floor stand grinder

Supply chain factors, investment decisions and how the new government will play a key role in manufacturing in the near future.
Many industries will study how to recover from COVID-19-related issues for most of 2021. Although the manufacturing industry has undoubtedly been affected by the pandemic, the labor force has been drastically reduced, and the GDP growth rate of the manufacturing industry is expected to drop by -5.4% in 2021, but there is still reason to remain optimistic. For example, interruptions in the supply chain can be very beneficial; interruptions force manufacturers to increase efficiency.
Historically, the US manufacturing industry has invested heavily in technology, most of which are geared towards automation. Since the 1960s, the number of workers in the manufacturing industry has decreased by about a third. Nevertheless, due to the aging of the population and the emergence of roles that need to adapt to technological challenges, a global labor investment movement may occur in 2021.
Although the transformation is imminent, the enthusiasm of corporate executives is undeniable. According to a recent Deloitte poll, 63% of them are somewhat or very optimistic about the outlook for this year. Let’s take a look at the specific aspects of manufacturing that will change in 2021.
As the continuing pandemic continues to disrupt the supply chain, manufacturers will have to reassess their global production footprint. This may lead to more emphasis on local sourcing. For example, China currently produces 48% of the world’s steel, but this situation may change as more countries hope to obtain supplies closer to their country.
In fact, a recent study shows that 33% of supply chain leaders either move part of their business out of China or plan to move it out in the next two to three years.
The United States has some natural steel resources, and some manufacturers are seeking to move production closer to these steel mines. This movement may not become an international or even national trend, but because the consistency of the supply chain is questioned, and metals are more difficult to transport than consumer goods, this must be a consideration for some manufacturers.
Manufacturers are also responding to rapidly changing market demands, which may require recalibration of supply networks. COVID-19 has brought the communication needs within the supply chain into the focus of attention. Manufacturers may have to find alternative suppliers or agree on different processes with existing suppliers to ensure smooth delivery. Digital supply networks will be the basis for this: through real-time updates, they can bring unprecedented transparency even in chaotic conditions.
As mentioned above, the manufacturing industry has always attached great importance to technology investment. However, we can expect that in the next five to ten years, the proportion of funds invested in labor education will become higher and higher. As the workforce ages, there is great pressure to fill vacant positions. This means that highly skilled workers are very precious-factories must not only retain employees, but also train them appropriately to adapt to technological changes.
The most recent workforce training paradigm revolves around funding employees who return to school to earn a degree. However, these programs mainly benefit senior engineers or those who wish to enter management positions, while those closest to the production floor lack opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills.
More and more manufacturers are aware of the existence of this gap. Now, people are increasingly aware of the need to educate those closest to the production floor. It is hoped that the model for establishing an internal and certification plan for floor production workers will continue to develop.
The end of Donald Trump’s presidency will definitely affect the global status of the United States, because the new administration will implement many domestic and foreign policy changes. A topic frequently mentioned by President Joe Biden during the campaign is the need to follow science and become a more sustainable country, so we can expect that the sustainability goal will have an impact on the manufacturing industry in 2021.
The government tends to directly enforce its sustainability requirements, which manufacturers find offensive because they see it as a luxury. Developing operational incentives, such as improving efficiency, can provide companies with better reasons to view sustainability as a benefit rather than a costly requirement.
The events following the COVID-19 outbreak showed how quickly the industry can come to a standstill, as this disruption caused a 16% year-on-year drop in productivity and utilization, which is shocking. This year, the success of manufacturers will largely depend on their ability to recover in areas where the economic downturn is the worst; for some, it may be a solution to a difficult supply chain challenge, for others, It may be to support a severely depleted labor force.