from eczema, which makes her lips so dry</description> <pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator/> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1734691</guid> </item> <item> <title>Video: Heroes of American Manufacturing – Sweet Grass Dairy</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/video-heroes-american-manufacturing-sweet-grass-dairy</link> <description>People who really want to know where their food comes from often turn to small food manufacturers. Jessica Little, co-owner of Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, Georgia, realized this during the pandemic. Her challenge was figuring out how to meet the quality standards and food traceability required to expand into retail markets and get the company’s products out for more consumers to appreciate. A new video in the Heroes of American Manufacturing series featuring Sweet Grass Dairy highlights how this food manufacturer in south Georgia uses the milk produced from a unique, barn-free rotational</description> <pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Katie Rapp</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1734686</guid> </item> <item> <title>Rodney Reddic: Helping Texas Manufacturers Succeed</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/rodney-reddic-helping-texas-manufacturers-succeed</link> <description>This blog is part of a series for Black History Month to celebrate and share the stories of Black American manufacturing leaders. For more than 20 years, Rodney Reddic has been with Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC), the Texas Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center. He currently serves as TMAC’s Interim Executive Director. He has more than 30 years of experience working in the Texas manufacturing industrial base. His expertise includes providing industrial engineering and business consulting services to a wide variety of industries. The start of his manufacturing career</description> <pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator/> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1733821</guid> </item> <item> <title>Business Continuity Plans: Lessons Learned From Puerto Rico</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/business-continuity-plans-lessons-learned-puerto-rico</link> <description>The pandemic and subsequent supply chain disruptions have been harsh reminders of the need for manufacturers to create or update their business continuity plan (BCP). Disruptions of some sort are likely, and manufacturers must be prepared for all types of scenarios including natural disasters, technical failures and cyberattacks. Having a BCP already in place is essential for the initial response to a disruptive event. A BCP also enables manufacturers to continue operations and can help during an extended period of time. We know this all too well here in Puerto Rico. In the past six years we</description> <pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Francisco Garcia </dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1733736</guid> </item> <item> <title>Toyin Kolawole: Lifelong Entrepreneur and Founder of Iya Foods</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/toyin-kolawole-lifelong-entrepreneur-and-founder-iya-foods</link> <description>This blog is the first in a series for Black History Month to celebrate and share the stories of Black American manufacturing leaders. Toyin Kolawole is the founder and CEO of Iya Foods, a nourishment-focused food company inspired by her African roots and located in Illinois. Toyin grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, assisting with her family’s numerous entrepreneurial ventures, which included a small convenience drug store and a fast food business. Growing up as an entrepreneur Food, family and faith define Toyin’s life. Growing up in Nigeria as the eldest daughter in a family of five children, she</description> <pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator/> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1732661</guid> </item> <item> <title>Revolutionizing American Manufacturing</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/revolutionizing-american-manufacturing</link> <description>A major focus of the current administration is revitalizing American manufacturing, and new technologies are changing the way things are made. Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Director Pravina Raghavan recently appeared on Government Matters TV, where she discussed how MEP National NetworkTM experts around the country are working with small manufacturers to revolutionize U.S. manufacturing. From 3D-printed body organs and predictive maintenance to sensors that improve supply chain visibility, the future of manufacturing is about making processes more efficient and getting people what</description> <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Katie Rapp</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1732301</guid> </item> <item> <title>The 2023 Workforce Development Word of the Year is …</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/2023-workforce-development-word-year</link> <description>As 2022 came to a close, I was as amazed as I am every year by all the “___ of the Year” lists. It seems like every media outlet creates its own list of the year’s 10 best books, and then there’s the Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year, the Merriam-Webster Word of the Year, and so on. This got me thinking – what if workforce development had its own word of the year? But instead of looking backward, this word should inspire us for the coming year. What if we could pick one concept that guides all our efforts for 2023? Of course, this is just my humble opinion – but aren’t all these lists just</description> <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matt Fieldman</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1731626</guid> </item> <item> <title>Infographic: