In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Luton welcomes Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director of The Manufacturing Institute, to discuss the critical issues shaping the future of the manufacturing workforce. Carolyn shares her journey, from growing up in a manufacturing family to her leadership role at The Manufacturing Institute, where she works to bridge the skills gap and build the workforce of tomorrow.

They talk about the challenges of attracting and retaining talent, the importance of education and training programs like Heroes MAKE America and the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME), and how the manufacturing sector is evolving in response to technology and automation. Carolyn also discusses the power of storytelling to change perceptions of manufacturing careers and the impact of initiatives that support military veterans and their families in transitioning to high-demand manufacturing roles.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Bridging talent and manufacturing

(01:03)  Carolyn Lee: A Leader in Manufac

(07:32) The Manufacturing Institute's mission

(12:44) Empowering veterans with manufacturing career

(17:49) FAME: Advanced maintenance training

(21:42) The importance of core skills in manufacturing

(23:51) The role of AI and automation in manufacturing

(25:46) The future of manufacturing jobs

(29:33) Heroes MAKE America: Success stories

(30:44) Changing perceptions of manufacturing careers

(36:16) The power of Manufacturing Day

Additional Links and Resources:

• Connect with Carolyn Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynlee-mi/
• Learn more about The Manufacturing Institute: https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/
• Check out Heroes MAKE America: https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/heroes-make-america/
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
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This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Amanda Luton, Joshua Miranda, and Trisha Cordes. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/evolving-manufacturing-industry-skills-technology-workforce-growth-1408