Tariffs, trade uncertainty, and shifting energy demands are colliding with rapid advances in AI, medtech, and advanced manufacturing. At the same time, companies are racing to fill hundreds of thousands of open roles, rethink how they attract talent, and modernize permitting and policy frameworks that haven’t kept pace with innovation. The result is a U.S. manufacturing sector on the verge of a new chapter, but only if leaders can unlock the right mix of policy, people, and technology. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton sits down with Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and Kathy Wengel, Executive Vice President, Chief Technical Operations and Risk Officer at Johnson & Johnson, live from the Innovation Summit North America 2025, powered by Schneider Electric. Together, they unpack NAM’s comprehensive manufacturing strategy and the conditions needed for American industry to thrive. Scott, Jay, and Kathy explore how permitting reform, energy leadership (including nuclear), and trade certainty impact investment decisions on the factory floor, from small manufacturers to multinational enterprises. They discuss the urgent need to expand the workforce pipeline, especially for veterans and non-traditional talent, and why modern manufacturing careers offer both purpose and prosperity.…

Join us today for the Digital Transformers edition of The Buzz, Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream! Held at 12 noon ET each week, The Buzz focuses on some of the leading stories from global business and global supply chain, always featuring special guests – the most important of which is the live audience! In this week’s episode of The Buzz, hosts Scott Luton, Kevin L. Jackson, and Mary Kate Love discussed a variety of news stories and topics including: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in supply chains The importance of digital transformation in business to business (B2B) companies The reduction of veteran homelessness Listen in as the hosts highlight the benefits of AI in improving global visibility, reporting, and forecasting accuracy in supply chains, the need for B2B companies to adapt to digital transformation to enhance customer retention and satisfaction, and the significance of the decrease in veteran homelessness, attributing the success to collaboration among local, state, and national entities, and the simple approach of prioritizing stable housing.