The Manufacturing Report: Recent Episodes
The Manufacturing Report
Manufacturing is having a moment. But what will it actually take to create more blue-collar jobs and strengthen our industrial base? Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul chats with policymakers, manufacturing experts and factory workers to find out.
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing #MusicalInstruments #BanjoBuilding #EntrepreneurJourney #MadeInAmerica #Craftsmanship #KickstarterSuccess #MusicEducation #ArtisanCraft #HealingThroughMusic #ZackMunsell #HandcraftedMusic #SupportLocalArtists
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
AAM President Scott Paul spent 15 years hunting for a Western shirt actually Made in America. He never found one — because almost nobody was making them. Carter Baldwin was on the same hunt, going back to his college days in ’90s Austin, and eventually decided to make the shirt himself. Brazos Fine Shirts is the result: 100% cotton, mother-of-pearl snap, made in the Los Angeles Garment District — and it took roughly six years, a career’s worth of DTC marketing know-how, and one catastrophic run of 1,000 shirts with the snaps pressed on backwards to get there. Carter walks Scott through why a Western shirt takes 24 hand-cut pieces and can’t be automated, how NAFTA hollowed out El Paso’s garment district, and how Post Malone’s stylist found the brand a month after launch. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/shipsGuest Resources Brazos Fine Shirts: https://brazosfineshirts.com Instagram: @brazosfineshirts
si=uFmYHrp7lfxHepY6Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links2025 Made in America Holiday Gift GuideSign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest.or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThisCheck out our Made In America DirectoryYou can also listen wherever you get podcastsApple PodcastsSpotifySocialsX: @KeepItMadeInUSAFacebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturingInstagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya via Pexels
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift GuideSign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThisCheck out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America!https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift GuideSign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThisCheck out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America!https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/shipsYou can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing
Links2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide: https://bit.ly/2025GiftsSign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest: https://bit.ly/4iWbJgaor our bi-weekly: https://bit.ly/4rXmh2QCheck out our Made In America Directory: https://bit.ly/4oUQRY7You can also listen wherever you get podcastsApple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3XQ7glrSpotify: https://bit.ly/48PXG7dSocials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing#CycleDog #MadeInUSA #AmericanManufacturing #SustainableManufacturing #UpcycledProducts #EcoFriendlyBusiness #PetIndustry #USAMade #ManufacturingInnovation #SmallBusinessSuccess #SustainablePetProducts #EcoFriendlyPets #Upcycling #CircularEconomy #DogLovers #PetProducts #WomenInManufacturing #EntrepreneurLife #FactoryTour #BuyAmerican
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/subscribeCheck out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America!https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing#madeinusa #madeinamerica #americanmade #podcast #smallindustries #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #montessori #kids #christmas #holidaygiftguide #woodworking #shoplocal #holidayshopping #blueberryandthird #handcraftedtoys #familybusiness #supportsmallbusiness #madeintheusa #woodentoys #montessorikids #holidaygiftideas #shoplocalforchristmas #entrepreneurship
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis: https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/subscribeCheck out our Made In America Directory: https://bit.ly/2025GiftsAnd sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America: https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing #MadeInUSA, #GiftGuide, #OpieWayFootwear, #opieway #HolidayGifts, #AmericanManufacturing #hurricanerecovery #giftguide #sneakers #sneakerhead #sneakernews
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing #MadeInUSA, #GiftGuide, #LostDutchmanLeather, #HolidayGifts, #AmericanManufacturing #holidaygiftguide #holidayshopping #leather #leatherworking #leathercraft #arizona #maker
You can find Chilewich placemats all around the world in some of the best hotels and restaurants out there, like Le Bernardin and the Ritz-Carlton, but this home goods company has stayed true to its Made in Georgia roots since its founding in 2000. Here's how the Martha Stewart-approved company has integrated technology from design through production to set the table for success.
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing#shipbuilding #SHIPSforAmerica #manufacturing #podcast #xijinping #madeinamerica #podcast #wisconsin #greatlakes #supplychain
Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing #MadeInUSA, #FastFashion, #Shein, #Temu, #AmericanManufacturing
Think Top Chef — but for welders, machinists and engineers. Ray Dick, founder of Project MFG and creator of the reality show Clash of Trades, discusses how his organization is inspiring the next generation of manufacturers through hands-on competition and community engagement. He shares how Project MFG evolved from local events into a national showcase during COVID, highlights its role in addressing the skilled labor shortage, and emphasizes manufacturing’s importance to economic and national security. Dick also explores how inclusivity and purpose-driven education can attract more people into the trades.Resources & LinksSign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest or our bi-weekly Check out our Made In America Directory 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. Guest Resources Watch Clash of Trades on Youtube: / projectmfg Project MFG Website: projectmfg.comInstagram: instagram.com/projectmf Resources & Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing #ClashOfTrades #ProjectMFG #MadeInAmerica #Manufacturing #SkilledTrades #FutureOfWork #ManufacturingMatters #AmericanManufacturing #WorkforceDevelopment #TradeSkills
A little-known trade loophole cost American jobs and put families at risk — until a coalition fought back. Kim Glas, president & CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations, discusses how a coalition of labor, manufacturers, retailers and families worked together to close the de minimis loophole. Kim explains how Chinese e-commerce giants exploited this U.S law to flood the U.S. with untaxed and uninspected goods, including products made with forced labor, unsafe merchandise, and fentanyl shipments into the country.Kim breaks down where the law now stands and how de minimis reform protects American workers, consumers, and national security.
You've probably tasted this product a thousand times, maybe without even knowing its name! From pumpkin spice to hibiscus, family-owned Torani has been bringing delicious flavors to life for 100 years through its San Francisco-made syrups. But there's so much more to this B-Corp-certified company than just "mmmm" factor. Torani CEO Melanie Dulbecco shares how the family-owned company pioneered the flavored latte, grew from cafés into consumer markets, and how the company's commitment to opportunity- and wealth-sharing has been critical to its 20% year-over-year revenue growth.Photo courtesy Torani
Eight out of ten eyeglass frames sold in America come from China - but a Texas couple is out to change that. Rick and Cindy Taylor, founders of Forall Frameworks - one of the few U.S. eyewear manufacturers - discuss their path from importing eyewear to establishing a factory in Lubbock, Texas, overcoming challenges like sourcing overseas machinery, training workers, and competing with global monopolies. They highlight their commitment to quality and American-made values and the pride their team takes in producing durable, American-made frames that compete with imports.
Megan Salrin, the National Coordinator for Rapid Response at the United Steelworkers, began her career as an intern with the Alliance for American Manufacturing. Today, we’re looking back on her journey from a small-town union household to advocating for workers in Congress. Megan shares stories of saving manufacturing jobs, pushing for the Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0, and promoting American-made products. Her career embodies purpose-driven leadership, union values, and an unwavering commitment to strengthening U.S. manufacturing.
One technology manufacturer is making a bold bet that could reshape the future of U.S. tech production. Our team at AAM heads to Long Island for the groundbreaking of Orbic’s “Project Patriot,” an ambitious reshoring initiative bringing electronics manufacturing back to the United States and creating over 1,000 jobs.
A century-old company is reinventing itself to solve one of manufacturing’s biggest challenges. Rachel Zapernick, general manager at Thomas (now part of Xometry), discusses the company’s evolution from a printed directory to a leading digital platform connecting U.S. manufacturers with buyers. She covers how the company addresses labor shortages through workforce development and the growing role of automation and AI in the industry. Zapernick also shares how Thomas is investing in the next generation of talent and working to reshape the public perception of modern manufacturing careers across the country.
With a background as unique as her mission, one woman is bringing fresh energy to U.S. manufacturing. Christine Holly Ngo, founder of Silicon Valley Elite Manufacturing and host of the Making Things Fun, Cool & Sexy podcast, shares her journey from red carpet entertainment reporter to manufacturing advocate, detailing how she reconnected with her family’s business and launched efforts to make manufacturing exciting and accessible. She discusses reshoring in Silicon Valley, engaging the next generation, empowering women in the industry, and embracing automation and robotics as part of America’s manufacturing revival.
Marlin Steel Wire Products LLC President & Owner Drew Greenblatt knows the power of manufacturing jobs in America, but he also knows that unfair trade has stacked the odds against this vital industry — something he's told four U.S. presidents over the course of his career. Is Washington getting the picture now? Greenblatt offers his take on The Manufacturing Report podcast.Photo courtesy Drew Greenblatt
Wright Tool Company's hand tools have been used by the Department of Defense in every conflict around the world since the department's founding, as well as in the construction or repair of every power plant, bridge, and so many other critical pieces of infrastructure in the United States. That's the kind of patriotic pride that's the backbone of this family-owned company building and defending our country. Tom Futey, Wright Tool president and owner, discusses why the company has chosen to manufacture its high-quality hand tools near Akron, Ohio, for almost a century and reflects on the value of in-house manufacturing, workforce development, innovation in tool design, and the challenges of staying competitive amid globalization and post-COVID labor shifts.
Today, we spotlight the workers at the heart of American manufacturing! Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul shares powerful stories from factory workers across the United States and offers a ground-level view of American Manufacturing today. From steel mills in Indiana and Ohio to copper mining in Utah and paper production in Oregon, workers share how manufacturing sustains families, communities and local economies. Workers also share the importance of strong trade policy and why keeping jobs in America matters now more than ever.
A viral TikTok trend is taking viewers inside Chinese factories, promising designer-quality goods at rock-bottom prices — but at what cost? The Alliance for American Manufacturing’s Cat Adams and Scott Paul unpack the truth behind these videos, explore the ethical and economic issues tied to cheap imports, and highlight the growing movement to support American-made products. Plus, hear how NFL star Jason Kelce is teaming up with American Giant to promote U.S. manufacturing through fashion with a purpose.Getty Images
Ideas can come from anywhere… even while just doing laundry! Holli Harris, founder of The Nice Rack, shares how a Scottish drying rack inspired her to launch a Made-in-America business from her garage. She details the product’s development, early sales through Etsy, and her hands-on approach to manufacturing. Holli discusses the challenges of sourcing materials locally, her commitment to sustainability, and the joy of building a functional, beautiful product.Photo courtesy of The Nice Rack
On April 2, the United States launched its boldest trade move in decades. Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul and Senior Vice President For Government Affairs & Policy Scott Boos break down the sweeping tariff changes, marking a strong shift away from globalization. They discuss how reciprocal tariffs what it means for trade with countries like China, the EU, and Mexico. They also talk about the closure of the de minimis loophole affecting platforms like Temu and SHEIN and the rollout of steep auto tariffs aimed at rebuilding U.S. manufacturing and strengthening national security.Getty Images
Buy America isn’t just a slogan — it’s a lifeline for U.S. manufacturers and local communities. No one knows this more than Hollie Noveletsky, CEO of Novel Iron Works in New Hampshire. Hollie shares why strong Buy America policies are essential to leveling the playing field and how they reinvest public infrastructure dollars into local jobs and communities.Photo courtesy of Hollie Noveletsky
One company has been crafting durable American-made baskets for over a century. Paul Lordan, second-generation owner of Steele Canvas Basket Corp, shares how the company expanded beyond its industrial roots, with its carts appearing in movies and even Red Sox celebrations. The 2008 recession and COVID-19 forced the company to adapt, leading to a thriving e-commerce business. Despite foreign competition, Steele Canvas remains committed to U.S. manufacturing and craftsmanship.Photo courtesy of Steele Canvas
The future of footwear isn’t plastic — it’s algae. Ryan Hunt, co-founder of Shloop and BLKSWN Footwear, discusses how his journey to a footwear factory in Meridian, Miss., began with a bioengineering lab. Hunt discusses: •How algae, once explored for biofuels, became a key ingredient in his companies’ eco-friendly footwear•The pitfalls of global supply chains•Why he decided to manufacture in the United States •What’s coming next for his retail brand as it develops its customer basePhoto courtesy of Shloop
Finding the perfect Made in America gift can be tough. How do you know what’s truly made here? Alex Goulet and his co-author Willy DeConto set out to make solve this problem. Alex joins The Manufacturing Report to discuss the latest edition of "Crafted with Pride," a directory of 1,400+ Made in USA brands. He shares insights on U.S. manufacturing, consumer habits, and how the book helps buyers find American-made products.Photo courtesy of Alex Goulet
President Donald Trump didn’t impose tariffs on the first day of his second administration, but he did set the stage for them. Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) President Scott Paul and AAM Senior Vice President for Government Affairs & Policy Scott Boos give you their take on the “America First” trade memo Trump issued on Jan. 20 and its implications for U.S. manufacturing. More discussion points from the memo:•Revoking China’s permanent normal trade relations with the U.S.•Evaluating the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement•Enforcing existing trade laws•Creating new trade enforcement tools•Losing loopholes like de minimis.Photo by Jim Watson/Getty Images
When renowned architect David Rockwell designed life-size toy building blocks, he tapped a Rhode Island foam factory to bring his product to market in 2009. Children’s museums and play spaces around the country eagerly snapped up Imagination Playground’s Big Blue Blocks. But, in 2018, the company’s executives sought to lower prices by offshoring against Rockwell’s wishes, so that Rhode Island factory fought back. Imagination Playground CEO Jim Stallman shares how they kept American manufacturing the cornerstone of the company’s success. Photo courtesy Imagination Playground
Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul reflects on three Made in America interviews from 2024 that reflect the movement's growing groundswell. Listen in for insights from "Making It in America" author Rachel Slade, "American Flannel" author Steven Kurutz, and "Relighting the Flame" documentarian Carl Kriss.Getty Images
As we prepare for 2025, Alliance for American Manufacturing staff takes a look at this year's top manufacturing news stories that are likely to shape the months ahead.Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images
The 2024 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide is out, featuring 112 amazing companies that make products in the United States. We chatted with the teams behind three brands included this year -- Wies Made, Hitchcock Paper, and Retro Racer -- to find it what it takes to make goods in the United States, and why it's so important to shop American-made during the busy holiday shopping season.
