Factory of the Future Podcast
Welcome to Factory of the Future brought to you by AW Schultz and Alexandria Burek.
This podcast is focused on the intersection of technology and manufacturing, discussing emerging trends across multiple industries. You will find the topics covered are far reaching and are created to inspire everyone from the factory floor worker up to the executives running the organizations.
AW has spent 20+ years helping organizations transform maintenance and reliability programs, hosting workshops and training events across the globe. He is passionate about researching and helping large organizations bridge the gap between Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 over the next decade.
Alexandria has built a robust career in Supply Chain and Logistics, with a primary focus on transforming private fleet compliance and operations; she is passionate about empowering women in male industries and leveraging neuroscience to level up personally and professionally.
Together, they bring unique individual flair and practical life experiences that will challenge leaders to rethink the way they run their businesses.
Factory of the Future Podcast
#76: How COVID, Reshoring & AI Reshaped U.S. Manufacturing in the 2020s
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Welcome to Factory of the Future, E76, How COVID, Reshoring & AI Reshaped U.S. Manufacturing in the 2020s
Join us as we discuss:
- How COVID-19 exposed supply chain vulnerabilities and triggered a reshoring surge—roughly 360,000 jobs returned to the U.S. by 2022, a 53% jump
- On-the-ground pandemic realities: safety protocols inside plants, plus the personal cost and professional growth that came with working through COVID
- AI's transformative pull on the factory floor—25% of manufacturers eyeing adoption, and the shift from generative to agentic AI
- The workforce question: which jobs AI disrupts (from low-skill service to white-collar legal work) and why partnering with AI is the path forward
And so much more.
Connect with A.W. Schultz
Email: aw@awschultz.org
Personal Website: https://www.awschultz.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/awschultz/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@awschultz_Industry5.0/featured
X: https://twitter.com/visual_controls
A.W’s Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKcBb6hGFjk
Connect with Alexandria Burek
Cell Phone: 708-262-2648
Email: alexandria@vigorinvestments.co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandriaburek1992
Instagram: @unapologeticallyalexandria
Threads: @unapologeticallyalexandria