Labor Shortages, Skills Gap, and Workforce Solutions

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Mary Kate Love celebrate Manufacturing Day 2025 with special guest Danny Gonzales, Founder and CEO of IndustrialSage and Optimum Productions. Together, they explore how manufacturing has evolved from being seen as dirty or outdated into a modern, tech-driven industry that fuels global economies and everyday life.

Danny shares the vision behind American Makers, his new documentary series that spotlights the people and stories powering America’s manufacturing future. He talks about how storytelling helps shift perceptions, inspire future talent, and show the impact of manufacturing on communities across the country. Together, they explore workforce challenges, reshoring trends, energy access, and how meaning and purpose can help address labor shortages.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(01:28) Celebrating Manufacturing Day 2025

(03:23) Fun warmup question

(06:52) Danny's journey into manufacturing

(10:03) Mary Kate's manufacturing story

(12:23) Current state of US manufacturing

(17:54) Global manufacturing insights

(21:38) Interesting manufacturing factoids

(24:20) Semiconductors and nearshoring trends

(25:17) Skepticism about significant investments

(25:54) Foreign direct investment in Georgia

(26:37) Industrial robot installations and economic contributions

(28:04) Labor challenges in manufacturing

(30:32) Factory floor of the future

(32:39) Energy access and nuclear power

(36:10) National Supply Chain Day

(37:10) American Makers: celebrating industry stories

Additional Links & Resources

• Connect with Danny Gonzales: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannygonzales/ 
• Learn more about Industrial Sage: https://www.industrialsage.com/
• Watch Industrial Sage on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IndustrialSage
• Connect with Mary Kate Love: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marykatelove/
• Check out National Supply Chain Day: https://supplychainnow.com/nscd/
• Connect with Scott Luton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com 
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now  
• Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join  
• Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
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This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Mary Kate Love and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/celebrating-manufacturing-day-2025-1502