New York Times Magazine Contributing Writer Dan Kaufman discusses his recent examination of NAFTA's role in changing American politics through the lens of the Master Lock factory in Milwaukee, Wis.Photo courtesy Dan Kaufman; Photo by Andrew T. Warman
When husband and wife Carolyn and Joseph Ferrara launched Ferrara Manufacturing in 1987, they set out to make the best womenswear in the business, all from their New York City's Garment District factory. They had no idea that NAFTA was about to rock the U.S. garment industry to its core, but they fought through the tumult and found success in working with brands like Ralph Lauren. Their daughter, Gabrielle Ferrara, Ferrara Manufacturing's chief operating officer, shares how the family-owned, women-owned, union-represented company's knack for innovation has helped it navigate the headwinds of offshoring and find new opportunities through the latest manufacturing technology. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Ferrara
American Giant CEO Bayard Winthrop and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai discuss rebuilding a fully American-made apparel supply chain, from cotton fields to finished garments. They highlight the importance of worker-centered trade policy, economic security, and the potential to make affordable, high-quality products in America.Note: This episode was recorded at AAM’s "Making it in America: Supply Chain Successes in Textiles and Apparel" panel on Oct. 17, 2024.Watch the full event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuJM0a5yXxU
When one Portland dad couldn't find a high-quality truck camper for family adventures, he decided to build his own. Peter Williams, co-founder and president of Super Pacific, shares what his company's "built like an airplane" mantra means for their production process and discusses the challenges of building the business during the pandemic and how domestic manufacturing creates innovative, high-quality goods that stand up to global competition.Photo courtesy Super Pacific
In 2020, U.S. diplomats Kris Forrest and Rebecca Beardsley hosted a cocktail party, but their shaker just wasn’t up to snuff. So they decided to make their own. Forty cold calls to American steel fabricators and many YouTube CAD tutorial videos later, they launched C&D Tools, a veteran- and minority-owned company. Within six months, they had landed a feature in The New York Times and sold out their entire stock. Here's why Made in America was foundational to their business plan from the start. Photo courtesy of C&D Tools
While studying at Yale Law School, Darnell Epps heard that U.S. manufacturers were grappling with a labor shortage, and he was baffled that tens of thousands of valuable community-supporting jobs weren't finding applicants. So, he enrolled at a trade school to become a certified machinist and find out what the heck was going wrong. What he learned was that the skilled trades are an invaluable pathway to the middle class, and that workers needed better tools to connect with potential employers, prompting him to build Thurgood Industries, a career-networking app tailored to skilled trade workers. Photo courtesy Thurgood Industries
For decades, Image Pointe's unionized workers have screen-printed clothing in Iowa. So, when the company contemplated starting its own American-made apparel factory that held true to the same ethical labor practices, Image Pointe CEO Josh Ruyle knew it had to be union-represented. In 2024, Image Pointe opened Dignity Apparel in Tennessee with 100% of its workforce represented by Workers United, making it the only union-knit fabric manufacturer in the U.S. Dignity Apparel's Ruyle and Matt Davis discuss why unionizing their workforce has been a critical part of their company's American-made success. Photo courtesy of Dignity Apparel
Grilling is an iconic American pastime, but unfairly subsidized Chinese imports threaten to dissolve the U.S. factories making our grills right here. Meco President Whitney Winter discusses the impact of unfair Chinese competition on the Tennessee-based family-owned grill manufacturing company and highlights the critical role Meco plays in supporting the economy of Greenville, where the company has continuously manufactured its grills since 1968.Photo courtesy of Meco
Family-run shoe manufacturer Rancourt & Co. has maintained its commitment to Made in America quality and tradition for more than 50 years. This year, you can catch their shoes on full display at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Co-owner and President Mike Rancourt shares the process of creating these iconic, American-made shoes, how they came to work with Ralph Lauren for the designer's Team USA Olympic uniform, and the pride Rancourt & Co. shoes bring to the Lewiston, Maine community. Photo courtesy Rancourt & Co.
If you’ve ever done any water sports, then you’ve probably used TRC Recreation water gear. The Texas company has been a key player in the water sports gear market since the 1950s. CEO Matt Iles shares their rich history, innovative spirit, and commitment to American manufacturing. Photo courtesy of TRC Recreation
Wendy Cutler has spent nearly 30 years as a diplomat and negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, working to lower tariffs and open markets. But, now, as the world grapples with a deluge of Chinese industrial overcapacity in key sectors, Cutler is advocating for preemptive trade action and international cooperation to counter China's trade manipulation. Listen in for insights from the Asia Society Policy Institute vice president. Photo courtesy of the Asia Society Policy Institute
Host Scott Paul shares how to channel all that flag-waving spirit into buying that supports America's workers and economy. And, he revisits conversations with industry experts, Made in America Store Owner Mark Andol and Annin Flagmakers Vice President of Sales Bob Caggiano, who discuss their commitment to 100% American production and the impact on local economies and national pride.Getty Images
Chinese-made cars are already finding their way onto American streets with brands like Volvo leading the way. Dunne Insights CEO Michael Dunne, a seasoned expert in the automotive industry with extensive experience in both American and Chinese markets, discusses how Chinese automakers have strategically positioned themselves to dominate both the internal combustion and electric vehicle markets and what that means for the United States.Photo from Volvo press materials
As America's factory boom comes to fruition, recruiting the next generation of factory workers is more important than ever, but getting them through the door isn't always easy. Taylor Evans, the president and founder of talent recruitment agency Rust Belt Recruiting, shares how manufacturers can go beyond the paycheck to add value to employees' lives and why understanding workforce needs is crucial for today's industrial leaders. Photo courtesy of Rust Belt Recruiting
Amid escalating global competition and trade cheating, the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of the United States is helping American manufacturers play offense. Owen Herrnstadt, a member of EXIM’s Board of Directors, shares how the bank’s Make More in America Initiative works in conjunction with President Biden’s U.S. supply chain resiliency effort to close financial gaps and support export-oriented projects for American manufacturers.
China is the world's biggest shipbuilder by far, an advantage that Beijing has stolen through decades of trade cheating and massive government subsidies. A new trade investigation launched by the Biden administration is America's first step toward course correction. United Steelworkers International President David McCall joins the podcast to share what prompted the investigation and what's at stake for American workers. Photo courtesy United Steelworkers
China and India are the world's leading mobile phone manufacturers, but one company is moving its production away from these countries and setting up shop in the United States. Dubbed "Project Patriot," Orbic's plan to manufacture connected devices on Long Island will bring more than 1,000 jobs back to America. Orbic North America Founder and CEO Mike Narula shares how.Getty Images
American Paper Optics has made a whopping more than 3 billion pairs of its innovative 3D glasses. Now, in preparation for the Great North American Eclipse on April 8, this Tennessee company is churning out millions upon millions of ISO-approved and CE-certified eclipse glasses so people can safely experience this rare astronomical event. In fact, it’s NASA’s go-to source for eclipse glasses! CEO John Jerit shares why solar eclipse viewers need safe glasses, how his company has been gearing up to supply them, and what the company does when it isn't getting ready for an eclipse (hint: the Super Bowl). Photo courtesy of American Paper Optics
In his new book, "American Flannel: How a Band of Entrepreneurs Are Bringing the Art and Business of Making Clothes Back Home," journalist Steven Kurutz profiles men and women who have the courage and grit to fight the tide of offshoring that obliterated 98% of America's apparel and textile industry. Listen in for what inspired his examination of American-made clothing and his outlook on the industry's future. Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House
Award-winning Director Carl Kriss shares a behind-the-scenes preview of his new documentary, "Relighting the Flame," which profiles the next generation of workers who are fighting for the resurgence of the steel industry. But this isn't the first time Kriss has told the stories of the Midwest's blue-collar people. Listen in for what he's learned about steel jobs and the communities they build. Photo courtesy of Heartland Productions
Now in its 50th Class of the “Breaking the Chains of Poverty” pre-apprenticeship program, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) provides real-world experience and industry-recognized credentials for participants from underserved communities in partnership with the United Steelworkers and other unions. APRI Pittsburgh Vice President DeWitt Walton shares how the Black-owned and -operated program is growing the greater Pittsburgh workforce and transforming lives.Photo courtesy of APRI Pittsburgh
In her latest book, “Making It in America: The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. (and How It Got That Way),” journalist Rachel Slade profiles Ben and Whitney Waxman’s mission to rebuild Maine’s lost textile industry by founding their own union-made apparel manufacturer. Slade shares how the Waxmans’ company, American Roots, has fought back against the forces that conspired to obliterate the American manufacturing base, and why she’s hopeful for the future of U.S. factories.Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House
Kory Daniels, chief information security officer for cybersecurity firm Trustwave, breaks down the company’s recent report examining the manufacturing industry’s greatest vulnerabilities to cyberattacks and how manufacturers can mitigate these risks in a way that even non-security leaders can implement. Photo courtesy of Trustwave
We're counting down the top manufacturing news stories of 2023 and forecasting what lies ahead in the coming year. Join Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) President Scott Paul and the AAM team for the conversation. Getty Images
Bevin Bells, the only dedicated bell manufacturer in America, has been making bells in "Bell Town" East Hampton, Conn., since 1832. The family-owned company made the iconic bell featured in "It's a Wonderful Life" and its bells can still be found around the country today. Listen in for how the company, now in its sixth generation, has navigated the tidal wave of offshoring in the 1970s, a catastrophic factory fire in 2012, and recruiting the next generation of workers.Photo courtesy of Bevin Bells
Two father-and-son teams found a hole in the market for toys that bridged the gap between blocks and Lego. They knew they wanted to make it in America. The problem? They had zero manufacturing experience. A successful Kickstarter campaign and nearly 10 years later, Luke’s Toy Factory is thriving. Here’s how they did it. Photo courtesy of Luke's Toy Factory
Shinola Chief Operating Officer Bailey Mattacola breaks down how the Detroit-born company tackled the challenge of building watches in America again and then expanded to manufacturing bags, apparel, jewelry and so much more. Mattacola also dives into how Shinola is reclaiming high-quality American manufacturing and how customers respond to the “Detroit differentiator.” Photo courtesy of Shinola
Direct-to-consumer mattress pioneer BedInABox got its start in 2004 by establishing a radically new way to sell mattresses. Since then, the industry has been swarmed with competitors, and the same shipping method that BedInABox innovated has been exploited by copycat importers. But BedInABox has leveraged its Mount Airy, N.C., production to differentiate itself from the pack. Chris Bradley, Executive Vice President of Consumer Products at NCFI Polyurethanes, discusses BedInABox’s strategy and how it’s contending with pressures from dumped imports.Photo courtesy of BedInABox
Kristen Fanarakis was deeply entrenched in the world of finance when she made the radical decision to buck the offshoring, race-to-the-bottom trend in 2017 and start her Made in Los Angeles luxury apparel brand, Senza Tempo. Fanarakis shares why she's committed to American manufacturing and the policies that best support Made in America brands. Photo courtesy of Kristen Fanarakis
Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul discusses a new poll that documents a radical shift that likely Republican primary voters have made on trade and breaks down the second Republican presidential candidate debate. Paul evaluates whether the 2024 presidential candidates are aligning themselves with voters on trade, China and industrial policy. Getty Images
U.S. trade policy was ruled for decades by the concept that free trade was always the answer — a fallacy that led to the loss of millions of American manufacturing jobs. Former United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer fundamentally changed that and ushered in policy that put American workers first. He joins the podcast to discuss his new book, "No Trade Is Free: Changing Course, Taking on China, and Helping America's Workers", and what the future holds for U.S. trade relations.
Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), a lead Republican author of the Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0, joins us to explain how the bipartisan legislation would modernize the trade remedy tools America needs to push back against the predatory economic practices of China and other nations. Johnson also discusses the importance of America's steel industry.
Photo courtesy of Rep. Bill Johnson's office
When Team AAM spoke with members of the United Steelworkers union this past summer during the Rapid Response conference in Washington, D.C., these hardworking men and women shared how integrally their communities are tied to manufacturing and why a policy that reinvests tax money back into communities is vital to their livelihoods
AAM photo
Auburn Manufacturing Inc. (AMI) CEO Kathie Leonard built her textile company from the ground up in a male-dominated industry decades ago. So when China’s dumping of heavily subsidized silica fabric made her company go sideways, she fought tooth and nail for her business and its workers. She won. In August, President Biden spotlighted AMI as an industrial policy success story. Listen in for the story behind AMI’s founding, fight against China, and the president’s momentous visit.
Photo courtesy of Auburn Manufacturing Inc.
Terry Iverson, the president and CEO of Illinois machine tool distributorship and rebuilder Iverson & Company, has been deeply entrenched in the manufacturing world since birth and has made it his personal mission to ensure that America’s next generation seizes career opportunities in the industry. In this episode, he discusses the two books he recently authored, “Inspired Champions in Advanced Manufacturing” and “Finding America’s Greatest Champion” to guide parents and students as they consider manufacturing career pathways.
Photo courtesy of Terry Iverson
China is churning out enough electric vehicles to flood the global market, and it’s working on gearing up for an autonomous vehicle onslaught as well. But American self-driving electric vehicle company Cruise is working hard to beat them in the race, and it’s doing it through a partnership with legacy American manufacturer General Motors that’s creating thousands of jobs. It’s a model for the 21st economy, Cruise Senior Director of Federal Affairs Eric Danko argues in today’s discussion on why American manufacturing is a critical part of Cruise’s roadmap to success.
Photo courtesy of Cruise
Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens (D) discusses the role of industrial policy in America’s factory boom and how American manufacturers can lead in the global electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle race.
Photo courtesy of Rep. Haley Stevens
More than 2 million packages are imported into the U.S. every day without inspection because of a U.S. Customs loophole that Chinese e-commerce behemoths like SHEIN and Temu have exploited to seize market share -- and America is footing the bill. Now Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) is fighting back with new legislation, the Import Security and Fairness Act.
Photo courtesy of Rep. Earl Blumenauer
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, discusses whether new laws aiming to increase U.S. competitiveness are gaining traction, how the United States can best compete with China, and why America (and New Jersey, of course!) is uniquely positioned to lead the world in manufacturing.
Photo courtesy of Rep. Mikie Sherrill's office
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who represents Silicon Valley and is a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, argues that American leadership in innovation depends on the nation’s manufacturing strength. The Congressman shares his insight into America’s greatest challenges in an economic rebalancing with China and strategy for reestablishing America’s manufacturing superpower status. Photo courtesy of Rep. Ro Khanna
Jennifer Harris, who served as the special assistant to the president and senior director for International Economics under President Biden, breaks down the motivations behind the White House's industrial policy push and the biggest obstacles of that policy going forward. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Harris
In a market saturated by imports, Los Angeles-based fitness brand Runyon Canyon Apparel is keeping its clothing exclusively American-made. Founder Tony Nuccio shares why he transitioned from a thriving career in the music industry to American manufacturing and his joint effort to protect wildlife. Photo courtesy of Runyon Canyon Apparel
The vast majority of the world’s single-use plastic is coming in from China and ending up as pollution in our local ecosystems. But this woman-, minority- and veteran-owned company is working to change that with its compostable, eco-friendly single-use cutlery, carryout containers, straws and so much more. Terravive Founder and CEO Julianna Keeling and Vice President and COO Joe Swider share how the company got its start when Keeling was still in college and how it has grown into a business that contracts with 16 factories with plans for its own manufacturing facility.Photo courtesy of Terravive
Emily de La Bruyère of the Force Distance Times returns to the podcast to outline Beijing's Little Giants and Single Champions programs and their implications for U.S. industrial policy. Getty Images
The newly formed House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held its first hearing at the end of February, spotlighting the CCP's threat to America's economic and national security. Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul joined former national security advisers H.R. McMaster and Matthew Pottinger as well as human rights advocate Tong Yi in testifying before the committee. Listen in for Paul's take on the proceedings and highlights from the hearing.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) shares why she thinks Democrats need to prioritize the issues of America’s Heartland — part of the impetus behind her decision to form the Heartland Caucus — and what the government can do to ensure that the electric vehicles of today and tomorrow are Made in America.Photo courtesy of Rep. Debbie Dingell
The United States depends on China and India for some of its most critical medicines, but one Central Virginia organization is working to change that. Infused with more than $100 million in public-private funding, including from the national Build Back Better Regional Challenge program, the Alliance for Building Better Medicine is cultivating a hub in the Richmond-Petersburgh region for the research and advanced manufacturing of critical medicines. The Alliance’s Executive Director Joy Polefrone shares how and why the coalition of public-private stakeholders is securing a domestic supply chain of quality affordable medicines. Photo courtesy of Joy Polefrone
We're covering the major manufacturing news you need to know as we close January out! Listen in to learn about a bill aiming to keep taxpayer-funded inventions Made in America, Boston's contract with a Chinese state-owned rail car company that's wreaked havoc since its start, and a major name brand that committed Made in America fraud. Join Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul and Senior Vice President for Communications Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch for the latest. Photo by MBTA via Instagram
A new report produced by Sheffield Hallam University’s Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice and the independent nonprofit research organization NomoGaia reveals that the world’s biggest car brands, including Volkswagen, BMW, Honda, Ford, GM, Stellantis, Tesla and more, are at high risk of sourcing from companies linked to forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. The report’s lead author and human rights expert, Dr. Laura Murphy, outlines how the findings document the pervasiveness of forced labor not only in the world’s auto supply chain but also implicate huge swaths of other global industries — and what the U.S. can do to push back against these human rights abuses. Image courtesy of the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University
When the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) was signed into law, it made big waves in the United States electric vehicle (EV) industry. While the consumer tax credits for EVs are an obvious boon to domestic manufacturing, the IRA’s incentives for U.S. battery production are equally significant. But can the U.S. leverage the opportunity quickly enough? Zachary Shahan, the CEO and chief editor of the online clean technology news and analysis site CleanTechnica, shares what America’s battery mineral mining industry stands to gain and its impact on the U.S. EV industry. Getty Images
When the briefcase Morgan Beals designed was awarded Best Student-Made Handbag at the International Handbag Designer Awards in 2014, her career kicked into overdrive. But, in 2015, she decided to set her own course and launched Morgan Rhea, her own Made in America luxury leather accessories studio. Listen in for how a student contest design has blossomed into a thriving business in South Charleston, W.V.Photo courtesy of Morgan Rhea
Sunny Day Designs Owner & Designer Shelley Schmidt grew up with a behind-the-scenes perspective on manufacturing through her family's hat factory in Missouri. So, when she decided to launch her own company selling home decor, stationery, and more, bedecked with her own playful patterns, Schmidt knew that she had the opportunity to create valuable jobs in the United States. Schmidt shares why Made in America gives her such pride and the state of the retail landscape for small Made in America businesses today. Photo courtesy of Sunny Day Designs
The 2022 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide is out! Though this year’s Made in Connecticut gift pick is new to us, Mystic Knotwork has been around since 1957. Founded by a WWII veteran who was a leader in the nautical arts community, Mystic Knotwork is preserving the tradition of nautical knots. But the founder’s grandson, Matt Beaudoin, is ushering the business into the modern era. Here’s how he’s doing it. https://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/the-2022-made-in-america-holiday-gift-guide/Photo courtesy of Mystic Knotwork
Financial Times Global Business Columnist and Associate Editor Rana Foroohar isn’t buying neoliberalism’s myths about globalization. But what comes next? In her new book, “Homecoming: The Path to Prosperity in a Post Global World,” Foroohar examines where the U.S. economy is going.Photo courtesy of Rana Foroohar
Nathan Picarsic, Horizon Advisory co-founder and Foundation for Defense of Democracies senior fellow, shares how private companies are dodging U.S. export restrictions to trade with the enemy and what the United States must do to protect its innovation and national security.Getty Images
We had planned to devote this episode to analysis of America’s manufacturing resurgence in honor of Manufacturing Day on Oct. 7, but some especially inflammatory comments from Peterson Institute for International Economics President Adam Posen required response, so we’re sounding off. But don’t worry, Team AAM also breaks down all of this week’s great manufacturing news. Getty Images
Levi's is one of the longest-lasting apparel brands on the market, while newcomer Shein took over the fast fashion landscape overnight. But both are facing criticism for their labor and environmental practices. Remake CEO and Founder Ayesha Barenblat joins the podcast to talk about how U.S. trade policy, international agreements and a piece of legislation called the FABRIC Act can help improve labor and environmental conditions in the industry and even reshore production.
Photo courtesy of Remake
There's a lot that President Biden gets right on China. Why doesn't the rest of his administration agree? Robert Kuttner, co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect, breaks down what's keeping the Biden administration from completely committing to its doctrine on China and what a coherent approach to dealings with Beijing could achieve.
Official White House Photo by Cameron Smith
Start your students’ year right by stocking up on American-made and union-made school supplies. Alliance for American Manufacturing's own Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch and Cat Adams talk about their favorite Made in America school gear and tips for elementary all the way through college.
Photo by Nick Amoscato via Flickr
Nearly 3,000 members and allies of the United Steelworkers met in Las Vegas last week for the union’s first in-person constitutional convention since 2017. Several of America’s top government leadership joined the event to champion the power of America’s workers, including United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. We share the highlights from her speech and our conversations with workers at the convention about the state of manufacturing today.
The International Trade Commission (ITC) hosted a marathon three-day hearing this July to examine the impacts of Section 232 on steel and aluminum imports and Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. As you might expect, industry executives and trade lawyers are mainstays at these hearings like these, but the voice ITC officials really need to hear is that of America’s workers. In this episode, we share testimony offered by members of the United Steelworkers before the commission.
