Sofas, desks and other furniture that people have ordered in recent months are ready, but shortages related to retail labor, trucks and other supply chain categories are leading to long delivery delays. Warehouse space shortages have some companies hitting pause on production, Bassett Furniture Industries CEO Rob Spilman Jr. said.

The transition to Industry 4.0 and automated production is fraught with cybersecurity risks and compliance concerns that may intimidate small manufacturers in particular, says Jeff Farr, CEO of manufacturing cybersecurity firm Prescott. Doubt and uncertainty are slowing Industry 4.0, but properly designed networks don't introduce new risks, says Kyle Reissner, senior director of customer success at Feyen Zylstra, and Farr adds that manufacturers should trust cybersecurity experts and managed service providers.

Solar costs are coming down more slowly than they used to, but that may change as new, more powerful solar panels hit the market. The average panel in the 2010s produced 400 watts of power, but advances in perovskite, bi-facial technology, doped polysilicon and wafers are enabling manufacturers to produce modules that generate 500 watts or more.

Work-site connectivity through the internet of things is generating waves in the construction industry. Triax Technologies CEO Robert Costantini explores productivity and safety advantages under four connectivity categories: workers and co-workers, workers and managers, workers and their environment, and workers and equipment.

America's working-age population shrank for the first time in 2020 and this could exacerbate a talent shortage, driving up pay and other benefits as employers compete to attract and retain talent. The Conference Board economist Gad Levanon says the decline will be particularly evident in industries that need blue-collar workers as older employees leaving the workforce will be succeeded by increasing numbers of college-educated workers.

High-school students in an Oregon district recently completed building a 2,232-square-foot, three-bedroom house. The house, which sold for just under $450,000, is part of the Columbia Basin Student Homes program.

Democrats newly in control of Congress are preparing to renew their push for a climate bill after failing the last time they held a majority with a bill that included a carbon tax. They're hoping now to win wider support due to extensive private investment in green energy amid a shorter time frame to address climate change.

Sustainability has become a bigger focus at Williams-Sonoma and it's helping the kitchenware and home goods retailer stand out from its rivals, CEO Laura Alber says. Williams-Sonoma outlined its accomplishments in its Annual Impact Report, which shows it has either met or exceeded goals for using sustainably sourced wood, planting millions of trees and boosting investments in Fair Trade programs.

The AWFS® Fair Visionary New Product Awards recognize creativity and innovation and are evaluated on quality, production impact, practicality, innovation and user-friendliness. This year's awards will be announced at the 2021 AWFS® Fair at the AWFS® booth in the south lobby of the West Hall at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 22. Read more.

In June 2021, woodworking students across the United States competed in the SkillsUSA National Cabinetmaking Championships. High school and post-secondary woodworking students from across the country competed in the live build portion of the SkillsUSA National Cabinetmaking contest, which was organized by a group of Architectural Woodworking Institute (AWI) leaders. Read more.