Manufacturing Talk Radio

What does the future hold for the 99% of American manufacturing defined as "small business"? In this episode of Manufacturing Talk Radio, host Louis Weiss sits down with Carrie Hines, President and CEO of the American Small Manufacturers Coalition (ASMC). Carrie shares her deep expertise on the vital role of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network—a powerful public-private partnership providing boots-on-the-ground technical assistance across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Discover how MEP centers are driving domestic growth by mapping supply chain risks, accelerating reshoring initiatives, and helping small facilities navigate advanced automation. Carrie also tackles the ongoing workforce crisis, highlighting how modern manufacturing is leveraging AI, video, and gamification to bridge the skills gap and preserve institutional knowledge as Baby Boomers retire. Tune in to find out why the industry is no longer "dark, dirty, and dangerous," and how a career in modern, high-tech manufacturing commands an average salary of over $90,000.

   Key Takeaways From This Episode:- The Scale of Small Manufacturing: Why businesses with fewer than 500 employees make up 99% of the U.S. manufacturing landscape.- Securing the Supply Chain: How the MEP network works directly with lower-tier suppliers to mitigate risks and transition outsourced resources back home.- Next-Gen Workforce Solutions: Overcoming knowledge loss through community college partnerships, apprenticeships, and AI-driven training.- Accessible Technical Support: Navigating the fee-based, cost-effective consulting services and technology labs available to small and rural manufacturers.Looking to connect with your local MEP center or learn more about the ASMC? Visit smallmanufacturers.org.

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In this exclusive Manufacturing Talk Radio interview, host Lewis Weiss and Amy Nicklaus sit down with ISM Services PMI Chair Steve Miller to discuss the pivotal April 2026 ISM Services Report the very day it is released, breaking down the key data points impacting the services economy.

Miller is currently serving as ISM Services PMI Chair and is an accomplished supply chain management executive. His distinguished career includes 40 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, IT implementation and operations, and operations management consulting at Disney, P.F. Chang’s, Accenture, and Kearney. Miller offers unparalleled insight into services trends and economic activity. p> 

Expansion Trends: The Services PMI recorded a solid 53.6. While slightly down from the previous month’s 54, it marks a period where 14 of 18 services industries are reporting growth—the highest expansion level seen in two years. 

Inflationary Pressures: A major "danger flag" identified is the Prices Paid Index, which remains high at 70.7. This historically elevated level typically correlates with inflation rates exceeding 5%.

Energy and Geopolitics: The team discusses the impact of the Iran war and low oil inventories on petroleum costs, noting that "opportunistic pricing" in gasoline and diesel has been felt almost immediately

Sector Performance: While Mining is seeing a high rate of expansion, sectors such as Real Estate, Retail Trade, and Agriculture are currently in contraction territory.

The Housing Market: Miller and the hosts dive into the "perfect storm" affecting housing, where high mortgage rates and rising costs for labor and materials (lumber, steel, and copper) are straining the industry.

The Latest ISM Reports:

Services PMI: https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-pmi-reports/services/april/

Manufacturing PMI: https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-pmi-reports/pmi/april/

  Report Highlights:

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Join hosts Amy Nicklaus and Lewis Weiss as they welcome back Harry Moser of the Reshoring Initiative to discuss his organization's critical mission: balancing the $1.3 trillion US goods trade deficit and securing vital supply chains. Harry shares compelling data on how jobs announced coming back to the US have grown exponentially, from 11,000 in 2010 to 244,000 in 2024, proving that reindustrialization is gaining traction. They delve into the underlying problems of currency overvaluation and the highest priority challenge cited by companies: the need for a skilled workforce. Discover how manufacturers can utilize the Reshoring Initiative's free Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Estimator to accurately calculate sourcing decisions and accelerate the return of American manufacturing jobs.

Links Discussed in this Episode:

Reshoring Initiative: https://reshorenow.org/
2026 USA Reshoring Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/USA-Reshoring

Total Cost of Ownership Estimator: https://reshorenow.org/tco-estimator/ 

Harry Moser Honored with 2026 Albert W. Moore AMT Leadership Award: https://www.imts.com/read/article-details/Harry-Moser-Honored-with-2026-Albert-W-Moore-AMT-Leadership-Award/2244/type/Read/1/tab/all-articles?page=1

