CAMPS - Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈 AI is transforming procurement by automating tasks and improving decision-making, but success still depends on human skills. While AI analyzes data and predicts risks, strong supplier relationships, negotiations, and strategic thinking require trust, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. That’s why companies are investing in upskilling, recognizing that “soft” skills like communication and problem-solving are critical in an AI-driven world. The best leaders don’t just adopt AI—they balance it with human expertise. Those who prioritize learning, mentorship, and resilience won’t just keep up; they’ll drive the future. AI streamlines processes, but creativity, empathy, and sound judgment will always set top teams apart. https://lnkd.in/gKcK9MSX Supply Chain Brain | #Manufacturing | #AI

𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐒 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩! Joseph Meyer from NorthwestTAAC (Northwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center, NWTAAC) shares his positive experience with CAMPS, highlighting the invaluable forum it provides for connecting with other manufacturers. This network has led to some of the best referrals they’ve ever received and offered tremendous learning opportunities through active participation in CAMPS committees. Joe emphasizes that the membership is worth every dollar, a sentiment echoed by their executive director, whose first advice to Joe was to attend CAMPS events as often as possible. Discover how CAMPS can help you showcase your company’s strengths and build valuable industry connections. Visit our website: www.CAMPS-us.com Learn more about NW TAAC: www.nwtaac.org/ #Manufacturing | #AdvancedManufacturing

𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐒𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤? 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. Feeling stuck in your role? In manufacturing, it’s easy to fall into routine—hitting production targets, managing workflows, and keeping things moving. But when work starts to feel repetitive or growth opportunities seem out of reach, motivation can take a hit. The good news? Small, proactive steps can reignite your engagement. Whether it’s taking on a new project, cross-training in a different department, or revisiting past feedback to identify growth areas, you have more control over your career than you might think. Slow seasons don’t have to mean stagnation. Shadowing a colleague, mentoring a newer team member, or recognizing small wins can shift your mindset and open new doors. Manufacturing thrives on continuous improvement—not just for processes, but for people too. https://lnkd.in/gMiAiisu Octavia Goredema | Harvard Business Review | #Manufacturing | #Leadership

𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 $55.5𝐌 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 Washington state is making big moves toward a cleaner, more efficient future! The Department of Commerce just awarded $45 million in Clean Buildings Performance Grant funding to 70 business owners, helping them modernize heating and cooling systems, install smart controls, and upgrade to energy-efficient lighting. As Commerce Director Joseph Nguyen put it: "By improving energy efficiency, we’re reducing emissions, creating jobs, and strengthening local economies—especially in rural and underserved areas." https://lnkd.in/gH3cKm89 425 Business | #Manufacturing | #Washington

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞? 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 Alex Vinden, General Manager at Instawork, suggests that businesses should incorporate flexible workers into their distribution center or warehouse operations, even if volumes don’t fluctuate significantly, as it taps into a larger pool of potential workers. Flexible work options are increasingly popular, with one in three workers participating in flexible work by 2023, especially among younger, diverse demographics who prefer flexibility. Vinden highlights that flexible labor is crucial for addressing challenges like rising costs, staffing shortages, and retention issues. A 2024 Instawork study found that 43% of companies lost revenue due to staffing shortages. Vinden recommends a three-tier approach to staffing that includes recurring flexible workers who are trained and more productive than casual hires. This type of workforce is more tech-savvy and educated, improving retention and providing greater flexibility without requiring workers to leave for better opportunities. https://lnkd.in/gJ8GmscB Supply Chain Brain | #Manufacturing | #Workforce

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐱 𝐚 “𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧” 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 Workplace tension is rising, making teamwork harder. In manufacturing, where collaboration is key, even small conflicts can slow production and impact quality. Incivility costs businesses billions in lost productivity, but companies that foster respect see higher job satisfaction, lower turnover, and stronger teamwork—critical for meeting production goals and maintaining safety. Leaders can prevent conflicts by pausing before reacting, identifying triggers, and focusing on solutions. If a supervisor feels unfairly criticized, asking clarifying questions can steer the conversation toward problem-solving. Modeling respectful communication helps employees collaborate effectively, resolve issues faster, and stay focused on quality. https://lnkd.in/gKZgSJsZ Harvard Business Review | #Manufacturing | #Culture

𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 The culture in a fabrication shop evolves over time through the interactions of workers, machines, and problem-solving. While unspoken rules and veteran knowledge shaped the environment in the past, changes like banning smoking indoors, improving organization, and maintaining a cleaner facility have boosted morale and productivity. The new environment feels more professional, and workers are more conscientious about keeping the shop clean, reflecting a shift in their approach to work. The workforce has also changed, with a new generation that’s more tech-savvy, using tools like CAD software and automation. While older workers relied on hands-on experience, today’s workers balance craftsmanship with modern technology, albeit with a greater dependence on their phones. Despite these changes, the pride in creating remains central to the shop’s culture, blending tradition with innovation as it moves forward. https://lnkd.in/g_5_mMPi The Fabricator | #Manufacturing

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐈 Companies are accelerating remanufacturing to address supply chain shortages, expand affordability, and unlock high-margin revenue. However, challenges like pricing SKUs and forecasting core availability make scaling complex. AI is becoming a game-changer, helping remanufacturers optimize efficiency, pricing, and core forecasting by using predictive analytics. As cloud storage and processing costs decrease, AI is more accessible, driving profitability and streamlining operations. AI tools are proving valuable in optimizing inventory, pricing long-tail SKUs, and managing warranty claims with large language models. Companies adopting AI for core forecasting and pricing strategies have seen improved margins and reduced costs. Remanufacturers investing in data-driven decision-making and change management will be best positioned to capture AI's full potential, gaining a competitive edge. https://lnkd.in/gSjkKDSi Inga Maurer | Joe Dertouzos | Umesh Goel | Elizabeth Scarinci | Dmitry Tolstinev | McKinsey & Company | #Manufacturing | #AI

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐚’𝐬 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐈 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 Tesla is rapidly accelerating its push into humanoid robotics, with reports suggesting its Optimus robots are already being deployed on factory floors. Elon Musk has long claimed Tesla’s future is in AI and robotics, not just EVs, and the company is now working toward mass production. If humanoid robots prove effective in manufacturing, industries like agriculture and logistics could be next. This raises a big question: Will robots replace human workers, or will they simply redefine work? While automation offers efficiency, cost savings, and safety benefits, the potential displacement of workers is a major social and economic concern. Some argue that new jobs will emerge in designing, maintaining, and integrating these systems, but the timeline and scale of this shift remain uncertain. https://lnkd.in/gxHEzYG6 Inc. Magazine | #Manufacturing

𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐒 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲! For over 30 years, Total Reclaim, Inc. has been a trusted leader in environmental services, offering sustainable solutions for recycling and recovery of hard-to-manage materials. From electronics and appliances to refrigerants and fluorescent lamps, their innovative approach keeps harmful waste out of landfills and protects our environment. With facilities in Seattle and Anchorage, Total Reclaim is committed to responsible recycling, regulatory compliance, and customized programs that meet the needs of businesses across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. We’re proud to have such an experienced and forward-thinking company join our network of manufacturers and solution providers. Welcome aboard, Total Reclaim — we look forward to learning from your expertise and collaborating on a cleaner, more sustainable future! 🌍 Learn more at www.TotalReclaim.com #WelcomeNewMember | #CAMPSCommunity | #Sustainability | #TotalReclaim | #EnvironmentalSolutions | #ManufacturingPartners | #WashingtonManufacturing