SwipeGuide (powered by L2L)

🚪Knock-knock. Who’s there? It’s our 2025 manufacturing industry outlook. According to Deloitte 2025 will be shaped by five trends that demand a balance of technology, sustainability, and human-centric approaches. Let’s break it down: 💡 Resilient supply chains will take center stage. The challenge? Balancing efficiency with adaptability to disruptions and sustainability goals. 🦾 Smart manufacturing is getting even smarter. AI, IoT, and advanced robotics will not just optimize processes - they’ll redefine them. ♻️ Sustainability isn’t optional anymore. Energy efficiency is the key to keeping manufacturing competitive and responsible. 👷 Reimagining talent. With skills gaps widening, it’s time to reshape the relationship between people and digital tools. And talking about tools… 🌍Digitalization is on the rise. Companies keep investing in the digital foundation that helps them gain effectiveness across their organization. A lot to take in, huh? Take a deep breath and remember: Simplicity and human-centered design will be the ultimate game-changers. P.S. Big thanks to Deloitte for these insights. You can dive into the full report here: https://lnkd.in/etwb4KXp

This year, there won’t be any long posts. We think there are too many, anyway. We just want to keep it simple: Happy New Year, folks.

What does the Holiday season look like for a global company? 🎄🌟 Every year, it is quite a bit different. This year, we’re celebrating together with our new colleagues at L2L! When your team is spread across different countries, time zones, and cultures, celebrating the holidays together takes a little creativity. But the distance doesn’t stop us. Actually, it inspires us to get closer. Whether celebrating over a cooking class online or throwing boules (it’s kind of like bocci ball), it’s always about finding time to come together, celebrate, and remind each other that we’re all part of something bigger than just “manufacturing software” or “connected work.”. It’s about celebrating the ones that truly matter - people. On that note, Happy Holidays! ✨

Everyone is talking about Industry 4.0. But let’s face it—it hasn’t fully lived up to its promise. Sure, automation, IoT, and smart factories have delivered efficiency gains. But are we really seeing the revolution we were promised? Productivity across industries has stagnated. Silos still thrive. And while machines have gotten smarter, workplaces often leave their people behind. Why? The focus on automation, connectivity, and efficiency often sidelined a critical piece of the puzzle: the human element. As SwipeGuide CEO Willemijn Schneyder said, in 2025 frontline success is dependent on: 🧠 Critical thinking. 🤝 Collaboration. 🗣️Communication. It’s the people who run the scene now, not just tech. We are entering a new era. And it’s happening now. Read about the possibilities of Industry 5.0 in the blog below and ask yourself this: Are you ready for it? https://lnkd.in/eAReAxWs

Wait what?! McKinsey & Company has found that Industry 4.0 has failed to deliver strong, economy-wide productivity growth in Europe and the United States. According to LNS Research, new hire retention rates are below 50%, and in 2024 there was the biggest drop in productivity since 2004. How come?! There are many faults in how Industry 4.0 is implemented on the shop floors: - Relying on old-fashioned training methods that don’t work anymore. - Using commands and top-down decision-making Instead of open communication and collaboration.  - Failing to design strategies to smoothly digitize the workforce. In the end, you get unhappy employees, stagnated productivity, and no empowerment whatsoever. Who wants that? No one. That’s why frontline leaders need to prioritize digital support systems that help transform frontline training and enhance business operations. It’s time to build future-proof strategies for empowering a new generation of frontline workers and leaders. And this time is now.

Looks familiar? Siloed organizations are one of the biggest barriers to growth, innovation, and collaboration. And here’s the kicker—it’s not just frustrating. It’s expensive. Research shows that workplace silos can cost companies up to 20-30% in lost productivity. When feedback and information don’t flow between teams, here’s what happens: 🚧 Duplicate efforts waste valuable time. 🚧 Important lessons and insights get lost in translation (or buried in email threads). 🚧 Employees feel isolated instead of empowered. Does it suck? A lot. And unfortunately, they won’t break themselves. So, what do you do? 💡 Enable feedback loops across teams with systems that make communication seamless. 💡 Leverage digital tools to centralize knowledge and ensure everyone’s on the same page—literally. 💡 Lead by example: Show that cross-functional collaboration is a priority by celebrating successes that come from teamwork. And you won’t have to talk to the wall, promise.

We all crave a little bit of magic…✨ However, in real life, it takes a bit more than a wave of a magic wand. In real life, you build this stuff from the ground up. It takes intentional leadership, consistent effort, and the right tools to create a workplace where frontline teams can truly thrive. But today, let’s make an exception. 🪄 Let’s see what your future holds - the first three words you see are your 2025 predictions. Dive in and let us know in the comments below what you’ve got!

Which turn would you take? …. Wait, really?? You have to think about it?  There’s only one answer: INVEST IN YOUR FRONTLINE TRAINING. The physical and mental safety of your team should ALWAYS be a priority and has to be treated as equally important as growth opportunities and fair pay as factors that contribute to a positive working environment. Seems fair, right? Want to know the crazy part? 🤯Safety incidents are on the rise, up to 9% since 2020, says LNS Research. Employees’ well-being and job satisfaction are directly proportional to the quality of their performance. To deliver high-quality results and see productivity growth, first and foremost you need to make sure the core driver of positive change  - your team - feels safe, motivated, and acknowledged at work. So please, Choose your turns wisely.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Lean Manufacturing is more than just a methodology. It’s a mindset. Cultivate it through deliberate action and relentless curiosity. So that in the end, you can:  - Empower people to solve problems - Build efficient processes - Deliver value with clarity and purpose Lean thinking reminds us to challenge the status quo, dig deeper into root causes, and seek simplicity in even the most complex processes. It’s about recognizing hidden waste, questioning ineffective systems, and putting cultural transformation at the heart of every operational strategy. Check out our latest blog and see so for yourself.  https://lnkd.in/gnUmZJfi

So, you want to elevate your operations? Hit ambitious targets? Cut down on waste? Start with the culture you create. It’s at the core of Lean and is the building block for success in manufacturing. As a true leader, you do more than implement processes— you shape the culture that drives lasting quality and productivity. You need to embed the principles of excellence into daily operations, decision-making, and team behaviors. And the truth is… If your work culture doesn’t promote continuous improvement within your team and in your operations, then you can’t blame the tech or your workforce for low-quality deliverables. Period. It’s all about creating the right environment where: 👷 Employees are empowered 🤝 Collaborations are stronger 📈 Productivity is at its peak Excellence starts when leaders make it everyone’s mission—and part of everything they do.