With ten percent of America’s workforce currently filing for jobless benefits amid the coronavirus pandemic, it seems strange to say that we have a labor shortage. Yet, between unemployment enhancers, personal health concerns, and child care disruptions, most dairy industry employers know, good help remains hard to find.
Now, we may be on the cusp
By now, you’ve heard that the dairy industry’s signature event is going virtual in January 2021. The International Dairy Foods Association put a lot of thought and planning into making Dairy Forum 2021 their most forward-thinking and most accessible event yet. Technology allows the IDFA to maintain networking spaces and opportunities for all attendees who …
Manufacturing and the overall economy continued to grow in August, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s August report on business. Their purchasing manager’s index for manufacturers grew to 56.0% in August, an increase of 1.8 points from July.
The ISM’s production index rose to 63.3%, up 1.2 points from July. New orders and prices …
MADISON, Wis. — During the COVID-19 pandemic, specialty food brokers continue to keep communication flowing between cheesemakers, buyers and retailers on store trends, sales, and commitments, while using their knowledge of the supply chain to keep track of any disruptions that may occur. Now more than ever, these brokerages are taking on additional responsibilities to …
Greater demand for dairy packaging that is more visually appealing, sustainable, and functional is triggering the launch of new designs.
The dairy packaging sector is breaking out of its doldrums. While packaging has been historically slow to evolve, greater shopper interest in convenience and sustainability, and a sharper focus by brands on product appearance and …
Joseph Scimeca, Ph.D., senior vice president for regulatory and scientific affairs with the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) in Washington, D.C., gave video comments to the Departments of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) on the Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. This is the first opportunity to comment in …
A Conversation With Becky Rasdall, IDFA VP of Trade Policy and International Affairs.
Becky Rasdall joined the International Dairy Foods Association in July 2020 as Vice President, Trade Policy, and International Affairs where she is responsible for developing and advocating industry positions on issues impacting the international trade in dairy products. Before she joined IDFA, …
It took a lot of calls around the industry until the answer clicked. What is the state and demand of the cheese industry in these volatile times? It’s this: “No one is asking what’s the hot cheese right now. It’s traditional, it’s cooking, it’s give me what I know.”
That cheesemaker quote encompasses a host …
The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) defines people-centric leadership (PCL) as a culture in which every day, everyone goes home feeling fulfilled by pursuing excellence, and everybody flourishes. All too often, leadership is missing from lean, causing many manufacturers to struggle to sustain long-term continuous improvement. Lean only succeeds when tactical continuous improvement is combined …
Space explorers know a thing or two about teamwork in isolation and confinement.
What happens to teamwork during extended periods of isolation and confinement? While that sounds like a question tailored for much of today’s housebound workforce, it’s actually a research topic that professors Noshir Contractor and Leslie DeChurch have studied in an entirely different …