Photo courtesy of United Steelworkers via Flickr
Semiconductors are the powerhouses of virtually all of our advanced technology, but they require printed circuit boards (PCBs) to run. Though the United States once produced more than 26% of the world’s PCBs, offshoring has eviscerated America’s microelectronics manufacturing industry, leaving only 4% of PCBs now Made in America. There’s a new bill that could change that. Printed Circuit Board Association Chairman Travis Kelly shares how.
Photo courtesy of Isola Group
Robert Bettinardi had a passion for golf, and he had manufacturing expertise. He merged the two and almost a year and many pounds of steel later, he had milled his own putter. Bettinardi went on to manufacture for Titleist and Scotty Cameron before establishing family-owned putter brand Bettinardi Golf, which makes “the Ferrari” of putters from start to finish at Bettinardi’s factory just outside Chicago. Golfer Matthew Fitzpatrick recently won 2022 U.S. Open with one of the brand’s putters and will soon compete in the British Open with it in hand as well. Robert Bettinardi shares why his putters will always be Made in America and how the company is growing.
Photo courtesy of Bettinardi Golf
It's estimated that 2.1 million factory jobs will remain unfilled by 2030. However, efforts to increase equity in manufacturing promise to substantially expand the workforce and create pathways to the middle class for underserved communities. A new project coordinated by the Century Foundation (TCF) and the Urban Manufacturing Alliance examines the vital role community colleges play in this. TCF Fellow Michelle Burris explains how.
Photo courtesy of The Century Foundation
When the Biden administration released its year-long supply chain review — a report that was written by seven federal agencies and totaled in more than 1,300 pages — on Feb. 24, its import was understandably dwarfed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that day. However, the historic report reveals much about the Biden administration’s commitment to green industrial policy. Roosevelt Institute Director of Industrial Policy and Trade Todd Tucker, who authored a brief on the supply chain report, breaks it down for us.
Photo courtesy of the Roosevelt Institute
Since the Commerce Department first announced its plans to investigate whether Chinese solar panel manufacturers have been circumventing U.S. duties, the media has been whipped into a frenzy. And they’ve been playing right into the hands of a powerful special interest group – the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) – that’s made it its mission to cancel Commerce’s inquiry. David Dayen, the executive editor of public policy magazine The American Prospect, joins The Manufacturing Report to report what he has uncovered about SEIA and debunks some of the organization’s most insidious myths about trade enforcement.
Photo courtesy of David Dayen
The Commerce Department is investigating whether Chinese companies are routing solar panels through other countries to avoid U.S. duties. But this relatively routine trade case has erupted into a firestorm, with a special interest group undertaking a highly-organized and well-funded media campaign to cancel it. Much of their ire has been directed at Auxin Solar Inc., the California solar panel maker that filed the original petition. Auxin CEO Mamun Rashid joins The Manufacturing Report to explain why he's seeing this fight through — and why policymakers need to support American manufacturers like this company.
New Hampshire is poised to join dozens of other states and the federal government in passing legislation that would reinvest taxpayer dollars into local workers and communities. State Sen. Tom Sherman shares how the bill has bridged the partisan divide in its aim of cultivating a more robust and independent domestic manufacturing base for the state's most vital infrastructure.
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When Mitch Cahn founded his custom apparel and accessory company, Unionwear, committing to a unionized workforce was one of his first steps. Listen in for why it’s been the foundation of his success and how the Newark, N.J., company is evolving to be cost-competitive with even offshore manufacturers and navigating the challenges of the current labor market.
Photo courtesy Unionwear
Guatemala-born Consuelo Poland Lockhart had long planned a career in the arts when a foray into welding sparked a new trajectory. Now, she’s making it her mission to show Latina and non-Latina women in Central Indiana that they have a place behind the blowtorch with her nonprofit, Latinas Welding Guild.
Photo by Jonathan Galeano
As Russia's unrestrained aggression and its alliance with China roils geopolitics, America's relationship with Beijing is under ever greater pressure. Isaac Stone Fish, CEO of research firm Strategy Risks and author of "America Second: How America's Elites Are Making China Stronger", reveals the deep network of China's influence in America's highest circles of power that shapes the United States' relationship with Beijing.
Photo courtesy Isaac Stone Fish
Supply chain chaos and geopolitical unrest is forcing trade policy and domestic manufacturing to “the middle of the conversation” for policymakers and brands alike. But American Giant, the Made in America apparel brand, is well prepared to offer some answers. Listen in for how American Giant CEO Bayard Winthrop is expanding his business and investing in the men and women who make America work.
Photo courtesy American Giant
As the nation tuned into this year’s State of the Union address, a special few Americans were invited to join First Lady Jill Biden in the audience. Second-generation steelworker and U.S. Army veteran Joseph “JoJo” Burgess was among those honored guests. But this wasn’t Burgess’s first time meeting President Biden.
Official White House Photo by Erin Scott
More than 5 million jobs were lost over the past two decades due to the impacts of globalization, and workers of color were hit the hardest, according to new research from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). National Economic Association President Valerie Wilson, an author of the EPI report, joins the podcast to share how smart policy can increase valuable manufacturing jobs for all workers. And, United Steelworkers Local 9462 President Kameen Thompson offers how his factory job has contributed to his success.
Photo courtesy of Kameen Thompson
Ben Napier, who stars in HGTV's "Home Town" alongside his wife Erin, dreamed of opening his own factory since childhood. Now he’s opened a factory to make butcher blocks, creating the family-supporting manufacturing jobs that he hopes will be his legacy. Listen in for Ben’s plan for the Scotsman Manufacturing Company factory — and how the 1995 movie “Tommy Boy” inspired it.
Check out our past interviews with Ben: https://soundcloud.com/keep-it-made-in-america/hgtvs-ben-napier-shares-the-view-from-americas-favorite-small-town; soundcloud.com/keep-it-made-in-america/why-the-stars-of-hgtvs-home-town-keep-it-made-in-america
Photo courtesy of Scotsman Manufacturing Company
Bringing transparency to federal purchasing and an innovative approach to expanding the federal government’s reliance on domestic supply chains, the Made in America Office (MIAO) has been hard at work since its creation via President Biden's executive order one year ago. Celeste Drake, the office’s first director, joins the podcast to share what the MIAO has accomplished so far and the project that’s consuming most of her office’s time right now.
Photo courtesy of the Made in America Office
Amid a growing global outcry against rampant human rights abuses, China is set to host the Winter 2022 Olympics. In this episode, the Human Rights Watch’s Director of Global Initiatives, Minky Worden, explains why the International Olympics Committee and the Olympics corporate sponsors must prove that its supply chains are free of forced labor.
Photo by llee_wu via Flickr
Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) Senior Vice President for Government Affairs and Policy Scott Boos, AAM Senior Vice President for Communications Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch, host Scott Paul examine the top manufacturing news stories of 2021 and analyze what lies on the horizon of 2022.
Photo courtesy Kevin Dooley via Flickr
Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch Director Lori Wallach reflects on the 20th anniversary of China's entry into the World Trade Organization(WTO). Since its initiation into the trading system, hopes for the country's liberalization have not come to fruition, and America's working class has been hollowed out. In this episode, Wallach and Scott Paul discuss how the United States can mitigate the damage.
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Under President Biden’s Build Back Better plan, billions of federal dollars have been poured into clean energy deployment in the United States, with more possibly on the way. But achieving our climate goals depends on establishing a clean energy supply chain here at home. Center for American Progress Senior Fellow Mike Williams shares why building a robust clean energy supply chain in the U.S. matters so much.
Photo via Wikimedia Creative Commons by Z22
Made in America Store Owner and Founder Mark Andol rejoins the podcast to share why buying Made in America is the key to getting on the nice list this year. Listen in for the remarkable story behind the founding of the Made in America Store and why dreaded supply chain disruptions aren't keeping Andol up at night.
Photo courtesy of the Made in America Store
In her new book, "American Made: What Happens to People When Work Disappears", Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Farah Stockman follows the lives of workers left in the aftermath of an Indiana factory closure in 2017. Where are these workers now? What lessons can we learn from their stories?
Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House
A new Massachusetts bill would require schools and other public projects exceeding $500,000 to be built with U.S.-made steel and other domestic materials.
In this episode, Capone Iron Corporation President Stephen Capone discusses why the legislation is so important for Massachusetts workers, local communities, and companies like his.
Photo courtesy of Capone Iron Corporation
United Steelworkers (USW) District 9 Assistant Director Mark Cochran, USW Local 1066 President Mark Lash, and the CEO of Alex Paris Contracting share how serious infrastructure investment would transform their communities.
Photo courtesy of United Steelworkers
National Skills Coalition CEO Andy Van Kleunen shares how the Biden administration can ensure that America's historically underserved populations most benefit from the president's ambitious Build Back Better infrastructure plans.
Photo courtesy of the National Skills Coalition
It's time to get on the bus! The United Steelworkers (USW)are traveling through the Industrial Heartland this week to advocate for Made in America infrastructure investment. AAM President Scott Paul chatted with USW International President Tom Conway about the "We Supply America" bus tour, which kicks off Monday in Northwest Indiana.
"You can't let your house fall into ill repair because you won't do any maintenance on it for years and years and expect everything to be fine," Conway says. "And you can't expect the nation's systems to take care of themselves."
Sen. Tammy Baldwin joins The Manufacturing Report to talk about the bipartisan infrastructure deal currently being negotiated in the Senate, and the Wisconsin Democrat says she's optimistic that it will pass, and with bipartisan support. Baldwin also discusses why including Buy America preferences is vital in infrastructure legislation, especially given some of the lessons the U.S. learned the hard way during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo courtesy Sen. Tammy Baldwin
On this episode of The Manufacturing Report, host Scott Paul chats with Margaux DelCollo, the co-owner of Twee, a women-owned maker's studio in Philadelphia. Twee is best known for its whimsical sidewalk chalk, which comes in a variety of shapes and colors. But as DelCollo explains in the episode, Twee brings a lot more to the table (or sidewalk), too.
Photo courtesy of Twee.
China already is laps ahead of the United States when it comes to the production of electric vehicles. That's a threat to the entire U.S. auto industry, and the millions of jobs it supports.
On this episode, Scott Paul talks to Emily de la Bruyere and Nathan Picarsic of Horizon Advisory about their new report, "China's Head Start: CCP Industrial Policy for Global Automotive Ascendance," which examines how China's government is planning to use the rise of electric vehicles to dominate the auto industry, along with what the U.S. needs to do now to counter China's ambitions.
Read the report here: https://www.horizonadvisory.org/headstart
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Manufacturing policy is dominating much of the discussion in Washington these days -- but will any of it produce real world results? In this episode of The Manufacturing Report, Alliance for American President Scott Paul joins AAM staffers Scott Boos and Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch to talk about everything from infrastructure investment to the competition with China to President Biden's trip to the G7 summit in Europe.
Photo by Getty Images
Welcome Industries earned acclaim for its Visual Measuring Cups, which take the guesswork out of cooking and baking — a half a cup looks like half a cup! Now the company is preparing to release its Visual Measuring Spoons, which brings the creative concept to tablespoons and teaspoons.
Welcome Industries founder and industrial designer Pam Daniels joins host Scott Paul to talk about the journey of bringing Visual Measure Cups to market, including why the company decided to manufacture its products in Chicago. You can order Visual Measuring Cups and Spoons here: https://welcomeindustries.com/shop
Photo courtesy of Welcome Industries
The Manufacturing Report first chatted with Okabashi's Sara Irvani in 2019 to learn more about her company's history and commitment to Made in America. Now we're catching up with Irvani to find out how Okabashi weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, and what the company is planning next.
"This is a category of shoes that not only brings comfort, but brings joy," Irvani said. "And in these tough times, I think it becomes more important than ever to have sources of joy."
Photo courtesy of Okabashi
Back in January, Dan Breznitz co-authored an insightful op-ed for The New York Times on how the desire for short-term gains led the United States to offshore much of its production. That policy choice caused the loss of millions of good-paying jobs and left the U.S. unable to respond in a crisis.