Training: Responding to the Skills Gap</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/infographic-training-responding-skills-gap</link> <description>There aren’t enough workers to meet U.S. manufacturers’ needs. A 2021 survey by the National Association of Manufacturers found that 80% of companies say their top challenge is the inability to attract and retain a quality workforce. The situation will worsen as baby boomers continue to retire. Adding to the challenge, the “great resignation” has resulted in people looking for more flexible and rewarding work. According to Deloitte, there could be 2.1 million unfilled manufacturing jobs by 2030. A new infographic, Training: Responding to the Skills Gap, describes both common workforce</description> <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Katie Rapp</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1730146</guid> </item> <item> <title>When in Crisis, Manufacturers Can Look to Kata</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/when-crisis-manufacturers-can-look-kata</link> <description>There is more to lean manufacturing than improving a few processes. Sustainable lean success requires a companywide culture of continuous daily improvement. Companies that develop their people to think scientifically, using facts and data to drive their decisions, are often the ones that most successfully achieve their goals. Practicing Toyota Kata, or kata, promotes this way of thinking, which can help companies become nimbler and more competitive so that they are able to not just survive but thrive during an adverse event such as a pandemic. Kata is a Japanese word that refers to a</description> <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Sarah Burlingame</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1729461</guid> </item> <item> <title>Support Manufacturers With Tasty and Pampering Holiday Gifts</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/support-manufacturers-tasty-and-pampering-holiday-gifts</link> <description>It’s that time of year again – the season when you start looking for holiday gifting ideas. Have you considered checking out your local manufacturers? They have gifts that range from tasty treats to pampering presents. You can delight even the most finicky person on your list, while also introducing loved ones (and yourself) to local manufacturers across the country. Take a look at these clients of the MEP National NetworkTM and learn how each company’s local MEP Center played a role in their growth and success. Tasty treats When you’re struggling to find the perfect present, think about food</description> <pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Tom Williams</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1728601</guid> </item> <item> <title>5 Things We Learned in Germany</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/5-things-we-learned-germany</link> <description>I’m sure you’ve heard the buzz around the German apprenticeship system – but does it really live up to the hype? That’s what a recent mission of 16 workforce professionals from around the United States set out to learn. Supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany, funded by the European Recovery Program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and coordinated by America Works in partnership with the American Council on Germany, the October trip was truly a team effort. Our group included eight professionals from the MEP National NetworkTM</description> <pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matt Fieldman</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1728041</guid> </item> <item> <title>A Lean Management Road Map to Build a More Proactive Game Plan</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/lean-management-road-map-build-more-proactive-game-plan</link> <description>Research has shown that during times of economic uncertainty, companies that find a balance between reducing the resources they need to survive and investing in key areas for growth will fare better through a recession and beyond. It’s a nuanced approach that involves playing offense and defense at the same time. Many small and medium-sized manufacturers have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and find themselves with few apparent options. They have reduced their use of resources to the point that they feel there’s no time for anything beyond operations. When they do have</description> <pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Sue Via</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1727601</guid> </item> <item> <title>Video: Heroes of American Manufacturing – BrightView Technologies</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/video-heroes-american-manufacturing-brightview-technologies</link> <description>A new video in the Heroes of American Manufacturing series features BrightView Technologies, a Durham, North Carolina, manufacturer. What makes BrightView a hero? During the COVID-19 pandemic, it pivoted to making personal protective equipment (PPE) and gave its workforce as safe an environment to work in as possible. Now, after returning to more normal operations, BrightView offers high tech careers in an exciting, cutting-edge field. BrightView specializes in custom-engineered optics, which it calls “visual intelligence” (VI). It uses a unique photolithography process to print micro lens</description> <pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Katie Rapp</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1726896</guid> </item> <item> <title>3 Lessons Manufacturers Can Learn From NASCAR Racing</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/3-lessons-manufacturers-can-learn-nascar-racing</link> <description>“In motor sports, you get your quarterly report every weekend.” —Roger Penske The NASCAR pit stop – it’s exciting, intense, and can mean the difference between winning and losing a