CFO Flex, Toyota’s Big Investment and What’s Next for the UAW: IndustryWeek’s Weekly Reads

It’s Friday and time for the IndustryWeek’s Weekly Reads feature, our recurring look at the top IW content over the past seven days. Our manufacturing audience’s attention was all over the place, from reading about Toyota’s expansion plans and catching up on EPA regulatory action to learning about a Cargill executive’s challenge to build U.S. biomanufacturing.

Without further ado, here is the Top 10 list.

Toyota Announces $1.4 Billion BEV Investment in Indiana Facility: Investments in Toyota Indiana now total over $8 billion.

Nearshoring and China's Four 'Ds': Demographics, debt, drought and decoupling are rewriting the total-cost equation.

A Cargill Executive’s Next Act: Building US Biomanufacturing: 'I’ve lived the struggle,' says Jack Starr, chief of manufacturing for BioMADE, of the industry’s challenges.

5 Steps for Building Sustainability Into Product Design: 80% of a product's environmental impact is determined during the design phase.

CFOs Continue to Flex Their Cost-Cutting Muscles: Q1 earnings reports reflect an enduring focus on expenses that’s reflected in studies from U.S. Bank and Grant Thornton.

What's the UAW's Next Priority: VW Contract or More Organizing?

Musk: Tesla Will Solve Autonomy: Despite a rough first quarter, the CEO has big plans.

ISM Report: Manufacturing Falls Back Into Contraction Territory: Nine out of 16 manufacturing industries reported growth last month.

Philips Settles US Sleep Machine Lawsuits for $1.1 Billion: Philips said the settlement payments are expected to take place in 2025 and will be funded through cash flow generation.

Production Pulse: EPA Regulatory Actions Hit Overdrive in April: Two rulings on PFAS forever chemicals and Clean Air Act Enforcement on vinyl production are signs that regulators are getting rules finalized in case of an administration change.