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CEO Update Technology and talent are the fuel of any successful supply chain operation. However, in terms of priority, the human element trumps technology. The talent gap has become one of the biggest barriers to technology adoption. According to the newly released 2025 MHI Annual Industry Report, 83% of the manufacturing and supply chain professionals surveyed said that the ongoing ...

Executive Viewpoint BY CRYSTAL PARROTT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, MUJIN US In today’s high‑growth, rapidly evolving job market, it is crucial to quickly place the right individuals in the appropriate roles. Equally important is the retention of these individuals through effective onboarding, consistent communication and appropriate leadership training. While the pace of hiring may be fast, it is essential to take ...

BY CHRISTIAN DOW, EVP OF INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP, MHI At manufacturing plants and warehouses plagued by high turnover, it might seem like employees don’t truly value their jobs and happily would jump ship to make a few bucks more somewhere else. That outlook tends to change, however, upon the first sign of new automated material‑handling solutions in the facility, as workers ...

Economic Market Analysis     BY JASON SCHENKER, PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGE ECONOMICS®, CHAIRMAN OF THE FUTURIST INSTITUTE® Some of the biggest risks to the 2025 economic and material handling outlooks evaporated in late 2024 with a swift and decisive outcome of the U.S. presidential election that removed the most significant risks to uncertainty and potential economic and societal disruption. With ...

Safer Handling Off/on pedals for a central lock brake are among the safety features used for some casters and wheels.    BY TOM GRESHAM   For casters and wheels, safety starts in part with how well they can stop. When mounted to the underside of a piece of equipment, casters and wheels make it easier for personnel or machinery to ...

Solutions Spotlight   BY KATIE KUEHNER‑HEBERT The Next Gen scissors lift: company members of MHI’s Lift Manufacturers Product Group (LIFT) are revolutionizing scissors lift equipment with integration, automation and customization. LIFT company members are the industry’s leading suppliers of industrial scissors lift equipment designed to safely move personnel, equipment and product. Scissor lift equipment types include dock lifts, tilters, turntables, ...

Product Spotlight   BY SANDY SMITH Safety is at the core of the work of the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA). However, this committee of “friendly competitors” does not merely replicate the work of federal regulators but rather sees its role as enhancing when it comes to understanding the nuances of overhead traveling cranes and gantry cranes. While OSHA ...

Where Are They Now? Catching up with an MHEFI Scholarship Recipient: Amber Clauss, Operations Engineer, Fortna Just how much can artificial intelligence (AI) improve material‑handling software such as warehouse execution systems? As an operations engineer for FORTNA, an Atlanta‑based supplier of supply chain software and solutions, Amber Clauss is determined to find out. Clauss, 23, reports directly to the company’s ...

The people who work at MHI and its WERC division are the gears that keep the association moving. They ensure MHI continues to be a valuable association and resource for people involved in the industry and do so with wit, competence and a smile on their face. The goal of this column in MHI Solutions magazine is to give readers ...

At the supply chain industry evolves to meet global demands, the need to attract and cultivate top talent is critical. Recognizing this, the MHI Board of Governors has approved a $250,000 contribution to the Material Handling Education Foundation, Inc. (MHEFI). This one‑time gift underscores MHI’s commitment to building a robust talent pipeline for the material handling and supply chain industry. ...