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In this exclusive Manufacturing Talk Radio interview, host Lewis Weiss and Amy Nicklaus sit down with ISM Services PMI Chair Steve Miller to discuss the pivotal March ISM Services Report the very day it is released April 6th 2026, breaking down the key data points impacting the services economy. To shed light on the report’s crucial findings, we speak with Steve Miller, a preeminent authority within the services sector.
Miller is currently serving as ISM Services PMI Chair and is an accomplished supply chain management executive. His distinguished career includes 40 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, IT implementation and operations, and operations management consulting at Disney, P.F. Chang’s, Accenture, and Kearney. With 40 years of experience in procurement, supply chain management, IT implementation and operations, Miller offers unparalleled insight into services trends and economic activity

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In this exclusive Manufacturing Talk Radio interview, hosts Lewis Weiss and Amy Nicklaus sit down with ISM Manufacturing PMI Chair Susan Spence to discuss the latest ISM Manufacturing Report, released the same day, and break down the key data points impacting the global supply chain and what the effects of that might mean.  To shed light on the report’s crucial findings, we speak with Susan Spence, a preeminent authority within manufacturing.
Spence is currently serving as ISM Manufacturing PMI Chair and is a winner of the J. Shipman Gold Medal Award. Her distinguished career includes serving as vice president of the Sourcing & Procurement group at FedEx Corp. With 28 years of experience at United Technologies Corporation (UTC) in leadership roles across supply management and operations, Spence offers unparalleled insight into manufacturing trends and economic activity.

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Host Lewis Weiss interviews Jim Tompkins about his career path from industrial engineering academia and the Army to founding Tompkins Solutions and later launching Tompkins Ventures, a matchmaking firm that connects manufacturers with partners for logistics, procurement, technology, automation, AI, and organizational development, typically offering recommendations without consulting fees and earning a success fee when solutions are implemented. Tompkins discusses how manufacturers can focus on core competencies while outsourcing non-core functions, the challenges of maintaining quality in outsourcing, and VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) as the operating reality for global supply chains. He explains reshoring as a risk-mitigation hedge tied to adaptability, digital twins, scenario planning, AI, and automation, and outlines four factors for what to reshore: value density, demand volatility, IP sensitivity, and automation potential.   00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:40 Tim’s Career Origin Story 01:18 From Seminars to Global Supply Chain 02:56 Launching Tompkins Ventures 03:51 How Ventures Helps Manufacturers 04:42 No Fee Model Explained 06:19 Success Fees and Partner Network 07:45 Why Outside Expertise Matters 10:12 Virtual Companies and Outsourcing 11:07 Quality Control in Outsourcing 13:44 VUCA Defined for Supply Chains 17:10 Reshoring as Risk Mitigation 18:19 Surfing the Next Disruption Wave 22:25 Resilience Over Pure Efficiency 25:13 What to Reshore Four Criteria 26:59 Tariff Refunds Supreme Court Fallout 32:12 Wrap Up Contact and Subscribe

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Host Amy Nicklaus talks with Peter Okun, Editor of Manufacturing Podcast News, about what a PMI move above 50 really means after months of contraction and why the current reading signals disciplined stabilization rather than an overheated surge. They discuss how global steel output—especially shifts in China—drives price volatility and why manufacturers are prioritizing regional sourcing, longer-term contracts, supplier diversification, and data-driven planning to manage risk. Okun also highlights rising ransomware exposure for mid-size manufacturers, emphasizing that downtime, trust, and reputation costs often outweigh ransom itself, and recommends basics like MFA, tested offline backups, training, and response protocols. The episode covers tariff unpredictability and regionalization, workforce strategies amid a persistent skills gap, thoughtful AI adoption to improve morale and productivity, and why adaptability, resilience, digital visibility, and sustainability will define competitiveness over the next three to five years.

00:00 Welcome and Agenda

01:01 PMI Above 50 Explained

02:32 Recovery or Bounce

03:28 Executive Playbook Now

04:15 Early Expansion Risks

04:57 Global Steel Ripple Effects

06:10 Sourcing for Reliability

07:12 Is Globalization Fading

07:27 Ransomware Reality Check

09:05 Cybersecurity Basics

09:50 Tariffs and Regionalization

10:33 Adapting Supply Strategies

11:44 Workforce and AI Shifts

12:24 Skills Gap and Training

13:29 AI Morale and Reskilling

14:50 Winning Mindset Ahead

15:24 Next 3 to 5 Years

16:31 Sustainability as Strategy

17:07 Key Takeaway Recalibration

17:46 Wrap Up and Where to Follow

Further reading:

At Last: Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Index at 52.7 Percent

