Manufacturing and supply chain operations have the most to gain from adopting new technology solutions, and the most effective way to do so is by trying them out at a single "lighthouse," according to this McKinsey analysis. Such sites will help industrial companies "redesign processes throughout their organizations and focus on increasing margins by combining the most effective solutions," the analysis says.

Executives from the Small and Medium Manufacturers Group identified four areas to watch at a recent National Association of Manufacturers meeting, including finding skilled labor and the factory of the future. The Creators Wanted campaign is "a $10 million dollar effort with the Manufacturing Institute and others in the industry to go on tour and engage youth and their parents, to help change the perception of manufacturing," says HM Manufacturing President and CEO Nicole Wolter.

Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson and Unilever are forgoing long lag times between product concept and rollout and are instead utilizing "lean innovation" by offering new items to consumers via social media ads and other channels to gauge consumer interest and gather feedback prior to rollout, writes Jack Neff. The technique has been such as success P&G had used it for 180 product launches, including its Charmin Forever Roll, which was tested via Facebook and Instagram ads.

Converging operational technology and IT is difficult in terms of technology and language, writes Rick Peters of Fortinet. Doing so requires creating an integrated strategy, analyzing and redesigning OT networks and evaluating and auditing IT systems, he writes.

Step stool manufacturer Safety Step simplified its order processing and cut back on manual data entry by adopting two software systems. The company previously made communication with and shipments to its warehouses easier with a third platform.

Training workers in ergonomics has to be done more quickly now due to time constraints, and blended learning that involves creating, applying and practicing guidelines in a e-learning format is a good strategy, writes Jeff Sanford of VelocityEHS.

Johnson & Johnson's Re-Ignite program for people who left the workforce and want to return has successfully helped 40 people pursue manufacturing, design and STEM careers in its first two years. The program has employees immediately enter the workplace rather than be relegated to separate training, and 90% of participants come from outside the company.

Community colleges in California are addressing the skills gap in manufacturing by offering "stackable credentials" and certifications to help students find a sustainable career path. Programs largely focus on advanced manufacturing, including 3D printing, and online classes offer lifelong learning opportunities to workers who need them.