The Editorial

As Gas Prices Soar, Trump Should Rethink EV Policies

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

The Trump administration has throttled the domestic EV industry while simultaneously sending gas prices through the roof.

Amidst New Round of Scrutiny, Are Tariffs Working for U.S. Manufacturing?

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0500

In imposing tariffs, Trump said his goal is to reduce the trade deficit and spur more manufacturing in the United States. One year into his second term, neither goal has been achieved. In fact, the opposite occurred.

Heads Up, Manufacturers! Get Ready for Chip Shortage, Part 2

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500

In January, Samsung Electronics forecast a worsening chip shortage this year, thanks to burgeoning demand for AI data centers. The race to build AI infrastructure has prompted chipmakers to divert manufacturing capacity toward high-bandwidth memory for AI servers, squeezing the supply ‍of conventional memory chips.

Automotive Industry Prepares for Connected and Circular Economy

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500

To increase collaboration up and down the supply chain, a coalition of European automotive manufacturers created Catena-X, the first end-to-end, collaborative and open data ecosystem for the automotive industry.

Higher Fee on H1-B Visas Could Adversely Affect Manufacturers

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

On Sept. 19, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that adds a $100,000 fee for new applicants for H-1B visas. The administration hopes the new fee will encourage employers to prioritize hiring domestic workers, but opponents warn that the policy could backfire.

Right-to-Repair Laws Gain Momentum

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Lawmakers in every state in the union have filed legislation to ensure that consumers have access to the parts, tools, and documentation needed to repair their stuff. This year alone, right-to-repair legislation is being actively debated in 24 states.

NAM Proposes ‘Manufacturing Investment Accelerator’

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0400

The proposal is intended to boost domestic manufacturing investment.

Are You Ready for the Future? Asian Manufacturers Are

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Wed, 21 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Accenture’s new report, Rethinking the Course to Manufacturing’s Future, shows that AI, automation and digital technologies will become increasingly important in manufacturing.

Let's Talk About Tariffs: Effects on U.S. Manufacturing

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0400

The economy today is truly global. Tariffs would be great if the U.S. were the only source of certain goods, but we’re not.

Tariffs Will Hurt U.S. Manufacturing More Than Help

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Fully one-third of all U.S. manufacturing inputs come from Canada and Mexico.

Thoughts on Old Timers, Tribal Knowledge, and Manufacturing Jobs

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 13:04:00 -0500

A poll asked Koreans what they would prefer to be: an automotive assembler with a high school degree earning a good salary or an office worker with a liberal arts degree earning less. Some 76 percent chose the automotive job.

New Year’s Resolutions for Manufacturers

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:03:00 -0500

We offer some New Year’s resolutions for manufacturers. What are yours?

Automation and Jobs: The Debate Continues

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

On Oct. 1, longshoremen went on strike for the first time in nearly 50 years. The main sticking point was, of course, money. Also high on the list of issues is the use of automation in the ports and its impact on jobs.

Are Unions Making a Comeback?

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 16:04:00 -0400

The rapid economic recovery, the tight labor market, and high inflation have shifted power to workers who are organized.

Rethink Robotics Returns to the Manufacturing Marketplace

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:30:00 -0400

Rethink’s new portfolio seems more mature, straightforward and targeted at manufacturers.

Educators and Manufacturers Must Work Together to Solve the Skills Gap

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:30:00 -0400

As employers look to close skills gaps and hire talent that meets the needs of today’s businesses, educators and employers have an opportunity to further align and develop learning programs focused on employability.

Don’t Fear AI; Use It to Improve Manufacturing

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

For manufacturers, there is plenty to like about AI.

The Pandemic Has Taught Us Nothing

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Note to the U.S. healthcare industry: Heed the words of Spanish-American writer and philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Will Ban on Noncompete Agreements Affect Manufacturing?

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 16:00:00 -0400

In April, the Federal Trade Commission approved a final rule that bans noncompete agreements for employees nationwide.

Children Have No Place on the Assembly Line

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Thu, 16 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Child labor violations have increased dramatically nationwide in recent years.

Five Robot Trends to Watch in 2024

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

According to the International Federation of Robotics, here are the top five trends in robotics for 2024.

Manufacturers Are Embracing the Circular Economy

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Manufacturers are increasingly thinking about the impact of their operations on the environment and on scarce resources

Congress Should Ease Tax Burden on Manufacturers

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Manufacturers’ ability to create jobs in the United States, invest in communities and compete in the global economy is threatened by recent tax policy changes that make it more costly to perform research, buy machinery and finance capital investments.

Two Years Later, Infrastructure Law Is Having an Impact

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Since the BIL passed, state and local capital investment has rebounded and returned to pre-pandemic levels. The two-year increase in state and local capital investment as a share of state and local spending—1.6 percentage points—is the largest since 1979.

Resiliency in the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain Requires a Team Approach

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Companies involved in creating the products and components that are critical to our everyday lives face an urgent need to make their supply chains less vulnerable to events that could interrupt their businesses.

UAW Strike Threatens Economy, EV Transition

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

I’m all for auto workers getting paid, but the UAW’s demands this time around seem a bit much. I can’t see how the OEMs will be able to meet them, and I worry about the implications for the economy. The 2019 strike lasted more than a month, and a prolonged strike now could jeopardize the economic recovery.

Automation is not a one-size-fits-all proposition

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Because automation can produce more with less, it can help domestic manufacturers compete with low-cost overseas labor. It’s certainly a valid premise. But, like golf, dancing, baking bread or cutting dovetails by hand, implementing automation is harder than it looks.

Global Automotive Industry Employs One Million Robots

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 15:00:00 -0400

In 1961, the first industrial robot was installed at a GM factory in Ewing Township, NJ, to lift hot pieces of metal from a die-casting machine. Today, the automotive industry has the largest number of robots working in factories around the world.

Manufacturing and the Circular Economy

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Manufacturers in multiple industries worldwide are increasingly thinking about sustainability, resource conservation and their impact on the environment.

Manufacturing and Job Security During Difficult Times

sprovierij@bnpmedia.com (John Sprovieri) — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In the past 20 years, the global economy has suffered through many difficult events, such as pandemics, conflicts and natural disasters. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered one of the worst job crises since the Great Depression.