TED Business The future isn't just coded — it's built | Lauren Dunford
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Aug 4, 2025 
Lauren Dunford, a passionate factory fixer, sheds light on the often-overlooked world of manufacturing. She argues that reinventing the industry is key to building a sustainable future. Dunford shares how manufacturing shapes our lives, especially highlighted during crises like the COVID pandemic. She inspires a new generation to embrace manufacturing as a transformative career path, emphasizing its artistic value and potential for innovation. The discussion challenges biases, calling for a reevaluation of the industry's role in our economy and environment.
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Manufacturing's Massive Impact
- Manufacturing shapes nearly everything we use every day and forms a sixth of the global economy.
- It produces a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting its massive impact on our lives and planet.
Personal Manufacturing Revelation
- Lauren Dunford shares her experience joining a food manufacturing company wearing a hairnet.
- She realized large-scale food distribution is a form of manufacturing, changing her perspective on the industry.
Manufacturing's Critical Role Exposed
- The COVID pandemic revealed critical dependence on manufacturing for essential goods like masks and baby formula.
- Advanced technologies like AI still rely on vast physical manufacturing infrastructure, not just code.