Page 18 - Summer 2024 EDM Today

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the mold beat

Driving the industry pulse

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This year, hundreds of U.S. mold manufacturers and industry professionals gathered at AMBA Conference

2024, March 19-21, in Grand Rapids, MI. In addition to its continuance as an industry staple for U.S. mold

manufacturing executives and upper management, this meeting also marked the fifth annual Emerging
Leaders Pre-Conference session and the growing attendance of dozens of up-and-coming employees

within AMBA’s membership.
Why is that notable, one might ask? Because while the 10-year data trend from the annual AMBA
Wage and Salary Report (below) demonstrates that U.S. mold manufacturers have been faced with a
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labor shortage for years, the call for leadership development, resource access and connection for this

community of emerging professionals is relatively new.

Hire Expectation - 10-Year Trend
90%
84%
80%
70%
60% 71% 73% 69% 65% 75% 75% 64% 67% 80% 78%
50%
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40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2023
2018
2022
2015
2019
2017
2020
2013
2014
Yes
Unsure
No
This increased focus is a reminder that technical skills and practical, day-to-day experience in

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manufacturing are only a few pieces of the workforce development puzzle. If manufacturers are serious

about cultivating the emerging - and executive! - leadership within their organizations, their organizations

must provide access to peer connection opportunities, collective industry resources and face-to-face

development and learning opportunities that will advance their professional and personal knowledge.
The relationship between connection, advancement and growth
Why do so many industry professionals return to the AMBA Conference year after year, and why is it
important that the number of young and new-to-the-industry attendees is growing? Because innovation,

employee retention and company growth are directly tied not just to resources, but to connections.
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