Industry Report Roundup: Worker well-being, semiconductor manufacturing, and technology trends – Plant Services
If you’re looking for an accurate analysis of the state of the manufacturing industry, then go straight to the source: the workers. Reputable research conducted by industry organizations is invaluable when you’re trying to make decisions for your plant or your business. In this roundup, we’ll highlight the latest surveys, reports, studies, and research that delves into the trends, topics, and technologies that are affecting the manufacturing sector.
Methodology:
More than 600 industrial professionals were surveyed, including maintenance, production and operations, engineering, and health and safety workers.
Key takeaways:
Quote:
“Safety plays a critical role in the well-being and productivity of our workforce. We conducted this study to better understand the current state of safety initiatives, training, and technology within the industrial sector. The findings revealed that employers have a lot of room for growth when it comes to prioritizing the safety of their workers, especially with regards to providing staff with accessible and comprehensive safety training.” – Clare Epstein, General Manager of Commercial at Vector Solutions
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Predictions:
Key takeaways:
Quotes:
“Effective policies, such as the CHIPS and Science Act, are spurring more investments in the U.S. semiconductor industry. These investments will help America grow its share of global semiconductor production and innovation, furthering economic growth and technological competitiveness. Continued and expanded government-industry collaboration will help ensure we build on this momentum and continue our next steps forward.”— Rich Templeton, Chairman of the Board at Texas Instruments and SIA board chair
“The CHIPS and Science Act has put America on course to significantly strengthen domestic semiconductor production and R&D, but more work is needed to finish the job. We look forward to working with government leaders to advance policies that broaden the STEM talent pipeline, invest in scientific research, promote free trade and access to global markets, and expand and extend critical CHIPS incentives.” — John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO
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Methodology:
508 manufacturers across countries in North America, Europe, and Asia were surveyed from February to April 2024.
Key takeaways:
Quotes:
“Today’s economic climate is driving an urgent need for manufacturers to do more with less. To navigate the volatile micro and macro trends occurring at a local and global scale, manufacturers are recalibrating technology investments and resetting what ERP means in the age of AI. In years past, they’ve hobbled along on incremental benefits from legacy solutions. But now they’re seeing the benefits of a modern, cloud-first, AI-ready platform approach. Acquiring these capabilities will deliver the benefits that matter most to manufacturers, namely precise control over their resources, the ability to adapt to ever-changing conditions, and more time to focus on initiatives that truly deliver value.” – Raj Badarinath, Chief Product & Marketing Officer at Rootstock Software
“The Manufacturing Signal Chain has become a powerful paradigm for manufacturers seeking to optimize their digital transformation initiatives and bring to bear an AI-driven decisioning platform. Our survey demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach, and we expect to see early Signal Chain adopters thrive in the years ahead, armed with the data needed to make better decisions that drive growth.” – Stu Johnson, Rootstock’s Vice President of Product Marketing
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Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector.