Now Breznitz is out with a new book, "Innovation in Real Places: Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World," which looks at ways to promote innovation policy that benefits as many people as possible.
AAM President Scott Paul chats with Breznitz about the book, and what the United States must do to bring critical manufacturing back.
More on the book: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/innovation-in-real-places-9780197508114?q=innovation%20in%20real%20places⟨=en&cc=us
The New York Times op-ed: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/04/opinion/manufacturing-united-states-masks.html
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Melody and Jeremy Briggs took a risk and started Luosh USA, a surgical face mask manufacturing company, to bring more much-needed personal protective equipment to market. For Melody Briggs, who immigrated to the United States from China, it also was a way to show her patriotism for her adopted country — while including a nod to her family's heritage in the new company's name.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure this March, giving U.S. national infrastructure a decidedly mediocre ‘C-‘ grade. Eleven categories of infrastructure fared even worse, earning a D+ or less. But President Biden’s ambitious infrastructure investment plan could change all that. ASCE Executive Director Thomas Smith examines the consequences of America’s crumbling roads, airports, schools and so much more and what Biden and Congress need to do now to avoid catastrophe.
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When Oxford Pennant Co-Founder Dave Horesh last joined The Manufacturing Report in March 2020, the world had just turned upside down, and pandemic pressures were threatening to close small businesses nationwide. And yet, 2020 was the wool felt pennant maker’s most successful ever. The key to their success? Tapping into the conversation. Here’s how they did it.
Listen to Horesh's March 2020 interview: https://soundcloud.com/keep-it-made-in-america/oxford-pennant
Photo courtesy of Oxford Pennant
The Biden administration is preparing to reinitiate trade negotiations with an evermore aggressive Chinese government. Clyde Prestowitz, a veteran U.S. trade negotiator and presidential adviser who served as a leader of the first U.S. trade mission to China, contends that the U.S. must first seriously invest in its own manufacturing base.
In his new book, "The World Turned Upside Down: America, China, and the Struggle for Global Leadership", Prestowitz details how America can reclaim its critical role as the workshop of the world.
Photo courtesy of Yale University Press
When Nisha Blackwell lost her job at a local coffee shop while attending nursing school, buying a gift for her friend's daughter's birthday wasn't an option, so she got out her sewing machine for the first time and went to work. The hairbows she created evolved into Knotzland, a bowtie company founded in 2015. Since then, Blackwell has made it her mission to open new pathways to entrepreneurship for members of her Pittsburgh community through her "Sewcial Network," currently supporting 26 local sewists.
Photo courtesy of Knotzland.
In this episode, the Alliance for American Manufacturing's policy team forecasts what Democratic control of the presidency and Congress for some of the most important issues facing U.S. manufacturers today, including trade, industrial policy and clean energy.
Photo courtesy of Joe Biden's YouTube.
In this episode, host Scott Paul speaks with Chris Fenton, the author of "Feeding the Dragon: Inside the Trillion Dollar Dilemma Facing Hollywood, the NBA, & American Business", who previously served as the president of DMG Entertainment Motion Picture Group and lead the production of Hollywood blockbusters "Iron Man 3" and "Looper" in collaboration with the Chinese government. Fenton argues that though commercial and cultural ventures like the films he worked on with the Chinese government are valuable opportunities for resolution between the U.S. and China, Beijing's crackdown on criticism and its censorship overseas makes progress impossible.
Learn more about "Feeding the Dragon: Inside the Trillion Dollar Dilemma Facing Hollywood, the NBA, & American Business" at https://feedingthedragonbook.com/.
For years, the global steel market has been flooded by excess steel production—with the United States becoming a major dumping destination for this artificially cheap imported steel. And the consequences have been profound.
In the final installment of our “Build Back Better Blueprint” series, the Alliance for American Manufacturing's Scott Boos shares what steps the Trump administration has made towards remedying steel overcapacity and how President-elect Joe Biden is likely to respond during his term.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Steel
Hundreds of thousands of U.S. factory workers are unemployed, and yet factory owners lament that they cannot find skilled workers. Where's the disconnect? Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul outlines how President-elect Joe Biden can cultivate an inclusive economic recovery.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
In the wake of George Floyd’s killing, the Alliance for American Manufacturing's Jeff Bonior spoke with several Black factory workers about their experience in manufacturing. Bonior recently talked to four of these workers about what they hope to see from a Biden administration.
Photo courtesy of E.J. Jenkins
In this episode, Tim Gibb, co-founder of sustainable flip flop company TIDAL New York, shares how he hopes the Biden administration will take its cues from the groundswell of public support for domestic manufacturing, as well as how his company is investing in its local community.
Photo courtesy of TIDAL New York
Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul explains what progress the U.S. government has made in defending the integrity of Made in USA labeling and what the next four years could hold for enforcement policy.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, the U.S. textile industry quickly answered the call. But, safeguarding America from future disaster depends on supporting American manufacturing now. In this episode, Kim Glas, the president and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations, shares how the government can bolster the U.S. textile industry and provides perspective on the contamination of forced labor in the global garment industry.
Photo courtesy of Devin Steele, eTextile Communications
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit America, grievous medical goods shortages revealed our nation’s nearly complete dependence on foreign supply chains. Since then, the U.S. government has endeavored to fortify our domestic manufacturing capacity. But has it been enough?
Alliance for American Manufacturing Editorial Manager Matthew McMullan explains why President-elect Joe Biden aims to rebuild America's domestic supply chains.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
With several important recent steps to rebalance currency already in the books, President-elect Joe Biden will assume office with powerful trade enforcement tools in hand. But will he use them? In this episode, Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul explains how currency policy can serve as a powerful tool to ensure that American workers aren't left a day late and a dollar short.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
As President-elect Joe Biden prepares to actualize his ambitious plans for clean energy investment, Alliance for American Manufacturing Vice President for State Governmental Affairs Brian Lombardozzi examines where the U.S. needs to go next to ensure that our clean energy future is long-lasting and equitable for all workers.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
In this special daily edition of The Manufacturing Report, Alliance for American Manufacturing Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Policy Scott Boos shares how the Biden administration make sure that "American-made" is more than a slogan when it comes to infrastructure.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
In this first of a special series of daily episodes that explore the critical challenges and policies that will likely shape President-elect Joe Biden's administration, Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul explains why he classifies China as the "defining issue of our decade" and how Biden can reset the U.S.-China economic relationship.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
In this next installment of our deep dive into the West’s complicated relationship with China, host Scott Paul speaks with Washington Post Global Opinions Contributing Columnist Isaac Stone Fish to evaluate why iconic U.S. brands like Disney and the NBA continue to compromise ethics to business with China, and why these companies are at a critical crossroads right now.
Listen to the first installment in this series: https://soundcloud.com/keep-it-made-in-america/how-china-has-made-the-west
Photo courtesy of Jeremy Thompson via Flickr
The Alliance for American Manufacturing’s (AAM) 2020 Made in America Gift Guide is out!
Our annual list highlights some of the best manufacturers and makers in the U.S. to help you keep your holiday shopping Made in America — an especially meaningful goal as companies around the country face a make-or-break holiday season. In this episode, some of AAM’s staff gathers to spotlight some of the manufacturers and makers who earned a spot on this year’s list.
With an estimated 1.5 million Uyghurs and other Chinese ethnic Muslims currently held in forced labor camps that fuel Chinese manufacturing, dozens of global brands like BMW, The Gap and Nike are sourcing goods tainted by slave labor from the region.
In this episode, Uyghur-American activist Rushan Abbas, the founder and executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs, shares the story of her sister’s horrifying disappearance into the camps and offers an inside look at the Chinese government's campaign to eradicate Uyghur culture. Also, Penelope Kyristsis, director of Strategic Research at the Worker Rights Consortium, reveals the intricate ties between China's Uyghur forced labor programs and global brands.
With millions of Americans still out of work as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the country, a national manufacturing plan offers tremendous hope for economic revival. In this episode, host Scott Paul outlines a bold new industrial policy, and EPI Senior Economist Dr. Robert Scott breaks down just how many jobs America stands to gain.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
With election day quickly approaching, President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden are revving up their rhetoric and focusing their attention on key battleground states, including industrial powerhouses Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. In this special Election 2020 episode, host Scott Paul and the Alliance for American Manufacturing's own Scott Boos and Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch discuss whether the candidates' legacies when it comes to Buy America and whether their campaign promises hold water.
Getty Images
When 95 percent of sports equipment and apparel manufacturer StringKing's business was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LA-based company quickly pivoted to PPE production. Within a six-week period, the company went from having two garment workers to 1,200. In this episode, StringKing Co-Founder Jake McCampbell shares how his company mobilized dozens of LA garment factories to meet the surging need for PPE and the lessons he's learned in the process.
- Photo courtesy of StringKing
During World War II, the Brooklyn Navy Yard served as a sprawling wartime factory, employing a staggering 70,000 workers at the time. When the COVID-19 pandemic swept New York City, the Brooklyn Navy Yard once again stepped up to serve frontline heroes. Now a home for manufacturers rather than shipbuilders, the Yard's many companies teamed up, in often unlikely partnerships, to produce 25 percent of the city's PPE needs. In this episode, Scott Paul speaks with the Navy Yard's chief development officer, Johanna Greenbaum, about the incredible history of the Yard and the role it's playing today.
Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Navy Yard
In 2016, the Rev. Georgiette Morgan-Thomas rescued the historic S&S hat factory in Philadelphia after a long career in social work. Earlier this year, we shared what brought the reverend to make this dramatic career switch and her plans for the factory, which she renamed American Hats LLC. Today, Rev. Morgan-Thomas reveals how she’s tackling the dramatic reduction in her brand’s wholesale business and storefront traffic during the pandemic by appealing directly to her passionate customer base.
Find out what brought Rev. Morgan-Thomas to buy a hat factory in 2016: https://soundcloud.com/keep-it-made-in-america/american-hats
Photo courtesy of American Hats LLC
Amid supply chain headaches and a seismic shift in the retail landscape, Gina Locklear of organic sock brand zkano is launching her fall collection later this month, from her parents' legacy mill in Fort Payne, Ala. We caught up with Locklear to see how zkano is adapting to the pandemic's challenges.
Listen to Scott Paul conversation with Locklear in 2019: soundcloud.com/keep-it-made-in-america/zkano
Photo courtesy of zkano.
When "Working Man" Writer/Director Robert Jury found plastic injection molder Makray Manufacturing in Norridge, Ill., he discovered the perfect setting for his factory movie. Unfortunately, since the release of "Working Man", the film has been sadly prescient of Makray's fate.
In this episode, Scott Paul continues his behind-the-scenes look at "Working Man" in a conversation with Jury and Makray Manufacturing General Manager Brian Miller, who served as a consultant for the project.
Photo courtesy of Brainstorm Media
In this second part of Scott Paul's conversations with the cast and crew of the factory film "Working Man", he speaks with actor Billy Brown (How to Get Away with Murder) about the stark reality U.S. workers face and how "Working Man" has redoubled Brown's personal Made in USA commitments.
Photo courtesy of Brainstorm Media.
It’s a rare thing for Hollywood to turn its gaze upon America’s industrial heartland and rarer still that it portrays factory communities with full accuracy. However, a new film accomplishes just that. Shot in an operational plastics plant in Illinois, “Working Man” reveals the devastation wrecked upon a community when the town’s lone factory closes.
In this episode, Scott Paul speaks with the film's stars, Peter Gerety (The Wire)and Talia Shire (Rocky), about what "Working Man" revealed to them.
“Working Man” is now streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, VUDU and Fandango.
Photo courtesy of Brainstorm Media.
As Congress considers a massive investment in rebuilding America's crumbling roads, bridges, public transit, railways, and more, China is preparing to steal these valuable contracts from American workers. In this episode, researchers from Horizon Advisory explain China's playbook as it leverages the catastrophe of COVID-19 to infiltrate America's critical infrastructure.
