The internet is a vast space that is filled with rabbit holes, endless search results, and adorable cat videos that will consume your entire day in a flash. Finding the information and insights you need to improve productivity and efficiency at your facility can be daunting. Luckily, Plant Services is here to help. We search the web and curate the industry perspectives, trends, and topics that will affect you and your industry. Here are a few of our favorite stories from this week.

How Humans And AI Can Untap New Manufacturing Capacity [Forbes]
Looking to tap into the hidden potential of your facility? Your first impulse may be to invest in new and innovative technologies, like artificial intelligence. But it’s the combination of human and AI that can achieve the greatest results. In this article, you’ll learn how to collect the right data and get it into the hands of your workers to make meaningful change.

Opinion: The next generation of American manufacturing is high-tech, and skilled workers are needed to operate these advanced tools [MarketWatch]
Every day, there are new and improved machines being integrated into manufacturing facilities across the country. These sophisticated pieces of equipment require an equally skilled technician to keep them and the entire operation running. With an ever-dwindling pipeline of workers, how will the industry cultivate the next generation of workers with the right skill sets?

Just-in-Time Supply Chains Have to Evolve to Manage Ongoing Disruptions [Supply and Demand Chain Executive]
Supply chains are changing. The just-in-time method, which had been the standard, is being reevaluated, with manufacturers putting greater emphasis on resiliency over efficiency. In this article, learn why companies are focusing on supply chain reliability, agility, and infrastructure.

A Talent Shortage Is the Perfect Time to Invest in Your Existing Team [Industry Week]
The skilled labor shortage is an unfortunate reality for most manufacturers. While much emphasis is placed on recruiting new and younger workers, less attention is placed on keeping the workers you already have. Properly training your workforce and offering opportunities for advancement can foster loyalty and improved moral within an organization.

Smart factory vs. smart manufacturing: Do you know the difference? [Smart Industry]
One major byproduct of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is a dictionary’s worth of new terms. Words like IIoT, digitalization, smart manufacturing, and machine learning are just a few of the buzzwords that have now become the lexicon of manufacturing. But are you using these terms correctly? What’s the difference between smart manufacturing and the smart factory?