Get Ready for a New Economic Playbook for 2026: IndustryWeek's Weekly Review
Welcome to IndustryWeek's Weekly Review, where every seven days we share the most popular content from the past week. Interestingly, both the first and the last item on this week's list reflect our manufacturing community's interest in economic projections for 2026, as do several other pieces of content. Still, many other topics also grabbed their attention, including AI, Dr. Deming and supply chain leadership. Read on.
3 Economic Factors Reshaping Manufacturing in 2026: Persistent inflation, uneven tariff pressures and the normalization of effective AI are creating a new playbook.
What Must Change for AI to Pay Off? AI literacy and orchestration are becoming core leadership competencies, not optional skills.
Podcast: Leadership Needs an Overhaul: Podcast hosts Dr. Mohamed Saleh and John Dyer dive into Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s seventh point of management transformation: Institute leadership.
Manufacturers Boosting Domestic Production with New Facilities and Plant Upgrades: Find out where these five companies are investing hundreds of millions of dollars across the nation.
On-the-Job Training: Deming’s Sixth Point for Management Transformation: Podcast hosts Dr. Mohamed Saleh and John Dyer explore Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s emphasis on on-the-job training, highlighting its role in fostering continuous improvement and developing well-rounded employees.
Ohio's MAGNET Cuts Half Its Staff With Trump Administration Freeze: The uncertainty for the 40-year-old Northeast Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership has been 'incredibly painful.'
Labor Shortage Remains Top Obstacle for Manufacturers in 2026: CADDi Survey: 71% of survey respondents report that the skilled labor gap is impacting their company directly.
Advice to the New Supply Chain Leader: Darrell Edwards, supply-chain professor and former COO of La-Z-Boy, shares professional wisdom for recent graduates.
3M, Fastenal Executives Enter 2026 Still Looking For ‘A Little Lift’ From the Economy: The leaders of both Minnesota-based companies say they are counting on their own initiatives to outgrow the overall markets for their goods.
5 Economic Events From 2025 That Are Shaking Up 2026: How last year's defining trends will shape business leadership in 2026.