Read the report: https://www.horizonadvisory.org/ccpsubversionreport
Photo courtesy of New York State Thruway Authority.
After years in the footwear industry, brothers Tim and Tommy Gibb were fed up with seeing jobs go overseas. In 2014, the brothers realized their dreams of bringing those jobs home with a flip flop that's manufactured in New Rochelle, N.Y., using sustainable materials sourced from other U.S.-based family-run businesses.
In this in-depth interview, TIDAL New York Co-founder Tim shares the genesis of his company and where he hopes U.S. manufacturing is heading next.
Tim Gibb's Medium Opinion: https://medium.com/@tim_30152/the-relevancy-of-local-manufacturing-in-the-age-of-covid-19-73cdf398520a
Photo courtesy of TIDAL New York.
Duluth Pack CEO Tom Sega returns to the podcast to share how the Made in America outdoor gear company formed a unique partnership with another legacy brand to keep their communities safe and their employees paid.
Photo courtesy of Duluth Pack
Channeling the same gutsy determination that guided her when she first launched her uniform manufacturing business, former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Terra Saunders recently repurposed her factory to make personal protective equipment (PPE). In this episode, Saunders shares how she transitioned from cheerleading to manufacturing and how she brought her workers back when the pandemic brought her business to a halt.
Photo courtesy of Dallaswear/Waitressville
“If you are a manufacturer, we need your help and we need your help now,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced in April. Nearly 2,000 Ohio manufacturers answered his call. Along with several hospitals and government agencies, they formed the Ohio Manufacturing Alliance to Fight COVID-19, a public-private partnership that has set a model for the rest of the nation.
Photo courtesy of the Ohio Manufacturing Alliance to Fight COVID-19.
Ben Napier, star of HGTV’s hit show Home Town, shares how his family, his Made in America businesses, and Laurel, Miss., are faring as the coronavirus shuts down most of the nation, along with an update on his show's upcoming spinoff series Home Town Takeover.
Photo courtesy of Laurel Mercantile Co. and Vaughan-Bassett Media
Since its founding in 2012, American Giant has made valuing people over profits a core principle. This philosophy has guided the apparel company as it committed to making its clothing completely in the United States. Now, as America is besieged by the coronavirus crisis, American Giant is stepping up yet again. The company has dropped all of its apparel manufacturing to sew over one million masks every week in its North Carolina facility. But American Giant CEO Bayard Winthrop sees a larger crisis in the global supply chain.
Photo courtesy of American Giant
As the coronavirus crisis sweeps through the nation, manufacturers, small and large alike, are finding new ways to work. Based in Buffalo, New York, wool-felt pennant maker Oxford Pennant caught the world by storm with early partnerships with Phish and J. Crew when the company launched. In this episode, Oxford Pennant co-founder Dave Horesh shares how the company is finding an alternate path forward in America's new economic reality.
Photo courtesy of Oxford Pennant; photo by Steve Makowski
First things first, let's fight the spread of the novel coronavirus that has besieged countries all over the globe and communities all over America. But, as we work to stop the pandemic, we can't forget America's factory workers. As the country braces for impact, host Scott Paul shares his outlook on manufacturing in the United States now and after the public health crisis subsides, when the world must grapple with the virus's economic aftermath.
Photo courtesy of the CDC/Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS
With the flip of a coin, Philip Spector launched a career in apparel manufacturing that has spanned over forty years in Baltimore, Md. Over that time, Charm City's once-thriving apparel factories dwindled, but Fashions Unlimited remained, working with some of fashion's biggest names. Nonetheless, Spector always makes time for Baltimore's emerging designers.
There's been a bit of a baby boom at the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). As our families continue to grow, so too do our lists of the best of the best Made in America baby products. AAM's newest parents gather round to share their favorite finds and some clever baby hacks.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Archives
Workers saw 3.7 million U.S. jobs lost to China since 2001, according to a study recently released by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). But, the Trump administration is celebrating the signing of a "Phase 1" U.S.-China trade deal. Is it time for a victory lap?
In this episode, host Scott Paul and EPI's Dr. Robert Scott break down the data, what policy leaders need to do to stem the flood of jobs leaving America's shore, and what you can do right now.
Dedicated to a deep and honest exploration of America's printing and production techniques, Chicago-based Field Notes has been reinventing the notebook since 2006. Field Notes President Jim Coudal shares the genesis of the brand and an inside look at the design process behind one of its most beloved limited-edition notebooks.
Photo courtesy of Field Notes
Though Rev. Georgiette Morgan-Thomas was set to retire after 20 years of social work, she was far from ready to hang up her hat. In 2016, the pastor from Harlem used her life savings to purchase a historic hat factory in Philadelphia that was on the cusp of closure. Throwing herself into the manufacturing and design process, the reverend has established a new modern space for American Hats in the market while retaining the factory's heritage manufacturing techniques.
Photo courtesy of American Hats LLC.
Vermont-based Ann Clark Cookie Cutters may have humble beginnings, but it's well on its way to dominating the global market. Ann Clark Cookie Cutters CEO Ben Clark shares how the company's taking on China in its mission to be the world's cookie cutter supplier with a marketing and manufacturing edge.
Photo courtesy of Ann Clark Cookie Cutters
Dubbed the "Sock Queen" by The New York Times, Gina Locklear, founder of zkano organic socks, founded her company with the central mission of saving her parents' sock mill in Fort Payne, Ala. Ten years later, she's as determined as ever to restore her hometown's manufacturing legacy as the "Sock Capital of the World."
Photo courtesy of zkano
It's the most wonderful time of the year! And our 2019 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide is ready to help you keep your holiday shopping Made in America. In this episode, Scott Paul speaks with the Alliance for American Manufacturing's own Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch about how exactly the gift guide comes together, and we hear from several of the manufacturers spotlighted in this year's guide.
In the 1970s, the West Virginia-based Homer Laughlin China Company was forced to discontinue its iconic Fiesta dishware brand in a market overrun by cheap imports. But a fervent fan base clamored for its return, and Homer Laughlin resumed selling its colorful tableware.
On this episode, host Scott Paul speaks with Homer Laughlin CEO Elizabeth McIlvain to find out how the company beat the odds and continues to keep it Made in America, even in a market still saturated with cheap imports.
Photo courtesy of Homer Laughlin China Company
Joseph Abboud's menswear factory in New Bedford, Mass., churns out over 300,000 suits a year. With 800 workers, the factory qualifies as the largest menswear manufacturer in North America and has been a critical component to Abboud's success as a designer and the Chief Creative Officer for Jos. A Bank and Men's Wearhouse. Host Scott Paul learns why this factory has been the key differentiator for Abboud and the role of domestic manufacturing in the future of fashion.
Photo courtesy of Joseph Abboud
Since launching in 2017, athletic apparel manufacturer Stateline US has proven that it can keep its entire production and sourcing, from zippers to packaging, in America. Now, the company is setting out to tackle an even greater challenge -- to take down sportswear icon Champion.
Photo by Joey Cupelli for Stateline US
It's a fight that could impact tens of millions of manufacturing jobs and the future of public transportation in the United States.
Momentum is building on Capitol Hill to ban companies owned, controlled, or subsidized by the Chinese government from using U.S. tax dollars to build rail cars or buses. In this episode, The Manufacturing Report chats with experts Greg Rogers and Alex Hutkin from Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) about the importance of this legislation, along with what needs to happen to grow and strengthen electric vehicle manufacturing in the United States.
It's been more than a year since we first examined China's grip on pharmaceutical manufacturing. While the United States remains dependent on China for everything from vitamins to antibiotics and cancer medications, there is growing recognition that there is a problem, and hearings on Capitol Hill are now planned to find solutions. In this episode, host Scott Paul revisits his conversation with Rosemary Gibson, who literally wrote the book on this issue.
Photo by Getty Images
There's been plenty of buzz about American Factory, the Netflix documentary that provides an incredible fly-on-the-wall look as Chinese glass manufacturer Fuyao takes over an abandoned General Motors plant near Dayton, Ohio. American Factory nabbed the U.S. Documentary Directing prize at the Sundance Film Festival and is even being backed by Higher Ground Productions, the production company run by Barack and Michelle Obama.
But the folks behind American Factory aren't just after prizes and press. They also want the film to open up a conversation in communities across the country about the future of work and other issues presented in the film. On this episode, Scott Paul talks to Melinda Arons, senior vice president of social impact at Participant Media, to learn more about the upcoming American Factory tour,
Summer is quickly coming to an end, and we all know what that means: back to school! For many new and returning college students, it is time to move into the dorm. AAM’s class of summer interns put together a list of Made in America college essentials. Host Scott Paul sat down with Luke Ferguson, Isabel Hayes, Libba McCraw, Noah Musto and Joseph Swindal to learn more.
*Image courtesy of Getty
Since its birth from a bet in the summer of 2014, Cordova Outdoors has revolutionized the cooler industry. Cordova’s coolers have built-in bottle openers, special latches that protect your fingers from getting crushed, and most importantly, they will keep your beverages cold. Cordova CEO Chase Mart joins host Scott Paul to talk about what makes Cordova Outdoors stand out from the crowd.
Visit Cordova Outdoors online: https://cordovaoutdoors.com
*Photo courtesy of Cordova Outdoors
The Manufacturing Report recently traveled to Northwest Indiana — better known as "The Region" — to talk with workers and local residents about why the steel industry matters so much to the people living there.
In this special bonus episode, host Scott Paul chats with Micah Pollak, an associate professor of economics at Indiana University Northwest, to learn more about steel's importance to the region's economy.
Once called the "City of the Century," Gary, Indiana rose to fame for a couple of reasons — it is the hometown of the musical Jackson family, and it made a whole lot of steel. The Jacksons moved away, but the economy of Northwest Indiana — fondly known as the Region — remains forged in steel, making more steel than any other part of the country.
On this episode of The Manufacturing Report, host Scott Paul chats with local steelworkers and Region residents about what the industry means to this community and what needs to be done to strengthen it.
What do Iwo Jima, the Moon, the North Pole and President Lincoln’s funeral have in common? They’ve all featured American flags made by Annin Flagmakers, the world’s oldest and largest flag manufacturer. Proudly made in America since 1847, Annin flags have been present in many formative events in our nation’s history. Annin Flagmakers Vice President of Sales Bob Caggiano joins host Scott Paul to talk about the company — just in time for the Fourth of July.
Photo courtesy of Annin Flagmakers
For 35 years, Okabashi has manufactured high-quality footwear available at a reasonable price. But what makes this company stand out is its commitment to keeping jobs in Buford, Ga., the community it calls home. Okabashi CEO Sara Irvani joins host Scott Paul to discuss the company's inspiring story, strong values and durable products.
*Photo courtesy of Okabashi
When unfair trade practices forced U.S. Steel to shutter its Fairfield, Ala., blast furnace, the community’s families and businesses took a disastrous hit. But now there’s new hope. Host Scott Paul sat down with United Steelworkers Local 1013’s president, vice president and pension and benefits coordinator to learn how trade action is breathing new life into Fairfield. Also, listen to firsthand experiences on how these changes have impacted local steelworkers and area contractors.
- Photo by Jesús Espinoza
Aardvark Straws has been making paper straws since well before they were cool -- since 1888, to be exact! Today, the paper straw manufacturer is disrupting the single-use plastic straw market and leading the transformation from plastic to paper. Here's how Aardvark is pioneering Straw 2.0 and expanding production by 700% to meet exponentially growing demand.
- Photo courtesy of Aardvark Straws.
In the second part of our on-the-ground report from Granite City, Ill., host Scott Paul chats with local business owners to find out how the community outside the local steel mill's fences has fared following Section 232 trade action.
Granite City, Ill., suffered a devastating blow when its steel mill was idled in 2015, but now this working-class town has reason for celebration. Host Scott Paul speaks with the city's mayor, economic development director and the president of USW Local 1899 to learn what got Granite City back to work -- and what lies next.