race. Accomplishing the three simultaneous necessities of moving quickly, completing each job with perfection, and having a flawlessly coordinated team seem impossible, yet it happens right in front of your eyes. The feedback is immediate: either the car gets off in less than ten seconds, and the driver can compete for a spot on the podium, or it doesn’t, and your race is over. Outside of the racetrack, could the</description> <pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matt Fieldman</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1726496</guid> </item> <item> <title>STEM Appreciation Day – Celebrate With Four STEM-Inspired Toys and Activities</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/stem-appreciation-day-celebrate-four-stem-inspired-toys-and</link> <description>November 8 was STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Appreciation Day – subjects that we believe should be emphasized year round. This spotlight on STEM education has reignited an interest in technology-based toys. While there were always chemistry and Erector sets, in my day the most common way kids imagined a technological future was with Transformers and Star Wars’ figures. Now, there are thousands of computer programming, 3D printing and other child-appropriate kits available to make learning about STEM fun, something that will be essential if we are to excite the next</description> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Andrew Peterson</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1725791</guid> </item> <item> <title>Grain to Glass: Distillery Showcases Everything Great About West Virginia</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/grain-glass-distillery-showcases-everything-great-about-west</link> <description>With MEP Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), the MEP National Network™ has published more than 1,200 success stories during the past five years. These success stories show the positive impact the program has on manufacturers, including those that make beer, wine and spirits. As I stated in a previous blog, one of my hobbies is to visit breweries, distilleries and wineries. While I travel to some, I make it a point to explore the local establishments. It’s not just about sipping a tasty beverage, it’s also about supporting</description> <pubDate>Wed, 16 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Andrew Nobleman</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1725661</guid> </item> <item> <title>Demands for Increased Visibility Are Impacting Cybersecurity Preparedness</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/demands-increased-visibility-are-impacting-cybersecurity</link> <description>Digitization and connectivity are having a huge impact on more than just your manufacturing operations and ability to monetize data. Your vulnerabilities also are increasing as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) manufacturing solutions involve more software, devices and digitally connected employees. The manufacturing industry continues to be at high cyber risk as a result of global competition and geopolitical tensions. Companies up and down the supply chain are demanding more transparency into their customers’ and suppliers’ reliability in order to mitigate risks from disruptions. Some are</description> <pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Nathan Sable</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1725306</guid> </item> <item> <title>How to Improve Your New Hire Retention</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/how-improve-your-new-hire-retention</link> <description>There is an occurrence so commonplace among manufacturers that there’s a name for it: “runners.” Runners are the new hires for entry-level jobs, often in their 20s, who fail to return for duty after their first work break, lunch hour or first day on the job. They are out the door and never come back. Your first instinct may be to wonder what’s wrong with them, or maybe how someone in your organization thought they would be a good fit. But if your organization has had runners, you might ask yourself a different question – what are these new hires running from? In the current job market, people</description> <pubDate>Wed, 02 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Lisa Pustelak</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1724766</guid> </item> <item> <title>A Story of Student-Run Manufacturing Enterprises</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/story-student-run-manufacturing-enterprises</link> <description>National Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) provides students, parents and communities a glimpse of modern manufacturing. It’s held on the first Friday of October and has grown exponentially since starting back in 2012. Now it’s recognized during the entire month of October with manufacturing companies, schools and organizations planning activities, tours, seminars, class presentations, networking and social media campaigns to create awareness around manufacturing. While October may be over, the spirit of MFG Day continues in northern Pennsylvania with collaborative community efforts known as student</description> <pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Robert Zaruta</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1724596</guid> </item> <item> <title>See Yourself in Cyber</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/see-yourself-cyber</link> <description>Your company is too small to be targeted for a cyberattack, right? That’s what Cincinnati Crane and Hoist (CCH) thought too. Like many small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), it was busy with other things in its business and didn’t see itself as worthy of a cybercriminal’s time. The company thought it was too small to attract that kind of attention. Wrong. CCH learned the hard way – it suffered a cyberattack that forced it to