Jen Fietz, owner and CEO of the firm Stoke RGA, joins co-host Ann Franz of the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance on this week's episode of the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast to discuss studies and trends that paint a picture of the manufacturing industry heading into 2026. Regular co-host Kate Bruns, Insight's manufacturing editor, was under the weather for this week's recording but will return for future episodes.


Ann opens the show by thanking Jen for committing to a new yearlong sponsorship of the podcast (thank you, Stoke RGA, for sponsoring NEW Manufacturing Insights throughout 2026!), and by reviewing some of the results of NEWMA's 2026 Manufacturing Vitality Index that was published last month. Jen goes on to ring in the new year by sharing some of Stoke RGA's 2026 manufacturing trends to watch, including technology helping run tighter operations, continued rising costs, and marketing (though Fietz shares she likes to avoid that term). 

Learn more at stokerga.com.