Building the Next Generation of Manufacturing Together

The future of manufacturing isn't just about better machines, smarter automation, or new technology. It's about people—and whether our industry is willing to work together to attract, inspire, develop, and retain the next generation of manufacturing talent.

On this episode of the Manufacturing Alliance Podcast, Tony Demakis sits down with Meaghan Ziemba, founder and host of Mavens of Manufacturing, for a conversation about workforce development, women in engineering and manufacturing, changing perceptions of the industry, and what it will take to build a stronger future for U.S. manufacturing.

Manufacturing Has an Image Problem

For decades, manufacturing has battled outdated perceptions.

Too many students—and often their parents—still picture manufacturing as dirty, repetitive, dangerous work with limited opportunity. Today's reality couldn't be more different.

Modern manufacturing combines engineering, automation, robotics, machining, software, data, problem-solving, leadership, sales, marketing, and countless other disciplines. There are incredible career opportunities available, but our industry has to do a better job of telling that story.

Meaghan has made that mission a major part of her work through Mavens of Manufacturing: giving people inside the industry a platform, increasing the visibility of women in technical careers, and helping communities better understand what today's manufacturing world really looks like.

Changing the perception of manufacturing isn't simply a recruiting strategy. It's an investment in the long-term health of the industry.

Building the Manufacturing Workforce Starts Earlier

One of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers is finding skilled people.

But waiting until someone is actively searching for a job is often too late.

Manufacturers need to connect with students, educators, parents, and communities much earlier in the process.

That means exposing young people to the technology they would actually encounter inside today's manufacturing facilities. It means allowing students to experience CNC machining, robotics, automation, engineering, additive manufacturing, and other technologies firsthand.

And perhaps most importantly, it means showing them the people behind manufacturing.

When students can meet engineers, machinists, technicians, programmers, business leaders, and other professionals who have built successful careers in manufacturing, the industry suddenly becomes much more relatable.

Instead of simply telling the next generation that manufacturing offers great careers, we need to show them.

Women in Manufacturing Need to Be Seen

Another major part of the conversation focuses on the role of women in engineering and manufacturing.

Representation matters.

When young women see other women designing products, programming machines, leading companies, operating equipment, working in robotics, managing teams, or building careers in manufacturing, possibilities that may have once seemed distant suddenly become real.

The industry doesn't just need to recruit more women. Manufacturers also need to build workplaces where talented people from different backgrounds can grow, contribute, lead, and build long-term careers.

That requires more than a recruiting campaign.

It requires mentorship, opportunity, visibility, leadership development, and a culture where people know their ideas and abilities are valued.

From Competition to Collaboration

One of the most important ideas in this conversation is collaboration.

Manufacturers compete every day for customers, projects, employees, and market share. But workforce development is one area where the industry can't afford to operate entirely in silos.

The labor shortage facing manufacturing is bigger than any individual company.

Solving it will require manufacturers, schools, trade organizations, educators, community leaders, nonprofits, content creators, and industry advocates working together.

That philosophy helped drive the Manufacturing Ally Rally, an initiative associated with the Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS designed to bring different voices together around workforce development, inclusion, career pathways, and support for the next generation.

The goal is simple:

Grow the manufacturing community instead of simply fighting over the people already in it.

Manufacturing Needs More Allies

The Manufacturing Ally Rally represents something our industry needs more of—manufacturers becoming active participants in the communities around them.

At the 2024 Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS, Manufacturing Ally Rally discussions addressed topics including building early talent pipelines, understanding diversity in manufacturing, rethinking job roles, and determining what meaningful industry support actually looks like.

Those conversations are important because there isn't one solution to manufacturing's workforce challenge.

Companies can participate by:

• Opening their facilities for student tours and Manufacturing Day events.
• Partnering with high schools, colleges, trade schools, and technical programs.
• Giving employees opportunities to speak with students about their careers.
• Supporting internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, and job-shadowing programs.
• Making manufacturing careers more visible within their communities.
• Highlighting employees and the real-world impact of the work they perform.
• Collaborating with other manufacturers instead of trying to solve workforce challenges alone.

Every company doesn't need to build a massive workforce-development program.

They simply need to start getting involved.

The Technology Is Changing. Our Approach to People Has to Change Too.

Manufacturing is evolving faster than ever.

Automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced machining, connected factories, and new production technologies will continue changing how products are made.

But technology alone won't build the future of manufacturing.

People will.

The companies that thrive will be the organizations that invest not only in equipment and technology, but also in developing people, sharing knowledge, building community, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

And accomplishing that will require something manufacturing has always been good at:

Working together to solve difficult problems.