As the repercussions of COVID are still echoing through supply chains around the world, how can businesses adapt to the new reality of constant uncertainty? Optimas Solutions, a major parts distributor and manufacturer, has seen both supply and demand reliability turned upside down. In this session, we’ll have a candid discussion with Optimas’ President of Americas, Daniel Harms and ToolsGroup’s General Manager, Americas, David Barton, about how Optimas maintains service to customers amid protracted supply constraints. You’ll hear practical advice for how manufacturers and distributors can actually plan for uncertainty and lean on technology to keep performance high despite staffing challenges.

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.