The global supply chain disruptions of the last two years are spurring major changes across the manufacturing sector. (Credit: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay)

The global supply chain disruptions of the last two years are spurring major changes across the manufacturing sector. After decades of reshoring, legacy industries, such as textiles, are coming home and finding challenges that require category-defining innovation and significant, long-term investment by the private and public sectors. What is working today to restore legacy industries, and who is leading the charge?

The keynote panel at MD&M South, scheduled for June 14 at noon in the Advanced Manufacturing Theater (Booth 638), will focus on the revitalization of textile manufacturing in the southeastern United States. This sector is seeing renewed and more complex demand from essential businesses like medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and over the last 15 years, it has exported 80 percent of its workforce overseas. How is the industry evolving, and what lessons have been learned that can be applied to your industry?

Speakers on the panel include Jordan Schindler, CEO and founder of Nufabrx; Adrian Messer, vice president of executive services at Proreli; Jesse Jur, director of ecosystem technology at Advanced Functional Fabrics of America; and Jasmine Cox, director of textile technology programs and business innovation at Textile Technology Center. The speakers will cover subjects including making supply chains more robust and resilient to support the return of legacy industries like textiles; how to attract, build, and retain a skilled workforce in a competitive labor market; technological advances in processes and products that are creating unexpected opportunities; and driving change in the textiles industry.

Explore more free education offering at MD&M South at www.imengineeringsouth.com/en/attend/expo/free-expo-education