As part of MHI view's ongoing video program, this episode focuses on Robotics as the Solution to the Workforce Challenge.

 

The 2018 MHI Annual Industry Report found that a growing number of companies are increasingly concerned about finding and keeping a qualified workforce. In the next five years, they predict that more and more supply chain operations will be looking to supplement their workforce with a robotics component, allowing their employees to focus on higher level or more innovative tasks.

 

CFO—Blockchain tracks shipments in real time, enables automation, standardizes processes, creates trust, and provides growth opportunities.

Food Ingredients—Researches at Virginia Tech have created innovative “slippery” plastic packaging designed to minimize the food waste commonly left behind in condiment, dairy and beverage packaging. The study, which was published in Scientific Reports and has yielded a provisional patent, establishes a method for wicking chemically compatible vegetable oils into the surfaces of common extruded plastics.

Bloomberg—Tech advances from China’s internet giants should trouble food retailers across America and Europe. Blended options are making big waves over these, especially ones that combine online grocery shopping, dining and brick-and-mortar.

Global Trade—Implementation of digital technologies, such as warehouse management systems (WMS), has made progress in warehouses since 2008, but it has been slow, according to a survey by Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC).

Reuters—U.S. manufacturing activity slowed in July amid signs that a robust economy and import tariffs were putting pressure on the supply chain, which could hurt production in the long term.

Vincentric—Vincentric, LLC announced its 2018 U.S. Diesel Analysis results with 77 of the 419 (18%) diesels evaluated having a lower total cost of ownership compared to their closest all-gasoline powered counterpart. The 419 available diesel vehicles were categorized into four types: Passenger Cars (23 diesels), SUV/Crossovers (22 diesels), Trucks (324 diesels), and Vans (50 diesels). The results showed that buyers of diesel vans, which are primarily commercial vehicles, have a strong case for buying a diesel as 49 of the 50 (98%) vans analyzed showed the diesel as being cost-effective. In contrast, none of the 324 diesel trucks analyzed had lower cost of ownership than their gasoline powered counterpart.

CNBC—Trucking companies including Saia, Titanium Transportation, ArcBest and Ryder System have all noted wage increases for drivers on recent earnings calls as the shortage worsens. Some 500,000 nonlocal, for-hire truckers are delivering freight in the U.S., and the industry needs 51,000 more, experts say.

The New York Times—Many rural manufacturing companies are facing an acute problem: a shortage of workers to fill skilled and unskilled positions. A Minnesota-based company came up with an idea to encourage new talent, call the “Not So Heavy Metal” tour.

The Wall Street Journal—Transportation and warehousing companies added 15,600 jobs in July even as hiring in the broader U.S. economy cooled.

MHI’s new Career Forum enables manufacturing and supply chain professionals to view current job postings of MHI member companies. Go to http://www.mhi.org/careers to find the perfect opportunity for you.