Paul Wellener , Vice Chairman of the US Industrial Products and Construction practice in Deloitte … He started working on the shop floor 30 years ago . “ An engineer by training , I then got a business degree and started in manufacturing ,” says Wellener . “ At that point in time , I was manufacturing parts in the automotive industry , but I moved into consulting a few years later .” Wellener has been in consulting ever since , though he has remained consulting for manufacturing organisations , whether automotive or aerospace-based . “ I ' m just naturally a person who likes operations and working to see tangible products . In manufacturing , it ' s so easy to see results day in and day out ,” he says . “ When you see a product on the assembly line , you can see your impact on it just a few hours – or a few minutes – later .”

� NESTLÉ & ERICSSON Food and drink manufacturer Nestlé , IT giant Ericsson & Embratel are strengthening 5G technology in Brazil with new smart factories & a private 5G network .

� CLOUD ASSESS As manufacturers dig in for the busy winter period , Rob Bright , Cloud Assess CEO , says it ' s crucial that workforce training is not overlooked ; businesses should ensure upskilling and reskilling remains a priority .

� FACTORY GROWTH Amid the cost-of-living crisis , business margins are under strain , with the most recent CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI pointing to the lowest growth in factory activity since June 2020 .

� OVERSEAS PRODUCTION The days of cheap overseas production may be over . Manufacturers are now returning home , hoping to reduce their reliance on international suppliers to protect their consumer base against global supply chain disruptions .

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