- Photo by Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch
Constantly on the road for work, Tom Sega developed an appreciation for Duluth Pack bags. In fact, he liked them so much he bought the company. Hear how Sega has taken Duluth Pack, founded in 1882, into a new era of manufacturing while staying true to the company's commitment to Made in America quality.
- Photo courtesy of Duluth Pack; photo by Grace Adams
As the mill in Coatesville, Pa., begins its recovery thanks to Section 232 trade action, so too is the city beginning a new era of revitalization. A year after tariffs on imported steel have been in place, Scott Paul discusses how recent trade action has impacted Coatesville's community with steelworkers Fred Grumbine and Vonie Long at the National Iron & Steel Museum.
- Special thanks to the National Iron & Steel Museum and Little Chef for hosting the podcast during this recording.
America’s only flatware manufacturer, Liberty Tabletop, celebrated its best year yet in 2018. However, as the company continues to grow, an ever-evolving trade environment could hold promise or peril for the company and other manufacturers. Find out what Liberty Tabletop's Co-founder and CEO, Greg Owens, forecasts for the future of manufacturing following a week spent talking trade on Capitol Hill.
*Photo courtesy of Liberty Tabletop; photo by Jim Demorast
Rather than join yet another tech startup, Tuckerman & Co. co-founders and Yale business school graduates Jonas Clark and Amanda Rinderle set out to actualize an even greater venture -- curing the fast fashion epidemic. With the help of a historic dress shirt factory in Fall River, Mass., Clark and Rinderle are well on their way to revolutionizing the way clothing is manufactured, producing a classic dress shirt for men and women made of 100 percent organic cotton.
*Photo courtesy of Tuckerman & Co.; photo by Stephen Faust
Teen CEO Zandra Cunningham of Zandra Beauty began her business at only 9 years old but has steadily found her footing as a maker and business mogul ever since. Find out how Cunningham grew her company and her advice for other young makers.
- Photo courtesy of Zandra Beauty; photo by William Charls
Over the course of just three years, Owl Manufacturing, a manufacturing company staffed and run by Seymour High School (SHS) students in Seymour, Ind., has grown from 9 to 42 staff members -- with even more expansion planned for the fall. In a conversation with students, teachers, administrators and industry partners, we take a comprehensive look at how SHS's Owl Manufacturing is inspiring the next generation of manufacturers and preparing students for bright futures.
- Photo courtesy of Owl Manufacturing/Seymour High School
Andy Liebner couldn't find ski poles that could keep up with his performance as a professional athlete, but he knew that it was possible to make the poles right and make them in America. So, he made his own and founded the United States Ski Pole Company. Here's how Liebner went from backcountry to manufacturing and why ski poles just might be the most important ski equipment you can buy.
- Photo courtesy of Andy Liebner; photo by German Madrazo
Ben and Erin Napier, the stars of HGTV’s hit show Home Town, are passionate about revitalizing America’s manufacturing and small towns. Thus, when it came time to produce their furniture lines, Laurel Mercantile Co. Home and Scotsman Co. American Heritage, they turned to the legendary Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co. of Galax, Va. Listen in for why the Napiers sought Vaughan-Bassett out and what American manufacturing means to them.
- Photo courtesy of Laurel Mercantile Co. and Vaughan-Bassett Media
Since we featured THIS NIGHT in early 2018, the Reading, Pa., knitting mill that manufactured the company's socks closed, leaving THIS NIGHT owner and designer Kate Williamson devastated but as determined as ever to keep her products made in America. In this re-airing of Scott Paul's interview with Williamson, we share an update on THIS NIGHT since the recording.
- Photo courtesy of THIS NIGHT.
When Chris McMaster had the opportunity to make his hiking habit a profitable business by purchasing ULA, a small Utah business that made hiking backpacks, he jumped at the opportunity though he knew nothing of the production process other than that ULA backpacks were truly excellent.
Several years later, McMaster has expanded the business and sells ULA’s products internationally -- all while keeping the company’s manufacturing in Utah, earning it a place in the Alliance for American Manufacturing’s 2018 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide. Here’s how McMaster did it.
*Photo courtesy of ULA.
The latest gadget or tech toy may get splashy headlines in the news, particularly around the holidays, but it's the goods that are lovingly handcrafted that remain in our memories and are passed down from generation to generation.
In this episode, host Scott Paul speaks with the owners of two companies featured in the Alliance for American Manufacturing's 2018 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide, holiday ornament maker Hampshire Pewter, based in Somersworth, N.H., and wooden block maker Uncle Goose, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., to discuss how they came to master their crafts and how they've adapted decades-old production processes for today.
- Photo courtesy of Hampshire Pewter
With nearly 100 great options on the Alliance for American Manufacturing's 2018 Holiday Gift Guide, there's a present for everyone on your list! Nonetheless, we thought we'd make this hectic shopping season even easier by highlighting top gift picks from Team AAM and some very special guests to the podcast.
America has lost 3.4 million jobs in the U.S. since 2001, contributing to ever-widening income inequality, according to a recent Economic Policy Institute (EPI) report. Robert E. Scott, EPI's Senior Economist and Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Research, returns to The Manufacturing Report to discuss the study and what the government can do to help.
- Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
Alice Globus began her career in astrophysics, then went on to work on Wall Street, and now leads Winky&Dutch, a jewelry and accessories manufacturing company in upstate New York. In this episode, find out what brought Globus to the factory and how she has reinvented the button.
*Photo courtesy of Winky&Dutch
President Donald Trump made revising the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) a key campaign promise, but has he fulfilled it with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)? In this episode, host Scott Paul and the Alliance for American Manufacturing's Scott Boos discuss who will benefit from the USMCA and what happens next for the trade deal.
- Photo courtesy of The White House
Trade talks are still underway in D.C. and the halls of power around the world, but The Public Theater is bringing manufacturing and trade debates to the people most impacted by trade action -- the communities of industrial America.
On Sept. 24, New York City's Public Theater launches its fall tour of the award-winning play "Sweat" through industrial cities of the Midwest and other locations to prompt local discussion ahead of the mid-term elections.
In this episode, host Scott Paul, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage and one of the inspirations of her work, Dean Showers, discuss the true story behind Nottage's award-winning play, "Sweat".
Learn more about the tour here: https://www.publictheater.org/Programs--Events/Mobile-National/.
*Photo courtesy of The Public Theater. | Joan Marcus
The pace of innovation seemingly accelerates every day. Even in Traverse City, Mich., where manufacturers are accustomed to serving on the vanguard of technology, factories are constantly reconfiguring to continue their digital transformation.
In this episode, Part II of our Traverse City, Mich., roundtable, manufacturers discuss how they stay ahead of the technology curve and the role of automation in the factory of the future.
The factory of the future is becoming the factory of today, but how can manufacturers share this innovation with their local communities, particularly when it comes to recruiting workers?
Visiting Skilled Manufacturing, Inc.'s Aerospace Division in Traverse City, Mich., host Scott Paul speaks with some of the leading manufacturers of Traverse, including the CEOs of Skilled Manufacturing, Kalkaska Screw & Chair, and Promethient, Inc. , and the principal owner of RJG, Inc. to explore the current state of manufacturing and how these manufacturers approach community outreach.
Losing the steady paychecks that factory jobs provide can decimate a community, with ripple effects hitting nearly every corner of town. Unfortunately, many former manufacturing centers, like much of rural America, are grappling with an opioid crisis as community members face uncertain futures.
But there's hope.
In this episode, host Scott Paul and Beth Macy, award-winning journalist and author of "Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America" and "Factory Man," discuss the drug epidemic sweeping America and what we can do to help.
Plenty has been written about industrial communities and the "flyover states," but the portrayal of these communities too often reduces to stereotypes. According to Georgetown University English Professor Sherry Lee Linkon, author of "The Half-Life of Deindustrialization", the most accurate portraits of the working class can be found in fiction. In this episode, host Scott Paul and Linkon explore the role of fiction in reclaiming the voice and power of industrial communities.
Don Jackson wanted nothing more than to follow both his steelworker father and grandfather into the steel mill to work among the sparks and molten metals. It took him 35 years before he could.
Listen to learn why Don spent decades searching for his steel job.
You may spend hours agonizing over which vitamins or medicines will optimize your health, but have you considered where exactly those medicines are coming from? What you find out may be a bitter pill to swallow.
In this episode, Scott Paul sits down with Rosemary Gibson, co-author of "China Rx: Exposing the Risks of America's Dependence on China for Medicine".
Photo courtesy of Victor, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
For decades, America's workers have fought against unfair trade practices. Now that America has acted to protect the nation's metals industry, are these communities rebounding? Scott Paul speaks with workers from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana to find out.
Photo courtesy of Catching12 at English Wikipedia [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons.
As midterm elections approach, Scott Paul, host of The Manufacturing Report, and Robert Kuttner, author of "Can Democracy Survive Global Capitalism?", examine what political leaders need to do to ensure the survival and support of America's workers.
- Photo courtesy of the United Steelworkers.
Ahead of Chinese Vice Premier Liu He's visit to the White House this week, podcast host Scott Paul and the Alliance for American Manufacturing's Scott Boos look into the future of U.S.-China trade relations, discuss whether the global trading system is broken, and answer listener questions.
When “Ted” Tadeusz Szarek immigrated from Poland to America in 1974, jobs were scarce. But at Wheatland Tube in Chicago, he found a career that has spanned 43 years and supported his family. Listen to learn why American manufacturing and steel matter so much to Ted and his community.
When President Donald Trump announced trade action against steel imports in March, the CEO and executive chairman of North America's largest steel pipe and tube manufacturer granted each of his employees an annual $1,000 bonus for each year the steel tariffs are in place. Although his company must buy steel to make its own products, here's why Barry Zekelman believes steel tariffs are critical to America's success.
When Tori Tissell graduated from design school in 2011, she wasn't sure how she would make ends meet, let alone provide Christmas presents for all her friends and family. However, Tissell's ingenuity not only solved her Christmas troubles but also launched a business, Storiarts, that continues to grow today.
How will steel tariffs impact other manufacturers? Will imposing tariffs start a trade war? What happens next for the steel and aluminum industries? Scott Paul and Scott Boos offer answers to listener questions.
Without a skilled workforce, the intelligent factory of the future is worthless. Here's how the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) just outside Richmond, Virginia, is training the highly-skilled workers needed to make factories run now and in the future.
Inspired by the legacy of textile manufacturing in her hometown, Reading, Pa., Kate Williamson dreamed of making socks as a child. When her father came across an ad for a local knitting mill, the only one remaining in Reading, Williamson found a critical mentor who helped her launch her own sock company years later.
The Commerce Department publicly released its "Section 232" report on national security threats posed by steel imports on Feb. 16. With President Trump's action imminent, brush up on what "Section 232" means for steel.
Music and manufacturing merge at Furnace Record Pressing's 50,000 square-foot vinyl record plant in Alexandria, Va. Join Scott Paul on a tour of Furnace's new facility and a conversation with Furnace's CEO and Operations Manager.
Autonomous vehicles may sound like they're straight out of science fiction, but the day you'll see one on your street isn't far. Ford's Curt Magleby tells Scott Paul how his company is keeping the future of auto manufacturing in America.
Shop Made in DC co-founder Stacey Price always wanted a place to support local makers, and when a space opened near DuPont Circle, she jumped at the chance to highlight D.C.'s best. Since then, sales have expanded production lines and fostered a new sense of community.
The most popular Manufacturing Report podcast of 2017 was our interview with Frank DuBois, and for good reason. His popular Kogod Made in America Auto Index helps consumers keep American-made in mind as they shop for a new vehicle.
There's little doubt that 2017 was a monumental year for American manufacturing. There was good and bad, major developments and huge disappointments. In this episode, Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul, Digital Media Director Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch, Communications Manager Matt McMullan and Press Secretary Jet Moody reflect on the year that was — and put forth a few of their hopes for 2018.
