Made in the USA

Through interviews with manufacturing leaders and economists, this episode explores the benefits and challenges of keeping manufacturing production within the United States — especially after major events like 9-11 or the global pandemic.

Increased reliance on automation may explain some of the drop in employment discussed in Episode 1. But to what extent is automation an answer to the skilled workforce shortage, and to what extent is automation vs. skilled labor the wrong comparison?

Understanding the challenges that face American manufacturing today requires taking a close look at what happened to manufacturing employment at the beginning of this century. This episode examines the post-millennium collapse of American manufacturing jobs, and introduces the debate surrounding productivity's role in that decline during the early 2000s.

Over the past year, supply chain disruptions revealed the critical ways that manufacturing impacts our lives. Made in the USA makes the case for American manufacturing by exploring where we've been, where we can go, and how we can choose the right path ahead. This March, listen to Made in the USA wherever you get your podcasts, or go to mmsonline.com/madeintheusapodcast to learn more.

Coming soon: A new, limited-series podcast focused on American manufacturing! The loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs at the beginning of this century — a rate of loss exceeding that of the Great Depression — has shaken our economy, our politics and our very confidence in the American way of life. Just as U.S. manufacturing began to rebound, a pandemic lifted the curtain on deep challenges related to trade policy, global supply chains, education, automation and our ability to produce skilled workers. Made in the USA explores these topics through exclusive commentary from world-class economists and manufacturing leaders, and shines a spotlight on the past, present and future of American manufacturing.