Why manufacturers under workforce pressure should look closely at the tool drawer

U.S. manufacturers face a looming talent gap, with PwC estimating 420,000 job openings in 2025 and Deloitte warning that 1.9 million positions could remain vacant over the next decade. Cody Spears’ TraceMySpace provides laser-cut foam inserts that assign each tool a fixed slot, letting workers instantly locate items and spot missing pieces, a practice now used by NASCAR teams and aerospace firms to speed handoffs, reduce search time, and improve safety accountability.