Author: Peggy Smedley
The job market in the construction industry in 2025 is an interesting dichotomy. We have a shortage—with Baby Boomers retiring and not enough young, new workers entering the market—and we also have increasing job satisfaction and salaries, pointing to positive days ahead. For today’s blog, let’s look at the numbers from two recent job trends reports. But first, let’s consider the market overall. The U.S. construction industry is seeing total spending rising to $2.2 trillion this year, (Yes, construction is growing and growing in a way that provides for a good living for the future of work) which is a…
Peggy kicks off a new show, Aiglatson, where the future isn’t just imagined, it is felt. She is joined by cohost Dennis Draeger, foresight director, Shaping Tomorrow, who says aiglatson is more than a word, it is a mindset, and it is about preferring the dreams of the future to the experiences of the past. They also discuss: · The definition and meaning of the word aiglatson—and who and why the term was coined. · Comparing and contrasting nostalgia and aiglatson through a historical and future lens—and the concept of a used future. · How the future is going to…
If embedded super intelligence at the core of factory operations enabling custom software to be built in 24 hours instead of 18 months bridged the chasm that exists between management, vision, and operational reality, would you do it? Peggy talks with Dan Miklovic, founder, Lean Manufacturing Research and leader, Third Eye Advisory, and Radu Spineanu, founder, Humble Operations, about how American manufacturing is drowning in a costly disconnect. They also discuss: · How Humble Operations wants to help rewrite the rules of the enterprise software in manufacturing. · What processes companies should tackle first and how to optimize the core,…
Connectivity is skyrocketing at a rapid clip, thanks to new innovations and the rapid rise of AI (artificial intelligence). Couple the rewards technology enables, with the mighty risks that many companies certainly aren’t prepared for at this moment in time. The best time to become aligned with this new AI revolution was yesterday. Sadly, that’s no joke. The Broadband Assn.’s new 2024 Broadband Capex Report suggests broadband providers invested $89.6 billion in U.S. communications infrastructure in 2024, which brings the industry’s total to more than $2.2 trillion since 1996. Last year, we saw the AI era swell, driven by expanded…
Safety is a moving target in the construction industry. Roughly 100 years ago, safety simply wasn’t a priority in the construction industry—but all of that began to change in the 1970s when OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Admin.) entered the equation and businesses quickly began to realize an unsafe jobsite could potentially cost a lot of money. Worker deaths in America are down from about 38 worker deaths a day in 1970 to 15 a day in 2019—so some progress, but there is still work to be done. But one death is still one too many. In the past decade…
It’s time to take a closer look at labor productivity in the manufacturing industry. For such a long time, productivity in manufacturing remained stagnant—but are the tides beginning to turn? Is AI (artificial intelligence), the IoT (Internet of Things), and other emerging technologies boosting productivity enough to the point where we are seeing some gains? The numbers tell an interesting story. In the decade leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. manufacturing’s total factor productivity decreased by an average of 0.3 percent per year, and McKinsey & Co., suggests this is due to a number of factors including the aging…
Peggy looks at the global trends impacting the transportation and logistics sector, sharing how technologies are evolving to meet growing demands. She says digital transformation, decarbonization, and other emerging technologies are going to need to fuel the new demands required. She also discusses: · How much will be required to fuel this infrastructure vertical through 2040. · The top factors at play that must be considered in transportation. · The steps to take to embrace innovation in the days ahead. https://peggysmedleyshow.com
Peggy Smedley and Kory Daniels, chief security and trust officer, LevelBlue, talk about cyber resilience in manufacturing and findings from a new report. He says resilience is very simply a bend, but do not break mentality for the organization. They also discuss: · The biggest wakeup call from a recent report. · What threat actors are embracing. · If this needs to start top, down—and how to best ensure resilience. https://levelblue.com
Peggy Smedley interviews Tim Lindner, warehouse automation consultant, about how Amazon thinks it can replace 160,000 jobs with robots. He shares Amazon’s history of robotics, saying this shouldn’t come as a surprise to people based on their history with robotics. They also discuss: · How it plans to automate 75% of its operations. · Circularity in the days since the Industrial Revolution—and where robots will end up. · Robotics as a service—and what this means for the future of warehouse automation. https://www.voxware.com/
There are sustainability opportunities all around in the construction industry, if we are willing to look for them. From sustainable materials to waste reduction to water conservation to new innovation and technologies, there are a few ways to create a more sustainable jobsite—and more sustainable homes, buildings, cities, and communities for the future. For today’s blog, perhaps we can consider two new case studies that are trying to lead the way for innovation in the construction industry. Wood Waste No More Perhaps one of the biggest challenges in the construction sector is waste. And we all know there is a…