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The NAM State of Manufacturing Tour stopped in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, yesterday, visiting Rockwell Automation, Komatsu Mining Group and CNH.

The NAM says: “When it comes to artificial intelligence, manufacturers have not just deployed advanced technologies; we’ve developed them,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. 

• “What we saw today at Komatsu, Rockwell Automation and CNH is proof that AI is already transforming modern manufacturing. These tools make our manufacturing workers safer, our supply chains smarter and our products more advanced.”
• “The growth of manufacturing drives AI, and the growth of AI drives manufacturing. If America wants to lead on AI, America must support the manufacturers leading the way. That includes regulations that foster innovation—not stifle it.”

The visits: The tour first stopped at Komatsu’s state-of-the-art South Harbor Campus, then visited Rockwell Automation, whose chairman and CEO, Blake Moret, is the NAM’s board chair.

• After the tour, Timmons, Moret and Manufacturing Institute President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee convened a roundtable discussion on “Responsible AI Leadership,” focused on how manufacturers are approaching AI and advanced technologies.
• “At Rockwell Automation, we believe that the ‘Factory of the Future’ is built on the intersection of human ingenuity and intelligent machines,” said Moret. “What we saw today in Milwaukee—from Komatsu to the discussions here at Rockwell—is an industry moving at the speed necessary to compete and win. This tour is about making sure Washington understands that speed. Manufacturers need abundant, reliable energy, comprehensive permitting reform and investments in the manufacturing workforce to ensure the massive investments required for AI and automation can continue to flow into our communities and beyond.”

Report launch at CNH: The day culminated at industrial and agricultural equipment manufacturer CNH, where leaders saw demonstrations of cutting-edge precision technology and the NAM launched its new “Manufacturers Feed America” report.

The word from Wisconsin: “Wisconsin isn’t just a manufacturing state—it’s a manufacturing powerhouse,” said Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce President and CEO Kurt Bauer. “We are proud to partner with the NAM to showcase Wisconsin’s strength during this stop on the NAM State of Manufacturing Tour. …”

• “At the same time, we must confront a serious workforce challenge—60% of Wisconsin employers say they cannot find enough workers, and labor force participation has been declining for decades.”
• “To sustain our leadership, we need policies from Washington that strengthen and supplement our world-class training efforts, expand workforce pathways, align education with employer needs and make it easier for individuals to enter and advance in manufacturing careers.”

NAM in the news: The Milwaukee Business Journal (subscription),  Wisconsin Morning News (WTMJ Radio) and FOX 6 News Milwaukee covered the tour stop.

What’s next: The 2026 NAM State of Manufacturing Tour is in Dallas, Texas, today, where Lee will deliver the 2026 Manufacturing Institute State of the Manufacturing Workforce Address. After Dallas, it will travel to Houston, Texas, and conclude Friday in Phoenix, Arizona. To learn more about the tour and the NAM’s mission, visit https://nam.org/stateofmfg/.