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The U.S. experienced record-breaking heat in June, and OSHA proposed a new rule on July 2 to protect approximately 36 million workers from extreme heat. If the rule is finalized, manufacturers must establish plant-specific heat prevention plans covering hazard identification, control measures (such as 15-minute rest breaks every two hours at 80 degrees), employee training, and recordkeeping. Experts note that although the rule still requires months and faces election-year challenges, companies should prepare in advance.
After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine on June 28, federal courts quickly applied the new standard. A Texas judge has temporarily blocked the Department of Labor's overtime rule from taking effect for state employees, but the rule still faces multiple challenges. Experts note that several Department of Labor regulations may be re-examined, and employers need to monitor compliance obligations and participate in legislative dialogue.
Continuous manufacturing has been used for decades in industries such as food, but its adoption in pharmaceuticals has been slower. With FDA encouragement and investment from drug companies, this technology is gradually transforming supply chains. This article analyzes its definition, benefits, regulatory barriers, and practices at companies like Thermo Fisher and Pfizer.
After experiencing a safety scandal, Boeing's negotiations with the IAM union have reached a deadlock. The union has demanded a 40% wage increase, and experts point out that Boeing faces multiple crises, giving the union an advantage.
Amid persistent labor shortages, the U.S. manufacturing sector is witnessing a surge in "second-chance" hiring. At JBM Packaging in Ohio, about one-third of employees come from such programs, and its president credits this approach with supporting company growth. Data from Indiana's HIRE program shows that related interventions are associated with reduced recidivism rates. Experts emphasize that success requires comprehensive support, including soft skills training and life coaching, and recommend that companies seek external partnerships.
The automotive manufacturing industry has long been dominated by men, with women underrepresented at all levels. 2020 data shows that women accounted for only 24% of the industry's workforce, while in the same year, women made up 62% of new car buyers in the United States. Experts believe that a lack of an inclusive culture, poor career advancement channels, and insufficient work flexibility are the main reasons for the loss of female talent. Against the backdrop of the electric vehicle transition and factory expansion, automakers are attracting and retaining female talent through measures such as diversified recruitment, career development programs, and flexible work arrangements.
Last fall, children in multiple U.S. states developed lead poisoning symptoms after consuming applesauce from brands such as WanaBana. An FDA investigation found that the source of contamination pointed to Ecuadorian cinnamon processor Carlos Aguilera, whose supplied cinnamon was contaminated with lead during processing. The incident exposed limitations in the FDA's oversight of overseas supply chains and prompted the agency to consider strengthening related testing and inspections.
In 2019, General Motors closed its Lordstown, Ohio plant, laying off about 1,500 workers; in 2022, Ultium Cells, a joint venture battery plant between GM and LG Energy Solution, opened there with an hourly wage of $15.50, only half of the top wage for assembly workers. In 2023, new contracts reached between the UAW and the Big Three allow laid-off workers to transfer to battery plants and bring them under the master agreement. Experts note that the biggest impact of the new contracts on automakers and their joint venture partners may be rising costs, while unionization will put pressure on battery manufacturers regarding wages and benefits.
Mexico's nearshoring wave is not a short-term phenomenon but the result of years of trade agreements, industrial accumulation, and geographic advantages. In 2022, 14% of U.S. imports came from Mexico; foreign direct investment attracted by the automotive industry reached $5.4 billion in the first three quarters of 2023, surpassing any previous full-year level. Logistics companies have also increased investment, but distribution is uneven, with a few industries and states dominating.
As trade tensions between China and the United States persist, Vietnam, leveraging advantages such as labor costs, tax incentives, and free trade agreements, is attracting global semiconductor and electronics manufacturing giants to accelerate their expansion.