Navigating the Ever-evolving Manufacturing Landscape

Lester Godsey Chief Information Security Officer at Maricopa County,Jason Butryn, MSITM Information Technology & Management Professional at Maricopa County

What inspired you to pursue a career in manufacturing, and how did you get started in the industry?

As a kid I always enjoyed fixing things like bicycles and motorcycles. After graduating with an engineering degree, I had an opportunity to work as a manufacturing engineer for Harley-Davidson during a company turnaround in the nineties. It was an intensive lesson in the theory of constraints, and I was energized by the challenge. Today, I feel very lucky, like an athlete playing a game he loves, after growing up playing with trucks and equipment, I get to build them every day.

Can you tell us about your role as the Leader of Manufacturing at Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas and what are your primary responsibilities in this position?

As Vice President of Manufacturing Operations for an industry leading material handling company, I am responsible for planning, procurement, production, and logistics for a multi-plant North American Manufacturing Operation that includes about 1.5 million square feet of factory space and 1,200 employees. We had a record shipment year in 2022 and will have another in 2023.

What are some of the most significant challenges facing the manufacturing industry today, and how do you believe they can be addressed?

People and capacity, manufacturing capacity and supply chain capacity. The world has changed a lot in recent years and was experiencing unprecedented demand. To meet that demand we need a team of well-trained people, and so do our competitors. The challenge is to attract and retain talent while maintaining competitive balance. We are strategically investing in manufacturing capacity for our core processes and working hard to develop our supply chain to be more resilient. Keeping all that synchronized is a big challenge. Lastly, anything that contains a microchip has been problematic for the past few years. Again, we need to strategically invest to utilize components with more readily available technologies and get to market quickly.

“Technological advancements are happening faster today than ever before. In our industry, things like high powered fiber optic lasers, welding robots and painting systems can all be connected using Industry 4.0 technology to monitor and ensure were making the right parts at the right time with the right quality.”

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the manufacturing industry, and what measures have you taken to mitigate the impact on your operations?

We always knew that the global supply chains were connected, but that point has been magnified in the past 3 years! When the pandemic caused shutdowns, the continuous ripple effects of logistics delays & raw material shortages on business were tremendous. We have had to up our game and manage at a different level of detail to be successful. We had to establish additional monitoring techniques to provide advanced warning of potential problems and develop creative solutions to prevent them. Where it makes sense, we have invested in inventory to help buffer and additional capacity to recover. Above all, remaining flexible and open minded to new solutions to overcome the never- ending challenges.

In your opinion, what are some of the most exciting technological advancements currently being developed in the manufacturing industry, and how do you see them shaping the future of the industry?

Technological advancements are happening faster today than ever before. In our industry, things like high powered fiber optic lasers, welding robots and painting systems can all be connected using Industry 4.0 technology to monitor and ensure were making the right parts at the right time with the right quality. As we connect things, we can collect data and give people information to make better, faster, decisions to manage the business. Technologies such as vision systems, robotic assembly, and automatic guided vehicles (AGV) to deliver materials are being utilized to improve safety and productivity. As our factories are adopting new technology each implementation creates an opportunity for other related innovations. As a result of these advancements, factories of the future will not be the dingy facilities of the past, they will be cleaner, brighter, technology focused facilities, with more highly trained and skilled technicians to operate and service the equipment.

What advice would you give to individuals looking to pursue a career in the manufacturing industry, particularly those just starting out?

Factories are cool! Check them out, the opportunities are endless. If you are looking for an exciting fast-paced career creating value, the manufacturing industry is a good place to do it. To be successful learn to be a problem solver, develop your communication skills to enhance your ability to collaborate and never stop learning.