lay off employees. Between its customers and suppliers, this single breach affected at least 100 other companies. When the spear phishing attack happened, CCH</description> <pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Katie Rapp</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1724471</guid> </item> <item> <title>Manufacturers – Stop Pushing the “Easy Button” on Your Workforce</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/manufacturers-stop-pushing-easy-button-your-workforce</link> <description>I get it, we all love the “easy” button. Whether it’s ordering groceries for delivery today, household items for delivery tomorrow, or a ride to the airport via a tap on your phone, we’ve gotten used to convenience and simplicity when it comes to solving problems. Which is why solving the manufacturing workforce crisis has been so hard: No same-day delivery, e-commerce platform, or ridesharing app alone can help us recruit and retain the two million manufacturing workers we need. Long-term fixes require systemic changes that I’ve written about on this blog before. But within companies today</description> <pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matt Fieldman</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1723946</guid> </item> <item> <title>The MEP National Network Responds to Urgent Need for Medical Supplies in Wake of Hurricane Ian</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/mep-national-network-responds-urgent-need-medical-supplies-wake</link> <description>FloridaMakes, part of the MEP National NetworkTM, received an urgent request in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 28, 2022. The storm destroyed buildings and roads, and left many people without power and water. The call to FloridaMakes came from CDR Maguire, a company that provides disaster health and medical services. They needed help locating defibrillators and related accessories, some likely hard to source, as they set up field hospitals in southwest Florida. The request was urgent – the items were needed within 48 hours to help evacuees</description> <pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Micah “Doc” Daugherty, Mike Aller</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1722106</guid> </item> <item> <title>Manufacturers Identify Top Challenges They Expect to Face</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/manufacturers-identify-top-challenges-they-expect-face</link> <description>When Nico asked me if I wanted to collaborate on this year’s challenges blog, my second thought after agreeing to the idea was a scene from the 2007 film “Music and Lyrics,” which I likely have not seen since approximately 2008. Why this popped into my head is unknown but ha! POP! I had forgotten that was the name of Hugh Grant’s singing group and part of the title of their hit song. The hip move! I may have been over-caffeinated or under-caffeinated — the line can be so fine — but as Nico and I started talking about our findings and plotting our structure, that’s what came to mind. Music and</description> <pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Megean Blum, Nico Thomas</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1721386</guid> </item> <item> <title>Manufacturing Day Gives Manufacturers the Opportunity to Shine – And Develop Their Future Workforce</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/manufacturing-day-gives-manufacturers-opportunity-shine-and</link> <description>For years, U.S. manufacturers have struggled to find and keep good workers. The pandemic brought this to crisis level, and the difficult labor market has led companies to find creative workforce solutions. Beyond offering competitive pay and benefits, firms need to provide a great culture where employees understand how they contribute to the organization’s success. Many workers want opportunities for training, a clear career pathway, and encouragement to move up within the organization. New Video Highlights Workforce Challenges and Solutions A new video, The Manufacturing Workforce, features</description> <pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Katie Rapp</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1720021</guid> </item> <item> <title>Manufacturers: Forget CX. It’s Time to Focus on EX.</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/manufacturers-forget-cx-its-time-focus-ex</link> <description>Do your customers feel valued all the time, or do they only hear from you when you want a sale? How are they interacting with your salespeople, and do the frequency, channels and messages make them feel good about your company? When customers have a complaint, do they feel heard — or ignored? Customer experience, or “CX,” is all the rage in marketing circles nationally. Customer experience refers to how a customer experiences your company at every point of their buying journey — from marketing to sales to customer service, and everywhere in between. These can be tangible actions, such as</description> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matt Fieldman</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1719086</guid> </item> <item> <title>Five Trends That Will Impact the Food Industry For Many Years</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/five-trends-will-impact-food-industry-many-years</link> <description>The inability to gather good data has challenged many food manufacturers for decades. But not anymore. As sensor technology has improved, and technology platforms have become more accessible and affordable to small and medium-sized manufacturers, the food industry is poised for transformation. Food companies can now better understand their ingredients, products and operations. The Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT) and JobsOhio recently commissioned a business intelligence group, TEConomy Partners, to conduct a study on the current and future state of the food industry. The