From AI-powered automation to Industry 4.0 analytics, manufacturers are investing in new technologies. But while machines are getting smarter, the human systems on the shop floor risk falling behind. This disconnect creates friction at every level for companies applying Lean Daily Management principles.
It’s time to talk about this gap and, most importantly, how we plan to close it, especially with the help of our latest $25 million funding round.
The manufacturing talent crisis isn’t coming. It’s already here.
Technology might drive change, but it’s people — innovative, skilled and supported people — who move manufacturing forward.
Manufacturing doesn’t have a future without a skilled and motivated workforce. Yet across Europe and North America, frontline jobs are becoming harder to fill and even harder to keep filled. In the U.S. alone, the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed 622,000 manufacturing positions remained open at the start of 2024. Tenure is dropping, turnover is rising and employee expectations are changing.
At the same time, technical skills are falling behind the pace of investment in digital systems. The World Economic Forum reports a significant share of manufacturing workers feel mismatched in their roles, either due to outdated workflows, unclear goals or a lack of training for the tools they’re expected to use.
These are not small problems. Open jobs and ill-equipped teams are productivity killers, undermining efforts toward operational excellence.
Equip people the way we equip machines
We wouldn’t expect a machine to perform without calibration, and we understand continued optimization is necessary for success. So why do we ask frontline teams to perform without the same support?
Frontline teams are expected to carry transformation weight using outdated tools like Excel, whiteboards and SharePoint folders. These systems are common in highly regulated and high-stakes environments like pharmaceutical, medical and aerospace manufacturing, where visibility is critical. These systems might have worked in the past, but they were never built for fast-paced, multi-site operations.
When teams lack visibility, structure and a reliable way to track and escalate issues, continuous improvement doesn’t stand a chance. We’ve written before about how this kind of digital disconnect holds teams back and breeds frustration instead of innovation. The connected worker is necessary to transform the factory floor.
We Raised $25 Million to Tackle the Frontline Performance Gap
With the support of Expedition Growth Capital and OSS Ventures, our $25 million funding marks a new chapter in our journey. We’re expanding our sales and product teams across Europe and North America (basing our US operations in Boston, MA) and accelerating our roadmap to deliver an AI-powered shop floor operating system tailored for the realities of Lean Daily Management in modern manufacturing.
In the months ahead, we’ll continue sharing insights, tools, and frameworks to help manufacturers evolve toward a more connected and people-centric approach.
If you’re ready to take that next step, we invite you to demo our platform.
If you’re excited by this mission, we’re hiring, especially in Boston: see open roles here.