For the manufacturing industry, especially food manufacturing, supply chain disruptions are becoming increasingly common. From ingredient shortages and demand shifts to transportation delays and rising costs it’s harder than ever for food producers to get the right products to the right place at the right time.
As we move farther into 2025, industrial equipment manufacturing (IEM) continues to evolve through innovative technologies. Building on the digital transformation that began decades ago, manufacturers are currently looking to implement smarter, more efficient and sustainable practices. Last year, we outlined the IEM Trends for 2024. Now, we explore the key Industrial Manufacturing trends that are shaping the industry in 2025, helping businesses stay competitive as the market changes.
As I enjoyed the season’s festivities with my family, I couldn’t help but notice the sad unraveling of Southwest Airlines and the issues that resulted in more than 15,000 canceled flights in one week, inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of customers (even a bride who missed her own destination wedding (1)). I wondered if, when we say, “Have a Prosperous New Year,” should we really add, “but don’t hurt others as you do”?
Many distributors struggled amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. But that is old news.
As the industrial equipment manufacturing (IEM) industry rumbles through the remainder of a challenging 2021, headed for a potentially more successful 2022, it’s important to understand the ongoing evolution of the industry and its enterprise technologies. We asked one of Ultra’s most experienced manufacturing consultants, Dave Lechleitner (DL), what IEM companies need to know to thrive in today’s fast-changing marketplace. Here is an edited version of the conversation.
One of the biggest challenges for manufacturers, going back to 2020 (long before the COVID-19 pandemic) was the persistent shortage of skilled labor. What is the outlook for manufacturing jobs, and will companies be able to fill their open positions in the months ahead?
