As strategic forces push manufacturing back to America, one obstacle threatens progress: finding the right people with the right skills. Before new factories can produce anything, they must be built—requiring a new generation of skilled tradespeople such as electricians, welders, and technicians. And once these modern facilities are operational, companies report an unexpected challenge: the biggest talent gaps aren’t just technical, but also in core soft skills like leadership, critical thinking, and communication. Join Supply Chain Now hosts Scott Luton and Allison Giddens as they welcome Alan Amling and Darrell Edwards from the University of Tennessee–Knoxville to explore a practical approach to developing a comprehensive workforce from the ground up. Learn what it truly takes to build, staff, and sustain the next generation of American manufacturing.

There’s proof in the panel- learn from esteemed purchasing and supply chain management professionals on how they drove their business forward through the COVID-19 disruption (and continue to do so). These pros will discuss predictions for the future of supply chain as we embark on the “new world,” proven best practices they have employed – including engaging the group purchasing organization (GPO) model, and why leveraging a GPO will prove to be crucial among leading supply chains. The panel will discuss: -Core challenges their supply chain faced in 2020, lessons learned, and how they overcame great disruption -Procurement’s role in enabling the supply chain -Best practices on implementing their version of supply chain success -How to operate in 2021, the future of supply chain management in the “new world” As supply chains continue to move forward in a still unstable environment, these proven success stories will help guide continuous value improvement in the supply chain.