Category: Local Initiatives US

  • Operational excellence in printing and packaging: the Moquin Press Lean case

    +14% OEE −26% Makeready time +$1.69M Annualized impact The printing and packaging industry operates in an increasingly demanding and competitive environment. Growing demand for smaller, more diverse orders, shorter lead times, and higher levels of customization puts constant pressure on operational efficiency and business margins. Against this backdrop, the ability to maximize the performance of…

  • US: Protecting margins amid rising logistics and industrial costs 

    Victor Rodriguez Director of OperationsKaizen Institute North America In September 2026, the price of processed goods used as materials, components, and energy in production rose 14.1% in the United States compared with the same month a year earlier, while prices for final demand goods, excluding food and energy, rose 5.1%. Diesel prices increased 21.0% in…

  • America’s physical AI infrastructure bottleneck is a technician shortage

    Nuno Beleza Co-Founder at brainn.aiKaizen Institute Western Europe In June 2026, Meta committed $115 million to a single initiative: a free skilled trades training program offering guaranteed job placement. The company describes this as “the largest private-sector commitment to skilled trades training with a job guarantee in US history”1.  This level of investment from a…

  • The $14.2 million question: Why America’s AI data centers keep missing their opening dates

    Nuno Beleza Co-Founder at brainn.aiKaizen Institute Western Europe A single month of delay on a 60-megawatt AI data center now costs its developer $14.2 million: $10.8 million in lost lease revenue at prevailing rates, $2.2 million in labor and overhead overruns, and $1.2 million in service-level penalties. Extend the delay to six months, and the…

  • Process first: lean maturity as the prerequisite for agentic AI in US manufacturing

    According to recent studies, 51% of manufacturers in the United States currently utilize artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations. By 2030, it is projected that 80% of these manufacturers will consider AI a critical component for achieving their business goals, whether it is for growth or maintenance1. These figures offer insight into the manufacturers’ intentions,…

  • The automation-labor paradox: Why US manufacturers are losing the reshoring race they started

    American manufacturers announced plans to bring back approximately 240,000 jobs by 2025, which is about a 7% decrease from 20241. During that same period, factory employment decreased by over 70,000 workers, reaching 12.69 million—the lowest level since March 20222. Investment is surging. However, headcount is shrinking. This discrepancy is not a forecasting error; rather, it…

  • Driving Continuous Improvement in Industrial Operations

    Matt Weiss Continuous Improvement Supervisor at Nucor Towers & Structures Matt Weiss leads the deployment of continuous improvement strategies across Nucor’s Towers & Structures network in North America. His work focuses on developing leaders, empowering frontline teams, and embedding structured problem solving into daily operations. With a strong background in industrial environments, Matt has driven…

  • U.S. M&A activity expected to grow further in 2026

    Following a period of slower deal-making, there are signs that global merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is recovering. Global M&A activity increased by around 40% in 2025, and investment banks expect this trend to continue into 2026. This is supported by AI-driven investment, private-equity capital deployment, and improved regulatory visibility1. Against this global backdrop, US…

  • Supermarket trends in the United States 2026: How the grocery market is being reshaped

    The U.S. grocery sector is entering a new phase, with economic pressures, technological innovation, and changing consumer expectations reshaping how supermarkets operate and compete. Following several years of inflation, supply chain disruption, and rapid digitalization, retailers are adjusting their strategies to strike a balance between value, convenience, and profitability in an increasingly competitive market. As…

  • Quality scrap reduction and OEE improvement at Novolex

    +70.5% Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) $153K Annual savings achieved through defect reduction The global food packaging industry plays a vital role in connecting food producers, retailers, and consumers through safe, reliable, and sustainable solutions. In recent years, the sector has faced growing pressure to balance operational efficiency, product quality, and environmental responsibility. Manufacturers are being…