findings</description> <pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matthew Inniger</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1718441</guid> </item> <item> <title>How to Leverage Robotics to Promote Your Manufacturing Day</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/how-leverage-robotics-promote-your-manufacturing-day</link> <description>Most in the manufacturing industry are familiar with Manufacturing Day. Held the first Friday in October, Manufacturing Day is when manufacturers open their doors at more than 3,000 organized events across the country to showcase the potential of modern manufacturing and foster interest in manufacturing careers among the more than 325,000 students, parents and community members who attend. Students are fascinated by the facility tours, and everyone loves watching the cool processes and operations in which machines make parts and products. But there is one word that could drive even more</description> <pubDate>Fri, 16 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matt Minner, Rich Sullivan</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1717311</guid> </item> <item> <title>Yes! Employee Retention Is Possible!</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/yes-employee-retention-possible</link> <description>Is your organization, like so many others today, struggling to recruit and retain a well-qualified and high-performing workforce? Are your workers excited to be a part of your team and motivated to serve your customers? Do they care for one another and the success of your business? Or do you feel like they are just going through the motions and punching the clock, unhappy, disengaged and eager to find something else? If you think your workforce is more like the second example, you probably already know you have a problem. You have likely been dealing with high(er) levels of employee</description> <pubDate>Wed, 14 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Robert Fangmeyer</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1716911</guid> </item> <item> <title>Cybersecurity – A Critical Component of Industry 4.0 Implementation</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/cybersecurity-critical-component-industry-40-implementation</link> <description>This blog is the second in a series on cybersecurity and Industry 4.0. In blog one of this series on “Cybersecurity and Industry 4.0 – What You Need to Know” we discussed the four aspects of Industry 4.0: cyber-physical systems (CPS)/cobots, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud manufacturing and automation, as well as how they are interconnected. Strong cybersecurity practices protect those interconnections, ensuring manufacturers’ systems consistently deliver accurate data in a timely manner – something critical to the success of an Industry 4.0 model. In the past, enterprise systems in</description> <pubDate>Wed, 07 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Pat Toth</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1716326</guid> </item> <item> <title>When Your Lean Supply Chains Feel Out of Control, Focus on What You Can Control</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/when-your-lean-supply-chains-feel-out-control-focus-what-you-can</link> <description>Many manufacturers who adopted lean principles by applying a “just-in-time” (JIT) mindset to inventory of materials and parts have been burned, sometimes badly, by cascading supply chain disruptions. Broken links in the supply chain have created havoc, especially for smaller manufacturers. Some have scrambled to build “safety stock” of hard-to-find supplies. Others have sought out redundant sourcing. The reality is that everything is connected in your supply chain, and those connections can be fragile when they are not well supported. No, lean supply chain is not dead. It’s quite the opposite</description> <pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Gene Kaschak </dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1715966</guid> </item> <item> <title>8 Reasons You’re Struggling with Your Workforce</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/8-reasons-youre-struggling-your-workforce</link> <description>You’ve heard the questions from your manufacturing colleagues: “Where are all the good people these days?” “Why don’t people want to work anymore?” “Why can’t people show up on time and ready to work?” Through a recent seminar at The City Club of Cleveland, I learned that there are eight simple reasons why you’re struggling with your workforce. These “social determinants of work” are plaguing most cities and towns and must be addressed. When we’re talking about millions of Americans still on the sidelines of our economy, this isn’t about individuals – this is about our systems. Originally</description> <pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matt Fieldman</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1715021</guid> </item> <item> <title>Five Leadership Essentials for Lean Success</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/five-leadership-essentials-lean-success</link> <description>The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) defines people-centric leadership (PCL) as a leadership approach that seeks to create a culture in which everyone is encouraged to improve and apply their talents and given the opportunity to pursue excellence at work every day. In PCL, leadership focuses on providing employees with what they need to go home feeling like they are flourishing and helping to fulfill a greater common purpose, which is important for morale and retention, innovation and product quality. All too often, PCL is missing from lean manufacturing, causing many</description> <pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Lisa Weis</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1714916</guid> </item> <item> <title>How Smaller Manufacturers Can Develop Risk Management