This is an interesting article around the coming demographic shift in manufacturing, and the expected overall decrease in manufacturing workforce.
A “Just-in-Time” workforce is suggested as a possible solution to fill the void. There's no direct correlation in the article, however it seems as though the suggestion is that the pool of employees for such a JIT system would be retired workers who still wish to be employed on a temporary basis. This would be more like pulling employees from inventory than having a true JIT system, but would certainly help to quickly fill a need.
The article also raises the lack of apprenticeship programs and a general negative bias towards manufacturing jobs as issues.
Combining these ideas might be the best option yet – develop skilled workers at a rate that will fill the need as the need arises.
