The Manufacturing Report

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.

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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