Strategies for Their Supply Chains</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/how-smaller-manufacturers-can-develop-risk-management-strategies</link> <description>The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light a stark reality about current supply chains. As Nissan Motor Co.’s Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta points out, “The just-in-time model is designed for supply-chain efficiencies and economies of scale. The repercussions of an unprecedented crisis like COVID highlight the fragility of our supply-chain model.” The U.S. supply chain has so far struggled to adapt and restock pandemic-depleted inventories. There are industrywide shortages and a lag in how many manufacturers are responding. In their recent MEP National Network™/Modern Machine Shop webinar</description> <pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Katie Rapp</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1713786</guid> </item> <item> <title>Four Ways That Engaging With Schools Benefits Your Talent Stream</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/four-ways-engaging-schools-benefits-your-talent-stream</link> <description>The manufacturing community has long struggled with finding skilled workers, citing, among other things, the misperceptions that manufacturing jobs underpay, are monotonous and involve working in dirty factories. With the adoption of Industry 4.0 — automation and robotics — the task at hand for the industry is as much about raising awareness and creating interest for high-tech careers in advanced manufacturing as it is about changing perceptions. That’s why manufacturers should be getting more involved with their local schools. According to Bill Padnos, workforce development manager with the</description> <pubDate>Fri, 05 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Scott Dietz</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1713336</guid> </item> <item> <title>Infographic: Reshoring and the Pandemic – Bringing Manufacturing Back to America</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/infographic-reshoring-and-pandemic-bringing-manufacturing-back</link> <description>A new infographic, Reshoring and the Pandemic: Bringing Manufacturing Back to America, delves into various factors related to reshoring supply chains and shines a light on how the MEP National Network™ supports these efforts. Even before the pandemic, some manufacturers were thinking seriously about bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., as a million jobs were reshored in the past decade. Product quality, freight costs and supply chain risks were all considerations before the pandemic. Proximity to customers and markets, government incentives and availability of skilled workers also all</description> <pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Katie Rapp</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1711521</guid> </item> <item> <title>Lighting Up Manufacturing Workforce Development: The America Works FireWorks Conference Recap</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/lighting-manufacturing-workforce-development-america-works</link> <description>Workforce “FireWorks” were on full display in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 22 and 23! We all know and love fireworks; who hasn’t “ooh’ed” and “aah’ed” as they light up the sky? Fittingly, these workforce programs, ideas, innovations, and collaborations had exactly that same impact, expanding the horizons of more than 70 workforce professionals from inside and outside the MEP National NetworkTM. A day and a half of networking, sharing, brainstorming, and collaborating was exactly what these professionals were looking for to illuminate their local workforce ecosystems. “The FireWorks conference</description> <pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matt Fieldman</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1710731</guid> </item> <item> <title>NASA and The MEP National Network Collaborate to Advance Manufacturing</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/nasa-and-mep-national-network-collaborate-advance-manufacturing</link> <description>The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) is, as you might expect from the name, always looking for more and better ways to work with manufacturers across the U.S. The MEP National Network™, whose mission is to strengthen and empower U.S. manufacturers, comprises the NIST MEP, the 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, the MEP Advisory Board, MEP Center boards and the Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence, as well as more than 1,400 trusted advisors and experts at approximately 450 MEP service locations. The Network</description> <pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Kim Pinckney</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1709381</guid> </item> <item> <title>Manufacturers: It’s Time to Move from Operational Excellence to Inclusive Excellence</title> <link>https://www.nist.gov/blogs/manufacturing-innovation-blog/manufacturers-its-time-move-operational-excellence-inclusive</link> <description>In the wake of the killing of George Floyd two years ago, many organizations and companies made commitments to racial and social justice. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices were created and DEI officers were hired. But have they been given the resources they need to succeed? Have they been given the teams and leadership buy-in to make real change happen? Nichole Thompson is working to help organizations reach the grand visions they have laid out as they relate to diversity, equity and inclusion. Thompson promotes “inclusive excellence,” a framework and approach for assessing your</description> <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Matt Fieldman</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.nist.gov/node/1708866</guid> </item> </channel> </rss>