The coronavirus pandemic has turned conventional wisdom on its head in the first half of 2020, and Iowa’s manufacturing industry proved it could quickly retool and improvise. Many manufacturers across the state have pivoted to serve immediate needs by shifting to make personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer and other critical items.

What will the state of Iowa manufacturing be in the weeks and months ahead? How will the state’s economy and manufacturers’ roles shift as companies work to restart and continue business amid COVID-19? In last week’s panel, speakers discussed how Iowa’s largest industry is adapting to the new environment. 

Full coverage of the panel and more manufacturing stories will publish in the Oct. 2 issue of the Business Record. 

Panelists:
Kanlaya Barr – senior economist, Deere & Co.
Eric Lohmeier – president, NCP Inc.
Kellan Longenecker – general manager, General Mills, Carlisle plant
Kirk Tyler – chairman and CEO, Atlantic Bottling Co.
Mike Ralston – president, Iowa Association of Business and Industry

Watch the entire virtual event here.