Audience Opinion Piece

Please can you give a summary of your role and main responsibilities?

I’m Linda Weber, and I am the lead for global sustainability at Jabil, an engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions provider to many of the world’s leading brands. I oversee our company’s sustainability strategy, risk materiality, public disclosures, compliance obligations, customer and stakeholder engagement, and environmental due diligence for mergers and acquisitions across Jabil’s 100-plus sites in more than 25 countries. My role is to help the company be environmentally responsible, socially accountable, and economically viable in the long run.
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Looking back at your career trajectory, how have your role and responsibilities evolved in response to the increasing digitalization of manufacturing?

In the past, roles like this one focused primarily on managing the physical aspects of sustainability, like waste reduction and energy efficiency, with a heavier reliance on manual data collection. Today, our team is more focused on material risk management and relies on advanced data analytics to make informed, real-time decisions. Digital systems allow for more efficient tracking of energy consumption, carbon emissions, and resource usage across the organization. The data can be used to optimize manufacturing processes, minimize waste, and potentially forecast sustainability impacts with better precision.
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In your opinion, what are the most crucial skills and qualities that manufacturing leaders need to possess in the digital age?

In the digital age, manufacturing leaders need to possess a combination of effective people leadership and change management skills. They must also have current competencies related to technology, data, and innovation, such as skills in advanced data analytics, AI, robotics, and risk management expertise to navigate challenges in areas like cybersecurity.
 

How do you envision your own role and responsibilities evolving in the future as digital technologies continue to reshape the manufacturing landscape?

As technology such as machine learning and big data analytics continue to proliferate, there will be increased access to more granular and real-time data on resource usage, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and energy consumption, enabling quicker, more accurate decision-making and the implementation of continuous improvements. This will be particularly important given the emergence of new regulations, like the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, that are transforming voluntary sustainability reporting efforts into legally mandated activities. All of that data will need to be validated by a third-party assurance provider and publicly disclosed.  

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What innovative approaches are you exploring to meet sustainability goals?

At Jabil, we weave sustainability into our cutting-edge solutions, innovating with purpose. We’ve increased efficiency in our facilities through the use of technologies like edge computing, modular hardware for our AI inspection tools, and solar panels on site.  

In fiscal year 2023, Jabil strengthened its circular economy capabilities through the acquisition of Retronix, a market leader in electronic component reclamation and refurbishment. The deal added exclusive technologies to Jabil’s portfolio and has elevated our existing circular economy services. These include reverse supply chain management, medical device reprocessing, and recycled packaging, all of which contribute to natural resource conservation, waste-to-landfill mitigation, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The acquisition of Retronix has advanced Jabil’s mission to offer sustainable options to our customers who are increasing the amount of electronics in their “smart” products, such as electric vehicles, home appliances, and medical devices.

Additionally, with the rise of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence, there is a significant need for high-power CPUs and GPUs. These chips generate high levels of heat and the traditional method of cooling with air is insufficient. Liquid cooling chips and electronics have become a more effective and energy-efficient alternative to air cooling in many applications. To help meet this demand, Jabil has acquired Mikros Technologies, a leader in engineering and manufacturing of custom liquid cooling solutions for thermal management.  

Mikros Technologies’ innovative microchannel cold plate designs extend the life of electronics, optimize system performance, and significantly reduces energy usage by managing heat loads of over 1,000 watts. This acquisition equips Jabil with essential capabilities to help customers address the intense thermal demands of their current and future products, while prioritizing sustainability and cost efficiency.

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What are you hoping to take away from the 4^th MX.0 Southeast conference?

I look forward to benchmarking how other manufacturing and sustainability professionals are leveraging digital transformation to improve their business and achieve their goals.