- https://manufacturingtalkradio.com/news/at-last-institute-for-supply-management-manufacturing-index-at-52-7-percent/

Global Steel Output Is Slipping, and the Reasons Go Deeper Than One Bad Month - https://manufacturingtalkradio.com/news/global-steel-output-is-slipping-and-the-reasons-go-deeper-than-one-bad-month/ 

Why Ransomware Is Hitting Mid-Sized Manufacturers Harder Than Ever

- https://manufacturingtalkradio.com/news/why-ransomware-is-hitting-mid-sized-manufacturers-harder-than-ever/

How USMCA and New Tariffs Are Rattling U.S. Manufacturing

- https://manufacturingtalkradio.com/news/how-usmca-and-new-tariffs-are-rattling-u-s-manufacturing/ 

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Lewis Weiss hosts another Manufacturing Round Table with economist Cliff Waldman and Chris Kuehl to compare the January Federal Reserve industrial production release and the ISM report. After a year-long manufacturing slump, they point to improving signals: manufacturing within industrial production rose 0.8% month over month with broad-based gains, and the ISM index climbed to 52.7, moving above the 50 expansion threshold. The discussion widens to global uncertainty affecting supply chains, shifting trade patterns as China routes production through other countries, and concern that U.S. policy risks damaging critical trade and supply-chain ties with Canada. They also highlight workforce shortages, demographics,  and unclear ROI from rapid AI investment.

00:00 Welcome and Agenda

01:45 Why These Reports Matter

02:22 Fed and ISM Show Uptick

03:24 Caution and Tariff Drag

04:54 Capital Spending on Hold

07:11 Global Uncertainty and Supply Chains

10:02 China Trade Shifts and Workarounds

13:28 Canada Risks and North America

17:48 Looking Ahead to 2026

19:05 Workforce Shortage and AI Hype

21:02 Training Pipelines and Demographics

27:24 Financing Manufacturing Startups

28:42 Wrap Up and Final Takeaways

Reports:

January 2026 ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report: https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-pmi-reports/pmi/january/

January Federal Reserve Statistical Release: https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g17/current/g17.pdf

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In this episode of Manufacturing Talk Radio, host Amy Nicklaus talks with Peter Okun, the editor of Manufacturing Podcast News, about the current trends, significant stories, and predictions for the manufacturing industry in 2026. They discuss topics such as the evolving role of AI, reshoring, workforce retention, and sustainability. Peter provides detailed insights into how manufacturers are adopting digital tools, dealing with supply chain resilience, and focusing on talent development and process discipline. The episode also sheds light on global events' impact on manufacturing and emphasizes the importance of knowledge capture and frontline leadership development.

00:00 Introduction to Manufacturing Talk Radio News

00:38 Meet the Editor: Peter Okun's Journey

03:14 Key Stories and Trends in Manufacturing

08:20 AI and Automation in Manufacturing

09:57 Labor and Workforce Challenges

11:37 Sustainability and Green Manufacturing

12:51 Future Topics and Advice for Manufacturers

20:09 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

Read More Here:

 2025 in Manufacturing: A Year Defined by Numbers, Policy, and Technology

U.S. Job Market Ends 2025 on Uneven Footing

Three in Ten Firms Say AI Will Replace Workers Next Year

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In Part Two of the Economic Wrap-Up 2025 roundtable host Lewis Weiss again joins Cliff Waldman, CEO of New World Economics, and Chris Kuehl, Managing Partner and Chief Economist at Armada Corporate Intelligence, to discuss the economic trends of 2025 and predictions for 2026. Key topics include concerns about China's slowing growth, the implications of tariffs and international relationships, and the economic condition in Europe, including the ongoing impact of the Ukraine conflict. The speakers highlight the importance of global interdependencies and the possible consequences for manufacturing and trade, with particular focus on North America, Europe, and Africa.

Key Topics and Timestamps

00:00:Introduction: 2026 Economic Outlook

01:40 International Economy: Focus on China

02:00 China's Domestic Issues (Demographics, Property Bubble)

04:10 Tariffs and Unintended Consequences in Global Trade

06:18 Copper Shortage and International Politics (Chile)

09:10 Economic Status of European Countries

10:25 Geopolitics, Ukraine, and NATO Alliance Strains

11:00 Importance of Trading Partners: Canada and Mexico

14:35 Strained North American Economic Relations

19:40 General Prediction: Volatility and Uncertainty in 2026

21:20 In-Depth Discussion on Ukraine and Russia

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