Inside Smart Manufacturing: AI, Supply Chains & What Comes Next
On this episode of TechConnect, we're on location at APEX 2026 for a conversation about where smart manufacturing is headed next. Special guest host Rick Elliott, President of Panasonic Connect, sits down with Dr. John Mitchell, President & CEO of Global Electronics Association, to unpack how the electronics industry is responding to major pressures like tariffs, geopolitical uncertainty, labor shortages, and the rapid rise of AI and automation. Together, they explore how manufacturers are rethinking global supply chains, shifting toward more resilient regional strategies, and building smarter, more connected factory ecosystems. The discussion also gets into the real state of Industry 4.0 adoption, what's actually happening inside smart factories today, and how AI is starting to change operations and the skills workers need on the floor. Plus, a look ahead at what it will take for companies and employees to stay competitive as manufacturing becomes more automated and interconnected than ever.
