Labor Shortages In Manufacturing
There was no amount of business crisis planning that could have prepared manufacturers for a pandemic and the impact it introduced to an already stressed labor market. Add to that the ripple effect on the supply chain, which created massive shortages and delays, we experienced a perfect storm for disruption to the industry.
Where did the workforce go?
Retirement, lack of interest in manufacturing, and competition for workers from other industries (logistics, technology, IT) has stripped away the supply of candidates willing to work with their hands. This has created a labor shortage for skilled trades.
How does a manufacturer become “pandemic resistant?”
Lack of skilled workers has been a topic of discussion for the last two decades as manufacturing jobs have slowly eroded away. Attempts at training, technical education and higher wages have done little to turn this trend around. At a time when the business reasons for reshoring and investment in new technologies ( Industry 4.0) should be driving massive improvements, one factor continues to drag results down; labor shortages in the skilled work force.
Manufacturers are looking to automation and robotic systems at exponential levels, with forecasted growth of $10 Billion in the next five years.
What will 2022 bring to the chaos?
Check out Path Robotics 2022 Manufacturing Outlook to learn about transforming your business and become pandemic resistant: https://info.path-robotics.com/2022-manufacturing-outlook