Reports

In 2019, the MI fielded a first-of-its-kind survey of human resources and operations leaders across the manufacturing industry to examine how manufacturers were employing innovative programs to train new workers and upskill their current workforce and to identify the trends and…

Recruiting and retaining qualified talent is a major challenge for the manufacturing industry. In recent years, there has been significant growth in the availability of alternative credentials, such as microcredentials, which offer a more flexible skills-based approach to hiring.

As artificial intelligence moves from experimentation to execution, manufacturers face a leadership test on the factory floor. AI’s potential to improve safety, quality, productivity, and decision-making is clear. Its success, however, will depend on how effectively frontline leaders introduce, explain,…

Frontline leaders are key touchpoints for daily interactions and play a significant role in shaping the workplace experience. Their influence can either attract or deter talent, depending on how effectively they foster a positive work environment and inspire their teams.…

As manufacturers seek to address the severe talent gap challenging the industry, many also recognize the time has come to elevate it as a strategic priority. To that end, more manufacturers recognize there has never been a more critical time…

This case study examined the impact of WMA’s award and mentorship initiatives on individual women and their networks to see if programs like these can help create a “multiplier effect”, whereas investing in women helps manufacturers attract and bring more…

In December 2023, Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute embarked on their sixth manufacturing talent study in more than two decades. The study involved an online survey of more than 200 US manufacturers, interviews with more than 10 senior executives from…

With their unique set of skills and experiences directly applicable to manufacturing, military-affiliated talent are well-positioned for success and are an attractive target for recruiters. To provide guidance for manufacturers who wish to incorporate military-affiliated talent into their recruitment efforts,…

The Manufacturing Institute and PwC conducted a survey in Q3 2023 to explore the workplace needs and preferences of frontline manufacturing employees, how they’ve changed and what organizations are doing to help improve the overall employee experience of their frontline…

From March to July 2023, the Manufacturing Institute convened a series of working groups with 17 manufacturers to discuss providing flexibility for production workers. The MI’s unique positioning as an insightful expert of emerging trends within the industry and effective…

The Manufacturing Institute, in partnership with Cognizant, conducted a study to explore different approaches manufacturers take in making investment decisions with their marginal dollars. The study was conducted from June to August 2023. As manufacturing continues to evolve, the nature…

The Manufacturing Institute, in partnership with Colonial Life, conducted a study on culture and employee engagement from March to May 2023. This project identifies key aspects of company culture, impacts of culture on attraction and retention and methods of engaging…

The Manufacturing Institute, in partnership with FORVIS, conducted a study on attracting and retaining manufacturing talent in a rural versus urban setting from March to May 2023. This project identifies key workforce challenges for manufacturers in rural and urban areas,…

The Manufacturing Institute, in partnership with the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association, conducted a study on the workforce challenges facing this industry from March to May 2023. This project aimed to identify the key issues that wooden pallet companies…

There is a need for broader and evolving skillsets in the manufacturing sector and for building a workforce motivated by opportunities for growth. Doing this will help manufacturers transition to workplaces to a point where forward-thinking, engaging, and digitally enabled…

The Manufacturing Institute, in partnership with Rockwell Automation and PTC, released a forward-looking study on where the manufacturing sector will be headed over the next 5 to 10 years and how those changes will impact the necessary skills that will…

The last two years have rocked global supply chains. The global COVID-19 pandemic triggered worker shortages and supply chain snarls. Even as manufacturing activity remains resilient overall, these challenges could dampen the possibilities of a larger recovery. This paper—which was…

Compensation practices have needed to adapt—sharply for some companies—considering the local and national competition for workers, but companies cannot solve these challenges simply by increasing wages and benefits alone. As such, manufacturing firms have turned to other methods to address…

In updating previous research on perceptions, The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte found that significantly more respondents believe that manufacturing jobs are innovative, and more respondents are likely to encourage their child to pursue a career in the industry. Further, the…

The manufacturing industry is experiencing a pressing, double-edged problem: it struggles with filling new positions and many current employees will reach retirement age within the next decade. To address this double-edged challenge, manufacturing companies need to ensure that knowledge transfer,…

This is the second in a series of special surveys of small and medium-sized manufacturers (i.e., those with fewer than 500 employees) that are being conducted by The Manufacturing Institute’s Center for Manufacturing Research and BKD, a national CPA and…

The Manufacturing Institute’s Center for Manufacturing Research partnered with the American Psychological Association to examine best practices for retention among manufacturers and explore the motivating factors that affect worker retention. This paper highlights the best practices and findings observed from…

The following paper presents new research exploring how manufacturers perceive 5G capabilities and their plans to fully utilize the unique potential of 5G connectivity. 5G is a key ingredient in defining the next generation of manufacturing in America. With its…

This is the first in a series of special surveys of small and medium-sized manufacturers (i.e., those with fewer than 500 employees) that are being conducted by The Manufacturing Institute’s Center for Manufacturing Research and BKD, a national CPA and…

Manufacturers experienced significant disruptions in their operations and demand in 2020, as businesses struggled to cope with the COVID-19 and its implications. To control the spread of the virus, governments initiated stay-at-home orders, and many firms were forced to close…

The competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in the United States has been discussed extensively in the press and economic literature in recent years. This joint study by KPMG and the Manufacturing Institute provides a current assessment of how the U.S.…

Manufacturers have consistently cited the inability to attract and retain talent as their top business concern. We fielded a first-of-its-kind survey of member manufacturing companies in order to examine how manufacturers are employing innovative programs to train new workers and…

Simply put, the manufacturing industry is creating more open jobs than there are skilled workers to fill them. This so-called skills gap challenge is hardly a new one for the industry, but manufacturing’s recent economic success has exacerbated it to…

According to the National Association of Manufacturers’ most recent outlook survey, attracting and retaining a quality workforce constitutes one of the top challenges facing the manufacturing industry.

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has been met with both enthusiasm and fence-sitting. While sentiments and experiences have been mixed, most business leaders are now approaching 4IR with a sense of measured optimism.

Key findings from the 2018 Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute skills gap and future of work study.

This fourth skills gap study explores the depths of today’s talent shortage in manufacturing, how jobs are changing due to technology and automation, and what measures manufacturers could take to solve today’s shortage while preparing their future workforce for success.

With global air travel at record levels, there is an expected demand for more than 35,000 new aircraft between 2013 and 2032. This growth poses opportunities and threats for U.S. aerospace manufacturers to keep up with the innovation and expansion…

Best estimates are that more than 350,000 manufacturing jobs are unfilled today. Through 2025, that number is expected to total 2 million unfilled positions. We must act now to meet the demands of today and to prepare for the job…

Many outstanding women leaders are making huge strides in building and promoting the manufacturing industry and are demonstrating what modern manufacturing offers – rewarding and fulfilling careers with limitless opportunity for growth.

With global air travel at record levels, there is an expected demand for more than 35,000 new aircraft between 2013 and 2032. This growth poses opportunities and threats for U.S. aerospace manufacturers to keep up with the innovation and expansion…

Examine survey results from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute’s 2017 US public opinion of manufacturing study. By leveraging these insights, manufacturers can drive interest and support.

The Manufacturing Institute, in partnership with SkillsUSA and the Student Research Foundation, have conducted an annual survey to identify the characteristics of experiences that impact student career choices.

The study reveals Americans remain steadfast in their support of manufacturing and also uncovers opportunities to strengthen interest, support and engagement in the U.S. manufacturing industry.