Input Stories

Manufacturing in the U.S. can again see explosive growth—if the right policies are put into place, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons and Johnson & Johnson Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Operations & Risk Officer, NAM Board Chair and Manufacturing Institute board member Kathy Wengel said on a recent episode of the “Supply Chain Now” podcast.

What’s going on: “Every country that is successful, every economy that is successful is really grounded in a strong and thriving manufacturing base, and we’ve seen that throughout our history here in the United States, that manufacturing has really enabled us to grow our economy and create a better quality of life for all Americans,” Timmons told show host Scott W. Luton during a live interview at last month’s Schneider Electric–sponsored Innovation Summit North America 2025 in Las Vegas, when asked about the NAM’s comprehensive manufacturing strategy.

• “With that foundation … what makes us more successful or what enables us to be competitive around the world?”
• The key, Timmons said, is having the right policies in place. And that’s a comprehensive manufacturing strategy.

Why it matters: To set the sector up for optimal growth, the U.S. needs fair, commonsense tax and regulatory policy, permitting reform and a full talent pipeline, the manufacturing leaders said on the podcast.

• “We need [pro-growth] tax policy [and] … regulatory policy,” Wengel said. “We need to have the energy we need, and we need that workforce.”
• The U.S. must also enact a thorough revision of its permitting system, added Timmons. “[W]e’ve got to be able to more quickly and expeditiously unlock America’s energy leadership and dominance here in this country,” he said.

Energy dominance: Timmons gave a nod to the administration for its focus on energy dominance. “Until recently, we were always a net importer of energy supply […] We’ve seen an unleashing of our potential when it comes to accessing new technologies, enabling us to access a great supply of natural gas here in this country. We are also focusing on new innovations when it comes to renewables.”  

• Timmons underscored the pivotal role of nuclear energy in meeting America’s future power needs. “The thing that I think we really [have to] focus on most aggressively is our capacity to build out nuclear facilities, because nuclear is clearly going to be a way to provide that energy supply that we’re going to need,” Timmons said.
• “Here at this conference, one of the things that Schneider is focusing on is the advent of artificial intelligence—AI—and energy demands that will be required in order to power that system. [W]hat we’re manufacturing now, or what we are producing in terms of energy in the United States, well, it’ s good for today. It’s not good enough for tomorrow. Permitting reform will help us unlock some of that.”
• Timmons added that permitting reform is “not just for energy, but also for the very things that we make,” Timmons told Luton, adding that it takes 10 to 15 years to get permitting for a copper mine in the U.S.—despite copper’s criticality to fulfilling the nation’s demand for power.

A prime workforce source: Manufacturing has had a workforce dearth for years, and if current trends continue, the U.S. will be short nearly 2 million workers by 2033. That’s why it’s so important to look everywhere for team members, Wengel said.

• “[T]alents come from so many places, and there are so many pathways to get to careers in manufacturing,” she told Luton. “What we do at the Manufacturing Institute is try to focus on certain pathways and help accelerate them.”
• Those exiting the military, for example, can become excellent employees in manufacturing, she said, citing the MI’s Heroes MAKE America program and others. “There are so many translatable skills from the military into manufacturing,” Wengel said.

A job that will reward you: Manufacturing still suffers from a perception problem, Timmons and Wengel said. But the sector today offers hugely enjoyable, interesting and financially fulfilling careers.

• “I don’t think most people understand how rewarding these jobs are. … I hear that … every time I’m on a shop floor,” said Timmons. “It really is rewarding financially as well. Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford, just said how frustrated he is that he can’t get folks on the line for $120,000 a year. So these jobs can really pay enormously … but also in terms of really enjoying what you do every day.”