Jon Overheul

Agility Is the New Advantage With automotive production declining and tariffs clouding the forecast, 2026 could test manufacturers’ resilience. Companies that adopt flexible workforce models, including temporary staffing, will be best positioned to adapt and thrive. Agility isn’t just nice to have, it’s a competitive advantage. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gCBjNrrC #BusinessAgility #Manufacturing #TemporaryHelp #WorkforceSolutions #TalentStrategy

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EDUCATION AND THE MOBILITY INDUSTRY MichAuto, the association that is dedicated to promoting and growing the auto industry in the state, released its State of Mobility 2025 report on Dec. 10. Among its top findings were the following: Michigan's auto industry must innovate and attract new talent to maintain its global leadership position. The state faces intense competition from China, which is rapidly advancing in EV technology and production. Improving K-12 education, infrastructure, and affordable housing is crucial for attracting a skilled workforce. "Whether you work in the factory or on the connected vehicle, all jobs are requiring a higher degree of digital interface and skilled training," said Glenn Stevens, CEO of MichAuto. However, the industry faces a perception crisis among youth, with many indicating they would not consider it for a career. Many cite a lack of awareness of jobs beyond engineering and manufacturing, unclear educational pathways, and misunderstood working conditions as the reasons for not considering a career in the auto industry, the report said. Stevens said the industry must change those perceptions. While I found manufacturing and sales numbers quite interesting, I was shocked by how poorly we are preparing our students for the jobs of the future - both in autos and elsewhere. "We’re in a competition for technical talent at all levels with everyone," Stevens said. An area in the high schools that needs attention is with providing counselors to show young people the way into an autos job, that's especially important given that the current autos workforce, especially in the factories, are aging out. While the American School Counselors Association recommends a 250-to-1 ratio of students to school counselors, the national average is actually 376-to-1 for the 2023-24 school year (most recent available). MICHIGAN RANKS SECOND TO LAST AMONG STATES WITH A RATIO OF 573-to1! Once again, it is Michigan’s Educational Structure that is failing our students! https://lnkd.in/gj-cJRT9

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Today at the 2026 Automotive Outlook hosted by UHY-US and sponsored by East Michigan District Precision Metalforming Association, I presented four New Realities of Automotive Suppliers: 1) Demand will continue to increase for HIGH-MIX/LOW-VOLUME manufacturing and less for conventional high-volume manufacturing 2) UNCERTAINTY of trade policies, regional regulations, politics, and potential for conflict will persist around the world 3) Costs of inputs are no longer stable global constants and therefore require STRATEGIC SOURCING approaches to improve competitive position 4) Labor is no longer readily available to hire and fire as needed --PRODUCTIVE labor is a SCARCE RESOURCE requiring a different approach to designing work. Then my colleague Charles Clevenger and I talked about what steps to take now to start doing something because of the new realities. #manufacturing #automotivesupply #strategywithaction #automotiveoutlook

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