What are your cats and dogs chewing on?
When pets started getting sick from playing with foreign-made pet toys, Pam Wheelock wasn’t surprised. After a successful career as an occupational therapist, the Purrfect Play founder stepped in to produce healthy, sustainable toys for cats and dogs. Knowing that there’s no way to safely farm out pet toy production, Wheelock asks why anyone would put their pet at risk to foreign chemicals and lax safety standards.
In the early 1990s, T-shirt salesman Mark Baker sent a sample of his flannel designs to retailers like J.C. Penney and Sears, who promptly cribbed them and made them overseas. But despite the odds, Baker and the Vermont Flannel Company stayed committed to Made in America, and things really took off in 2007 — when the economic crisis hit. In this episode, Baker shares why Made in America is the secret to his company's success.
When flatware maker Oneida decided to offshore its production, Greg Owens and his business partner stepped in and bought the company's factory in upstate New York. Liberty Tabletop is now the only maker of flatware in the United States — but the company is growing thanks to an innovative business model.
When most American workwear companies sent production overseas at the turn of the century, LC King kept things going at its iconic factory in Bristol, Tenn. And as owner and operations manager Jack King — the great-grandson of company founder Landon Clayton King — explains, LC King's decision helped support other manufacturers around the country, too. But can LC King continue to compete in the face of unfair foreign competition?
When a sleeping bag factory in Haleyville, Ala., was on the brink of shutting down, Exxel Outdoors bought it, upgraded it — and managed to create even more jobs. Today, the factory produces more than 2 million sleeping bags every year, which are sold at retailers like Walmart. "What they saw as a lost business, we just saw it as an opportunity," Exxel's CEO Harry Kazazian recalls.
But it hasn't been without challenges. "I spend more money to give coffee to my employees than some countries spend on their labor," Kazazian says.
In this episode, Kazazian tells host Scott Paul how Exxel found Made in America success.
Marble King makes more than 1 million, 100 percent lead-free glass marbles at its factory in West Virginia every day. But as CEO Beri Fox explains, while Marble King makes the best product on the market, the company is up against some unfair competition.
Third-generation farmer-turned-candy maker Joe Dutra launched Kimmie Candy in 2000 and almost immediately started winning awards for his tasty treats. In 2005, Dutra took a huge risk when he moved Kimmie Candy's manufacturing operations from South Korea to Reno, Nev. — and quickly reaped the benefits of making it in America. In this episode, Dutra explains how he did it — and where his candy-making empire is headed next.
mHUB's state-of-the-art facility in Chicago is a place where entrepreneurs and innovators can invent new things, from cutting-edge electronics to groundbreaking medical devices to even a better mousetrap. But is it possible for those new inventions to be manufactured in the United States, too? Yes — and mHUB co-founder and managing director Bill Fienup explains how.
Documentary filmmaker Vincent Vittorio was ahead of his time. When he released the American Made Movie in 2013, he helped shine a much-needed spotlight on the devastation caused by factory job loss. Four years later, the future of manufacturing is at the center of our national politics. In this episode, Vittorio shares thoughts on how we got here — and where we need to go next.
In 2015, former investment analyst Gerard Masci and architect Brian Vallario launched Lowercase to make high-quality American-made eyewear. But after decades of offshoring, many of the secrets behind American eyewear manufacturing had been lost, and the pair had to start from scratch. In this episode, Masci and Vallario tell The Manufacturing Report how they did it -- earning accolades from The Wall Street Journal and elsewhere -- and where they hope to take the company next.
Since President Trump took office, there's been an ongoing debate over the future of American manufacturing, particularly when it comes to industries like steel and aluminum. In a special edition of The Manufacturing Report, reporter Joseph Pete of The Times of Northwest Indiana chats with guest host Matt McMullan about why steel remains vital to the Hoosier State -- and what Trump must do now if he wants to maintain the support he received in the 2016 presidential election.
President Trump repeatedly has said he would stand up for factory workers. But Trump is more than two months late on a key pledge to America's steelworkers — and that delay is creating a new batch of problems. In this episode, steelworkers Onika Rivera, Dan Simmons and Mike Howard share what they need Trump and lawmakers on Capitol Hill to do now.
William "Billy" McCall and Cliff Tobey are among the dozens of steelworkers headed to D.C. this week to urge the president and lawmakers to finally do something about surging steel and aluminum imports. In this episode, McCall and Tobey tell host Scott Paul why action is so desperately needed — and why many steelworkers are keeping a close eye on President Trump.
In Part Two of a special Labor Day edition of the podcast, host Scott Paul and guest Jeff Bonior share more inspiring stories of America's working class — and talk about why manufacturing jobs, including in America's steel industry, still matter.
In a special Labor Day edition of the Manufacturing Report, writer Jeff Bonior introduces listeners to the Faces of Steel, the men and women whose livelihoods depend on the American steel industry. Steel is at the heart of our national politics -- and Bonior takes you behind the scenes to find out why.
Thousands of pets sadly died after eating toxic food and treats imported from overseas. But the good news is that there are plenty of American-made options for your pet, from food to toys to leashes and beds. In this special pet edition of The Manufacturing Report, we look at just a handful of our favorites.
After nearly losing his welding business to foreign competition, Mark Andol opened the Made in America store, which stocks nearly 7,000 domestic-made products. Andol discusses where his business is heading and what customers are looking for in this special two-part edition of The Manufacturing Report.
To hear part one, visit: https://soundcloud.com/keep-it-made-in-america/the-inspiring-story-of-mark-andols-made-in-america-store
After nearly losing his welding business to foreign competition, Mark Andol decided to open a store in an out-of-business car dealership selling only American-made products. People thought he was crazy, but Andol wanted to make a statement — and in this special two-part edition of The Manufacturing Report, he explains how he got it done.
President Trump's decision to hold off on releasing the findings of the national security investigation into steel imports baffled many. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Congressional champion for American factory workers, tells the Manufacturing Report that Trump's worries about securing health care votes might be to blame — and explains why Trump's delay is so devastating for steel workers and companies across the country.
Beneath political top lines, President Trump makes news on steel tariffs and announces a new Foxconn plant in Wisconsin. Is the president keeping his manufacturing jobs promise? Host Scott Paul has the update.
The White House celebrated "Made in America Week" by inviting makers to meet with the president for a manufacturing roundtable. Attendees Jimmy and Stephanie MacDonald stop by to discuss their company Authenticity 50 and what Made in America means to them.
As the White House celebrates "Made in America Week," the Manufacturing Report examines why buying American-made matters — and chats with three special young people about their favorite Made in America products.
For decades now, Americans have simply accepted manufacturing layoffs as inevitable. But longtime New York Times economics correspondent Louis Uchitelle argues that it doesn't have to be that way. In this episode, Uchitelle chats with Scott Paul about his new book, "Making It: Why Manufacturing Still Matters," and how the government has a big role to play in strengthening American manufacturing.
Candidate Trump made a lot of promises about what he called America's "failed trade policies." But is President Trump keeping his word? Yes, no — and maybe? Host Scott Paul and the Alliance for American Manufacturing's Scott Boos take a deep dive.
Pundits love to talk about how robots killed manufacturing jobs — and might be coming for yours next. But Lawrence Michel, president of the Economic Policy Institute, argues that thinking is all wrong. Automation isn't the job killer it's made out to be, he says — but that doesn't mean America isn't facing a jobs crisis.
What's the most American-made car? One-time auto mechanic-turned-American University professor Frank DuBois created the Kogod Made in America Auto Index to find out. In this episode of The Manufacturing Report, DuBois chats with host Scott Paul about how he puts the list together — and why the American auto industry matters.
President Trump traveled to Ohio last week to promote his plan to rebuild America's infrastructure. But Democrats — who have introduced their own $1 trillion plan — aren't impressed. Given that opposition (and other distractions) can anything get done?
As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. Dan Lipinski knows that our nation's roads, bridges, airports, sea ports, railways and transit systems are in desperate need of repair. And despite the gridlock in Washington, there's interest on both sides of the aisle to get something done.
Brigadier Gen. John Adams served in the U.S. Army for over three decades before retiring in 2007. Now Adams is dedicated to fighting for the U.S. defense industrial base, an essential part of America's national security.
In a conversation with The Manufacturing Report, Adams explains why American-made steel is so important to America's national security — a topic he also testified about during a Commerce Department hearing last week.
As the Commerce Department examines ways to reduce the trade deficit, host Scott Paul explains why it matters — not only to our overall economy, but to small business owners and Americans in industrial states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan.
Apple plans to invest $1 billion in advanced manufacturing in the United States. That's nothing to sneeze at, sure, but the company could be doing so much more. Matt McMullan, communications manager for the Alliance for American Manufacturing, breaks it all down with host Scott Paul.
Harry Moser has been working to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States before it was cool. Now that reshoring jobs is a top issue, Moser discusses what is going right, what's going wrong — and what policy changes are needed to bring even more jobs back.
United Steelworkers Local 1999 President Chuck Jones famously called out President-elect Donald Trump for exaggerating the number of jobs saved by a deal at the Carrier facility in Indianapolis. Now five months later, hundreds of Indiana workers are still set to lose their jobs at Carrier and the nearby Rexnord plant.
In a conversation with host Scott Paul, Jones reflects on Trump's famous Carrier deal and the job the president has done for manufacturing workers in his first four months in office.
"He's talking what people want to hear, but we're not seeing any results," Jones says.
Pennsylvania steelworkers headed to Washington on Thursday for a big hearing on an important trade case. Several took time to chat with The Manufacturing Report about why they made the trip. PLUS: President Trump just signed two executive orders on trade: One to boost Buy America preferences and another to open a "Section 232" case into steel imports. Host Scott Paul breaks it all down.
Durwin "Oodie" Royal is the president of the United Steelworkers Local 4134 in Lone Star, Texas. He talks to host Scott Paul about how dumped steel imports have devastated the community — and shares what folks in Lone Star think about the job President Trump has done to help manufacturing workers so far.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) talks about the fight to strengthen Buy America preferences — including against Russian steel importers — and how she plans to hold President Trump accountable on his Buy America promises.
Indiana Rep. Pete Visclosky, the vice chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus and a champion for the working class, talks to Scott Paul about how vital manufacturing jobs are to the middle class and our overall economy — and what policies are needed to create more of them.
In his book "Failure to Adjust," Edward Alden looks at what's been going right — and wrong — for American workers in the global economy. Alden, the Bernard L. Schwartz senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, talks with host Scott Paul about how America's trade policies have both helped and hurt Americans, and what we might expect from the Trump administration.
President Trump won the presidency, at least in part, because of his messaging on trade. Robert Lighthizer, Trump's pick for U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), is likely to be among the officials charged with helping Trump implement his trade agenda. On this episode of The Manufacturing Report, host Scott Paul and Scott Boos, senior VP of Government Affairs and Policy at the Alliance for American Manufacturing, discuss what we can expect from Lighthizer and the Trump trade team.
Host Scott Paul chats with AAM's field coordinators, most of whom are former factory workers themselves, about how people are reacting to Donald Trump's election in their home states.
President Trump talks a big game when it comes to creating manufacturing jobs. But what do factory workers in industrial states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Alabama, West Virginia and Texas actually think of the job he's done so far — and what would they like to see from Trump moving forward? AAM's Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch joins host Scott Paul to discuss.
Rob Scott from the Economic Policy Institute joins Scott Paul to talk about how lopsided trade with China led to the loss of 3.4 million jobs between 2001 and 2015. Nearly three-fourths of these jobs were in manufacturing. Closing the trade deficit is the first step in creating new U.S. factory jobs, Scott argues.
Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul chats with Adams Nager, economic policy analyst at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, about automation and its impact on manufacturing. In a new report, Nager destroys the myth that robots are taking factory jobs — and argues that trade and faltering U.S. competitiveness is actually to blame.
In the debut episode of The Manufacturing Report, Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul looks at the importance of Buy America preferences. He also analyzes what's happening in the trade debate.