Shop Floor Scoop

In case you’re not in a cool group chat like I am where people don’t leave you alone, and have to share everything — it looks like Biden officially stepped down from his run at a second term. That’s all gravy, but we gathered some other stories that you hopefully haven’t heard anywhere else yet.

Today’s email includes:

• Apprenticeship boost: The US Government just dropped $244 million to supercharge apprenticeships, aiming to create a skilled workforce in fields like clean energy and IT.

• CrowdStrike crash: CrowdStrike’s software update caused chaos, affecting 8.5 million Windows devices and giving away free Starbucks! The mishap hit their stock hard, but competitors gained.

• Cyber resilience in mfg: The World Economic Forum is pushing for better cyber resilience in manufacturing, focusing on people, processes, and security as a continuous process.

Apprenticeship boost

The US Government just dropped $244 million to turbocharge Registered Apprenticeships across the US.

Yep, you read that right. This isn't just chump change.

It's an investment aimed at modernizing, and expanding the learn-and-earn model that’s been a backbone for many industries.

The Breakdown

Nearly $195 million is funneled into the second round of the Apprenticeship -- Building America initiative.

This initiative is a public-private partnership that targets in-demand fields like clean energy, IT, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing.

The goal? To create a skilled, diverse workforce ready to tackle the biggest challenges of tomorrow.

Another $49 million is allocated through the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants to nine states. This round focuses on expanding opportunities for underrepresented populations to get into high-demand careers that pay well and offer job security.

Why It Matters

Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su puts it succinctly: “Today’s historic investment in Registered Apprenticeships – the superhighways of our workforce infrastructure system – demonstrates the Government’s commitment to both America’s workers and employers.”

It's not just about creating jobs; it's about building sustainable career paths.

What's Next?

The grants are categorized to ensure maximum impact:

• Equitable Pathways and Partnerships: Ensuring all communities have access to these opportunities.

• Education System Alignment: Creating programs that dovetail with our education system for a seamless transition into the workforce.

• Apprenticeship Hubs: Establishing centralized locations to support and expand these programs.

WHAT’S TRENDING?

🤡 ClownStrike

Keep your money, thanks CrowdStrike!

Last week I had been wanting a coffee all week, but delayed gratification is cool, so I waited until Friday to go get one from Starbucks. I pulled up and ordered my coffee (something I would only ever do in private).

ME: “Can I please have a grande sweet vanilla cream cold brew with sugar free vanilla, vanilla sweet cream cold foam, and extra caramel drizzle?”

As I said this I thought to myself – your manliness instantly takes a 10 point hit every time you make this order.

Barista: “I’m sorry, can you say that again, our machines are down and I have to write everything on the cup by hand?”

Damn it, down 20 points for the day and it isn’t even 8am…

So I pull up to the window, get my millennial cocktail, and the barista says, “Thanks, bye.” I contemplated hitting the gas, but I thought, “What would Henry Ford do?” So I told the barista, “I still need to pay.”

To which she replied, “Our machines are down.”

Now I’m thinking “WTF does that mean, so I asked, “What?”

And she said, “We can’t take any payments because our machines are down.”

“You’re just giving away free coffee today?” (dude GTFO of there hello!)

“Yup pretty much.”

** Punches gas **

Later that night – 1am to be exact – I found myself 2.7 miles down the Reddit hole and saw at least 5 or 6 posts about CrowdStrike causing a nationwide crisis among corporations that use Windows machines. Healthcare and banking being two of the most critical. Then I realized why my coffee was free yesterday morning.

The Story

What happened was they published a software update that caused an outage affecting 8.5 million Windows devices. CEO George Kurtz reassured everyone that it wasn't a cyberattack and the issue has been fixed. But the impact is real—Microsoft, Moody’s, and various analysts warn of financial hits, potential liability claims, and reputation damage. Notably, Elon Musk tweeted about removing CrowdStrike from his companies. Competitors like SentinelOne and Palo Alto Networks saw their stocks rise while CrowdStrike's took an 11% dive. This incident highlights the risks in global cloud infrastructure and may lead companies to boost spending on backup systems.

CYBERSEC TIPS

BEING CYBER RESILIENT IN MANUFACTURING

You know those movies where hackers take down entire cities with a few keystrokes? Turns out, Hollywood isn’t that far off. With the rise of cyberattacks on manufacturing and critical infrastructure, the World Economic Forum (WEF) is stepping up to the plate.

WEF recently dropped a report, "Building a Culture of Cyber Resilience in Manufacturing.”

The report highlights the hurdles in the sector’s quest for cyber resilience and lays out three golden rules for a rock-solid strategy:

Focus on people, processes, and culture.

Jeff Reinke from IEN had the chance to chat with Kris Lovejoy, Global Security and Resilience Leader at Kyndryl (a big shot in the cyber resilience game), and she didn’t hold back. Here are some key takeaways:

• Capital Investment Gaps: The way manufacturers invest could be leaving critical players out in the cold, potentially risking the whole sector.

• Security as a Process: Think of security not as a tool, but a continuous, evolving process.

• Asset Inventory Woes: The struggle is real with asset inventory. Kris breaks down the first steps to get this right.

• Trojan Horse Tactics: Smaller enterprises need to embrace a "Trojan Horse" approach to beef up their security posture.

• Weakest Link Check: How to determine if you’re the weakest link in the production environment or supply chain.

• Regulatory Game-Changers: Upcoming regulations could reshape the industrial landscape.

• Cloud Security: There’s a world of difference between just moving to the cloud and doing it securely.

• Digital Transformation Driver: Security should be the engine behind your digital transformation strategies.

Watch the whole interview here.

SOMETHING RANDOM

Roughly 32,000 Boeing workers are gearing up to vote on a potential strike as the union, IAM Local 751, negotiates a new contract. This includes workers from major Boeing plants in Renton and Everett, home to the 737 MAX and 777 programs.

Negotiations started in March and the current contract expires on September 12. If the workers approve, IAM can threaten a strike during talks. This is their first negotiation since 2008, and the union is pushing for a big wage hike, potentially up to 40%.

Boeing says the vote is just a formality and they hope to find a balance that meets both employee needs and business realities. Stay tuned—this could have big implications for the aerospace giant.

PREVIOUS STORIES

• US Mfg output is up 📈, new Zyn plant, and cool music video — Here

• Workforce crunch, modular housing, and $2B to EV — Here

Today’s newsletter was written with inspiration from:

• US Department of Labor

• Investor’s Business Daily

• Manufacturing.net’s IEN

• American Machinist

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Boston, MA