In the Headlines: Cyberattack impacts U.S. automotive manufacturing
The manufacturing industry is in a perpetual state of change. New technologies, policies, regulations, and company initiatives keep altering the role and perception of manufacturing in America. Every day, there’s a new plant, industry acquisition, research report, or law, and staying up to date on the latest information can prove difficult. Here’s what’s happening this week, in case you missed it.
Serta Simmons Bedding opens 500,000-square-foot mattress manufacturing plant in Wisconsin
The company will produce mattresses and other bedding products under its Serta, Beautyrest and Simmons brands at its new facility.
DOE offers $3.5 billion in funding to support domestic battery manufacturing
Distribution of the funds will be handled by the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC).
Cyberattack on automotive supplier affects Stellantis production
Stellantis has yet to reveal which plants were affected or any additional details.
GAF Energy finishes construction on solar roofing manufacturing plant in Texas
When the facility is at full capacity, it will employ over 240 workers.
Hyundai to increase wages for production workers at Alabama and Georgia facilities
The new structure will begin early next year and is designed to help the company stay competitive, as well as recruit and retain workers.
Custom home builder invests $2.5 million into Tennessee production facility
The facility, which will be approximately 92,000 square feet, will help the company meet its goal of increasing its current production time of 30 housing units per year.
SolarWinds charged with fraud for failing to disclose 2-year cyberattack to investors
SolarWinds and Brown defrauded investors by overstating SolarWinds' cybersecurity practices and understating or failing to disclose known risks.
Simpson Strong-Tie invests $110 million into new Tennessee production facility
The company, which manufactures wood and concrete construction solutions, will relocate a portion of its fastener manufacturing operations to Gallatin, allowing the company to better keep up with demand.
Furniture manufacturer to pay $133K in back wages and interest for alleged hiring discrimination
National Office Furniture will work to ensure its selection process, personnel practices and hiring policies are free from discrimination and will offer jobs to 15 affected women applicants as positions become available.
Bobcat to build $300 million compact loader production plant in Mexico
According to the company, the facility will increase Bobcat’s North American compact loader production capacity by 20%.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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