The Just Don't Get It!

Chapter 1: U.S. Manufacturing at a Crossroads The leadership challenge that will define the next decade Manufacturing is experiencing a moment of opportunity unlike any we've seen in decades. Supply chain disruptions exposed our over-dependence on foreign production. Companies are announcing massive investments to bring manufacturing home. Communities are competing for these new facilities, knowing they represent thousands of good-paying jobs and economic revitalization. But there's a harsh reality beneath the optimism: we're trying to rebuild an industry while the workforce that built it is disappearing. Baby boomers with decades of manufacturing knowledge are retiring faster than we can replace them. Skilled machinists, maintenance technicians, and experienced operators are walking out the door, taking institutional knowledge with them. Meanwhile, younger workers increasingly view manufacturing as outdated, dirty, or beneath their aspirations.

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