In a special episode of the Augmented Ops podcast, host Natan Linder sat down with Liz Reynolds to discuss their experience at the recent Reindustrialize conference in Detroit. The energy and excitement around the future of manufacturing in the US was palpable as experts from across industries gathered to discuss how to revitalize American production.
The past decade revealed the vulnerabilities in global supply chains and the need for greater resilience. This sparked a reindustrialization movement that is now gaining serious momentum. As Liz explained, “We started to understand we were falling behind in so many different areas as a country and that it wasn’t enough to sort of just outsource and offshore all of this for efficiency’s sake. Resiliency matters.” Fortunately, the convergence of advanced technologies is making manufacturing in the US more feasible and economical than ever before.
The Reindustrialize conference brought together a diverse group of stakeholders united by a common goal.
It wasn’t your typical manufacturing group, you had robotics, energy, critical minerals, transportation, space… It really wasn’t [just] your auto or aerospace.
Startups and established companies alike are laser-focused on leveraging innovation to build and scale production in new ways.
While American ingenuity is thriving, challenges remain around talent pipelines, technology adoption, and scaling. As Liz emphasized, “Our issue is not innovation. The innovation is like crushing it. It’s in AI, it’s in robotics, in all these areas. It’s the adoption. How are you going to get from large firm to small firm, how are you actually going to accelerate adoption?” Creative public-private partnerships will be key to bridging workforce gaps and catalyzing growth.
Proactive steps by the US government, including new programs to support strategic industries, are helping to build momentum. Advanced manufacturing is now recognized as absolutely critical for competitiveness. With an all-hands-on-deck approach, the potential is immense. The Reindustrialize conference showcased the enthusiasm and sense of urgency that currently exists for charting a bold new course for manufacturing in America.
Reindustrialization won’t happen overnight, but make no mistake – a new era is here. With grit, ingenuity and collaboration, the vision of revitalized American manufacturing is within reach. One thing is clear: the future will be made in the USA. The only question is, will you be a part of it?
