In this highly anticipated season opener of Workforce 4.0, host Ann Wyatt sits down with Kevin Bowers, Vice President of Research at AMT, to explore the years hottest trends shaping the manufacturing landscape in 2025. This insightful discussion provides valuable perspectives for anyone in the manufacturing industry seeking to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Join us as Kevin shares his hot takes on the impact of the CHIPS Act, the growing influence of Big Tech, sustainability in manufacturing and the potential impact that Trump era tariffs could bring to the industry at scale.

In This Episode:

-00:35: Meet Kevin Bowers from AMT

-03:53: Kevin's Career Journey

-05:52: The Role of AMT and Its Team

-11:47: Manufacturing Trends and Insights

-16:30: Leveraging Government Initiatives

-19:30: AI and Automation for SMEs

-26:01: Future of Work in Manufacturing

-30:32: Top Trends Recap for 2025

-34:48: Conclusion and Contact Information

About Kevin Bowers:

Kevin is the association's Vice President of Research: With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing across sales, operations, training, and support, he understands all aspects of our members' businesses. He also led research for industrial equipment and field services at the Technology & Services Industry Association, where they focused on benchmarking, advisory, and consulting to improve members' business outcomes. Kevin's deep-rooted industry knowledge and technical expertise, combined with his experience in actionable research, make him uniquely qualified to take our Research and Consulting team at AMT to the next level. He also serves on the board of NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills). Kevin graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Japanese and spent several years living and working in Japan. To connect with Kevin, please do so here. Also be sure the check out the amazing research that AMT is doing through their AMT Research Services and as a special bonus, we're including the link to the specific article mentioned into today's episode, "Tariffs: They're A Big Deal."

The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi:

Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.