Focus on the Challenges Manufacturers Face
DEAR READER
Welcome to the Fall 2023 Edition of HV Mfg, the Council of Industry’s magazine by, for, and about Hudson Valley Manufacturers.
It’s cliché to say, “the only constant in life is change,” yet in the world of manufacturing “truer words were never spoken.” In this edition of HV Mfg we try to capture some of the changes occurring in our sector –changes in technology and demographics, as well as changing threats, values, and priorities.
We start with a Q&A with Kelly Lyndgaard, founder and CEO of Unshattered, a social manufacturing enterprise that is helping women overcome addiction through the production of high-end handbags. An article by Taylor Dowd introduces us to longtime Council member Balchem Corporation whose microencapsulation technology is transforming the food industry.
The technology that will likely have the greatest impact on manufacturing in the coming decade is Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is already greatly impacting the sector in a variety of ways. We asked the generative AI tool ChatGPT to craft an article on the future of the technology in manufacturing. We’ll let you be the judge of how well it did.
Pattern for Progress President Adam Bosch writes on the changes that will impact our workforce for decades to come. An aging population and outmigration are shrinking the Hudson Valley workforce and Adam explains its causes and impacts.
Other articles include a story on Cybersecurity threats by John Durkin, Region 2 Regional Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Ransomware and IP theft are becoming more and more common in manufacturing and CISA offers many resources to combat these threats. Finally, the Council of Industry’s Kevin Gardener and Johnnieanne Hansen look at a few of the many programs high schools in the region are undertaking that feature industry involvement and collaboration to build a strong manufacturing workforce pipeline.
Of course, we have our regular Fall features including news briefs, “What Are You Reading,” and our Regional Manufacturers Resource Guide.
One thing that does not change is my sincere appreciation for the organizations who placed advertisements in HV Mfg. I thank you for your generous support of the Council of Industry, this publication and manufacturers throughout the region.
I hope you enjoy this edition and thank you for reading.
Sincerely,
President
