JLR's Profit Plunge; Schlitz Ends Production; Ford, Stellantis Pay Bankrupt Supplier | Today in Manufacturing Ep. 270

Also on the podcast, a manufacturer's survival guide for 2026, Walmart and Amazon battle over rural America and the worst wheat crop since 1972.

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The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN).

This week's episode is brought to you by QAD | Redzone. Industrial manufacturers are facing a convergence of pressures that legacy systems were never built to handle: supply chain instability, labor shortages, margin pressure, faster decision-making.

At the same time, AI is shifting from experimentation to operational necessity, enabling manufacturers to turn data into action and build more adaptive, resilient operations.

An upcoming live webinar, hosted by Today in Manufacturing's very own Anna Wells, will explore what AI modernization means in practice and where it is already delivering measurable impact across manufacturing operations.

Join Anna live at 10:00 am Central on Wednesday, June 17th for a lively discussion and question and answer session.

Register now to attend "How Industrial Manufacturers Are Building AI-Powered Operations and Systems That Win."

Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week:

Why Ford, Stellantis Are Propping Up This Bankrupt Supplier - @3:54

Toledo Mold & Die makes automotive trim and other plastic parts in Ohio. The company is a lifeline for Ford and Stellantis. The company recently became ensnared in the unraveling drama of parent company First Brands.

Schlitz Owner to End Production of Famed Beer - @14:08

Pabst Brewing Company is ending production of the Schlitz brand. Schlitz started as a tavern brewery in 1849.

Jaguar Land Rover’s Profit Dropped About 99.44% Last Year - 29:13

Last Thursday, Jaguar Land Rover released financial results for its fiscal year 2026, which ended March 31. The numbers are bad.

In Case You Missed It

Kansas Farmers Hit Hard by Weather, Growing Costs - 41:19

More than half of the crop was rated as “poor” or “very poor."

Tariff Refunds and ‘Dumb’ Price Increases: A Manufacturer’s Survival Guide for 2026 - @47:26

A recent report from Nolan Beilstein, who is in Nashville covering the Epicor Insights conference, discusses four strategies from Gene Marks of The Marks Group to help companies manage economic uncertainty.

Walmart, Amazon Race to Win Over Rural America with Speedier Deliveries - @53:58

Rural areas are a rich source of untapped sales.

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