The US will be competitive again in manufacturing. It’s a bold claim, made by Tom Kelly, Executive Director and CEO of Automation Alley, a nonprofit focused on helping Michigan businesses succeed by embracing innovation and automation. “You know how you beat China?” he prods. “You make products of one.”

Kelly spoke at the 2023 Advanced Manufacturing Minneapolis event on Tuesday, October 10.

Packaging Digest talked with Kelly for a few minutes after his presentation to ask specific questions about possible implications for packaging. In this quick Q&A, Kelly addresses:

• How companies should rethink their core competency, which should be satisfying customers (not making product);

• What budget will replace the typical capital expenditures (it’s not what you might think);

• How critical it is to protect intellectual property; and

• How to address packaging machine warranties as they relate to user-3D-printed replacement parts.

Packaging engineer Michael Johnston taps into his personal experience as a patient to spread awareness of how noisy medical packaging is and how traumatic that can be.

The food and beverage giant doubles down on packaging compostability, driving knowledge, technology, education, and (ultimately?) acceptance.

Data-driven decisions are far more successful than “going with your gut” when choosing the best packaging design for your brand.

Packaging departments for medical device manufacturers can now help save months of development time and up to a million dollars in development costs with the new PATH pre-validated package and process from Eagle Medical.

The label design for International Delight’s new limited-edition Manhattan Hazelnut Mocha coffee creamer is “hilariously relatable” for fans of this popular TV show.

Having blazed a trail filled with packaging innovation, Michael Okoroafor looks back over the factors that have shaped his career so far, weighs in on being a proud black man for Black History Month, and projects what must happen to ensure the sustainable trajectory of packaging.

More new ideas from the inventive and passionate people of packaging energize our final Packaging Possibilities podcast recorded on-site at Pack Expo 2022.