What North Carolina’s Manufacturing Boom Reveals about the Future of Workplace Learning

DoD ManTech and its associated Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs) held events across the country as part of “Manufacturing Month.” These events aimed to connect industry, educators, students, and workforce stakeholders — highlighting advanced manufacturing technology and potential career paths in defense manufacturing.

S&P Global and the S&P Global Foundation commit $10 million over three years to launch StepForward, a program supporting nonprofit workforce development and skills training for youth in an AI-driven economy.

Hybrid manufacturing blends traditional machining with advanced methods like 3D printing to create agile, flexible defense factories that can scale faster, cut costs, and adapt to changing mission needs.

A Manufacturing Dive report highlights findings from the 21st annual KPMG Global Semiconductor Outlook survey that show tariffs and trade policy have become the top concern for semiconductor manufacturing leaders, overtaking talent and labor challenges for the first time. About half of executives are focused on diversifying and strengthening supply chains to manage geopolitical risks, while strong demand from AI and data center markets has most leaders expecting revenue growth in 2026. The article also notes that strategies to boost domestic capacity and incentives like the CHIPS and Science Act play a role in how companies are navigating policy and investment decisions amid ongoing uncertainty.