The Manufacturing Report

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 base Photo 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 Kurtuz, 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