The Morning Call · 18 Sep, 12:02 · Business briefing

Talking Business with Don Cunningham: Making things is in the Lehigh Valley’s DNA

Recent reporting highlights the enduring manufacturing heritage of the Lehigh Valley, as discussed by Don Cunningham.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Recent reporting highlights the enduring manufacturing heritage of the Lehigh Valley, as discussed by Don Cunningham. The piece underscores how industrial production remains central to the region’s economic identity and operational framework. For professionals, this narrative reinforces the continued relevance of traditional manufacturing sectors alongside emerging industrial technologies. It serves as a factual reminder that while global supply chains evolve, the fundamental capacity for physical production in this specific geographic area persists. The article provides context on local economic drivers without speculative forecasting, offering a grounded view of the sector’s current standing and historical significance within the broader business landscape.

Employer demand for Supply Chain skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must recognise that manufacturing resilience demands a hybrid skill set. Traditional engineering knowledge is no longer sufficient; you need to integrate digital transformation strategies into physical production workflows. Focus on upskilling in automation, process optimisation, and data-driven decision-making. Professionals in operations should prioritise courses in modern supply chain dynamics and industrial IoT. If you are in leadership, learn to bridge the gap between legacy systems and innovative tech. This development signals that roles combining technical engineering with strategic management will rise in value. Act now by auditing your current competencies against industry 4.0 standards. Invest in learning platforms that offer practical, applied skills in smart manufacturing to remain competitive in this evolving regional economy.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Supply Chain, Engineering, Project Management and Innovation — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.