Jim Kemp Consulting Calls for Industrial Knowledge Transfer Ahead of Manufacturing Day

PVF veteran Jim Kemp points to workforce turnover, growing industrial demand and global sourcing as reasons to preserve practical industry knowledge

BRANDON, MS, UNITED STATES, September 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Ahead of Manufacturing Day on October 2, industrial pipe, valves and fittings (PVF) veteran James G. “Jim” Kemp is calling attention to the need to transfer practical knowledge to the next generation of manufacturing and industrial professionals.

Manufacturing Day is a national workforce-development initiative organized by the Manufacturing Institute. Through plant tours, classroom visits, career conversations and other events, manufacturers and their partners introduce students and emerging workers to modern manufacturing careers.

The effort comes as manufacturers face a significant need for skilled employees. A joint study by the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte estimates that the United States could require as many as 3.8 million additional manufacturing workers between 2024 and 2033. As many as 1.9 million of those positions could remain unfilled if manufacturers cannot close persistent skills and applicant gaps.

Workforce turnover also affects the construction industry, including contractors who install and maintain industrial PVF systems. Associated Builders and Contractors estimates that the industry must attract 349,000 net new workers in 2026 to meet demand. According to the organization’s chief economist, a majority of that demand will be attributable to retirements rather than growth in construction activity.

“When an experienced person retires, a company can lose far more than a name on its payroll,” Kemp said. “It can lose decades of practical knowledge — the lessons learned from customers, job sites, specifications and mistakes. That knowledge needs to be shared before it walks out the door.”

Kemp began working in industrial PVF in 1973, starting in a warehouse before moving into inside sales and developing his own customer base. He later founded and operated a PVF supply house serving industrial plants, contractors, engineers and wholesale distributors. His career has given him experience with the products and people behind systems that transport and control gases, liquids and steam in industries ranging from oil and gas and refining to food processing and pharmaceuticals.

He brought that experience together in "Introduction to Industrial PVF: Pipe, Valves, and Fittings," published in October 2025. Written for newcomers as well as working professionals, the book explains how pipe, valves and fittings function together and introduces the materials, standards, specifications and applications that guide their selection and use.

“There is an enormous amount to learn in PVF, and much of it has traditionally been picked up over years on the job,” Kemp said. “The goal of the book is to give salespeople, contractors, engineers, distributors, plant personnel and students a practical foundation they can build upon.”

The need for that foundation is growing alongside the market. Industrial Info Resources forecasts that the value of PVF components used in U.S. and Canadian industrial projects will increase 8.3 percent in 2026, rising from $42.1 billion in 2025 to more than $45.6 billion. The projection includes approximately $35.7 billion for capital projects and $9.9 billion for maintenance, repair and operations.

“Such investment requires more than access to products,” Kemp added. “It also requires people who understand how materials, pressure and temperature requirements, standards and operating conditions affect product selection.”

That knowledge becomes especially important in a global supply chain. Buyers and sales professionals may work with suppliers throughout Asia, Europe and other regions. International sourcing makes careful attention to specifications, documentation, quality requirements and supplier evaluation essential.

“China, in particular, is a major manufacturer and supplier of PVF products, and comes with its own challenges,” Kemp said. “But where a product is manufactured is only one part of the conversation. The people buying and supplying PVF need to understand exactly what an application requires and whether the product under consideration meets those requirements. Sound product knowledge helps professionals ask better questions and make better-informed decisions.”

Kemp’s own path in the industry has taken some unexpected turns. He began his PVF career in a warehouse. After a devastating tornado altered the course of his life, he moved into inside sales and began building his own customer base. More than five decades later, he is focused on preserving what he learned and making the industry more understandable to those following behind him.

That effort extends beyond the book. Through KempPerspective.com, Kemp brings together practical PVF information, his industry experience and the services of Jim Kemp Consulting. The website is intended to support individuals and companies seeking a clearer understanding of industrial pipe, valves and fittings.
"Introduction to Industrial PVF: Pipe, Valves, and Fittings" is available through Amazon. Additional information about the book and Jim Kemp Consulting is available at https://KempPerspective.com.

ABOUT JAMES G. KEMP AND JIM KEMP CONSULTING
James G. “Jim” Kemp is the author of "Introduction to Industrial PVF: Pipe, Valves, and Fittings" and founder of Jim Kemp Consulting. Since beginning his PVF career in 1973, he has worked in warehousing and sales, built and operated a PVF supply house and served industrial plants, contractors, engineers and wholesale distributors. Through his book, consulting work and KempPerspective.com, he shares practical knowledge developed over more than five decades in the industry.

James G. Kemp
Jim Kemp Consulting
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