In this “in case you missed it” edition of Supply Chain Insider, you’ll learn how Six Sigma methodology can optimize supply chain quality and efficiency.

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Supply Chain 101: Six Sigma

Companies around the globe are working hard to establish new systems for documenting and reporting their greenhouse gas footprints, and other data relating to their products and supply chains. To achieve this and stay in compliance with ESG standards, plants are leaning more than ever on their logistics partners to provide key data on supply chain-related carbon emissions.

In this bonus podcast, Plant Services chief editor Thomas Wilk continues his conversation with Jason Manganaro, VP of Commercial Technology for the Americas at SPARX Logistics, on the current capabilities of logistics to calculate and provide these carbon data.

Many plants around the world have invested to some degree in Just In Time Manufacturing, where goods are created to meet demand, not created in surplus or in advance of need. However this model was stress-tested in 2020, as the COVID pandemic wreaked havoc on the global supply chain, leading many plants to adopt more of a "just in case" approach to spare parts inventory and beyond.

For this episode of Great Question! we're joined by Jason Manganaro, VP of Commercial Technology for the Americas at SPARX Logistics, who talks with Plant Services chief editor about how a post-COVID ripple effect through the global supply chain resulted in innovation at every step.

A B2B consultant with experience in manufacturing SMBs explains the proper role for manufacturing executives on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, etc.

Awards season is here with applications open for the IndustryWeek Best Plants Award, our annual recognition of manufacturing excelllence as measured by a stringent set of performance metrics. And while bragging rights for the winners are great, awards can also improve operations.

In this episode of our bi-weekly livestream Production Pulse, we talked to:

• Rick Bohan, principal and CEO of Chagrin River Consulting, a frequent IW Best Plants Award judge, and the author of a recent story about the benefits of entering these sorts of contests. 

IndustryWeek News Editor Anna Smith recently discussed how ill-fitting protective gear is a multi-faceted problem--creating potential unsafe working conditions for women and reinforcing messages that female employees don't belong in manufacturing plants or on construction sites. However, several companies and groups are working to address those challenges.

Hear from Ana Kraft, founder and CEO of Xena Workwear, and Adonica Rodriguez, indirect material and services buyer at Ardent Mills, to hear how they're solving those challenges to ensure women and comfortable, empowered and protected in the workplace. 

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Lack of Women’s PPE Causes Safety Issues. Is Anything Being Done?

Join Laura Davis, editor-in-chief of New Equipment Digest as she breaks down six of the top technology trends reshaping the manufacturing industry in 2024.

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Embracing the Future: The Tech Trends Reshaping Manufacturing in 2024 and Beyond

Joe Kuhn, CMRP, former plant manager, engineer, and global reliability consultant, is now president of Lean Driven Reliability LLC. He is the author of the book “Zero to Hero: How to Jumpstart Your Reliability Journey Given Today’s Business Challenges” and the creator of the Joe Kuhn YouTube Channel, which offers content on starting your reliability journey and achieving financial independence. In our monthly podcast miniseries, Ask a Plant Manager, Joe considers a commonplace scenario facing the industry and offers his advice, as well as actions that you can take to get on track tomorrow. This episode offers insight on who should take ownership of reliability at your facility.

The annual Leading Reliability Conference provides participants with the opportunity to learn more about maintenance and reliability by attending live presentations, workshops, and trainings. Held this year May 14-16 in Clearwater Beach, Florida, the intimate event offers participants the opportunity to build relationships with influential professionals from across the country. Plant Services editor in chief Thomas Wilk recently spoke with the four sponsoring organizations of the conference about what to expect at this year's event. The podcast guests include:

• Shon Isenhour, founder and owner of Eruditio

Manufacturers and tech companies have suffered severe cyber attacks in recent months, timing that coincides with new Securities and Exchange Commission rules that force publicly traded companies to disclose when they've been hit by hackers, as long as the damages are "material" to the companies' performances. 

Smart Industry Managing Editor Scott Achelpohl discusses cybersecurity trends and the new requirements with Dennis Scimeca, senior technology editor at IndustryWeek.