Last week, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance kicked off the first Manufacturing Council meeting hosted at Trane Technologies in Davidson. Manufacturers in attendance networked, heard an impactful presentation on workforce development, and toured Trane’s recently opened Manufacturing Technology Center. The space was designed to build the factory of the future by bringing plants and integrated supply chain teams together to validate technology, upskill the workforce and successfully deploy automation solutions in the plants.
Brad Muller, vice president of marketing at Charlotte Pipe and 2024 co-chair of the council, opened the event up and touched on the purpose of convening manufacturers in the region. Keith Sultana, senior vice president at Trane Technologies, followed with an eye-opening talk on Trane Technologies’ sustainability efforts and the importance of their implementation. With a goal to be at net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the company strives to be a leader in the sector as a purpose driven global climate innovator. Some of their 2030 commitments include lowering carbon emissions in refrigerants, reimagining the supply chain, and continuing to implement inclusivity and diversity in their culture. They are also working to develop the talent pipeline through educational STEM programs in schools.
Rebecca Battle-Bryant with Battle Plan Consulting led a presentation on “Winning the War for Talent During the Great Reshuffle” and touched on utilizing key strategies within recruitment, retention, and reputation to create a competitive advantage. Right now, the United States is experiencing unprecedented job openings, turnover, and unfilled jobs, so it is important to cultivate a strong workforce development plan, she said. After reviewing current workforce trends seen in the generations in the workplace, Battle-Bryant walked through steps for manufacturers to create a “Battle Plan” to ensure that companies can recruit and retain the talent they want and need.
The council will meet quarterly around the Region with a goal to support and strengthen the manufacturing ecosystem in the Charlotte Region. Programming will include showcasing existing manufacturers through plant tours, hearing from experts on relevant topics in the manufacturing industry, and convening industry leaders for collaboration and networking opportunities. These events will be open to all manufacturers in the Charlotte Region.
