U.S. Manufacturing Today

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, host Matt Horine is joined by Tony Kelbert and Dan Echternkamp, founders of Aerospace Growth Strategies, to discuss sustainable growth for machine shops. They delve into common issues in the industry, such as balancing spindle hours and morale, and why traditional growth strategies often fail. Tony and Dan share their insights on developing purpose-driv...

U.S. Manufacturing Today features Bryce Carpenter, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at Conexus Indiana, discussing why AI and automation efforts in manufacturing often stall at pilots and how to scale them into operational results. Carpenter explains Conexus as an industry-led nonprofit working with 130 Indiana manufacturers and public and education leaders to accelerate solutions by aligning...

In this solo episode of US Manufacturing Today, the host argues that three underappreciated forces are converging to create a structural advantage for U.S. manufacturers: tightening freight capacity, trucking labor enforcement, and a historically wide Brent-WTI oil spread. Despite a soft freight narrative, carrier exits are shrinking long-haul capacity, spot rates have overtaken contract rates, an...

In today's episode, host Matt Horine interviews Tom Welge, CEO of Gilster-Mary Lee, and Troy Compardo, CEO of the Boone Center, about workforce innovation through employing people with disabilities and neurodiverse individuals. Welch shares Gilster-Mary Lee’s evolution as a long-standing private label food manufacturer and how labor shortages drove efforts starting in 2019 to recruit and suppo...

This episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today features Derik Ellis and Molly Lenty of Vessel, a platform designed to help manufacturers and the experts who serve them turn operational data into insight by unifying shop-floor systems with business outcomes through smart assessments and supply chain intelligence. Molly shares her transition from 25 years in corporate banking and economic development to h...

In today's episode, Matt Horine speaks with Scott Maier, CEO of Virginia-based Blue Star NBR. Scott explains why the U.S. still imports about 99% of nitrile gloves and how pandemic shortages exposed major supply-chain risk. He outlines the capital, scale, and technical complexity required to reshore commodity glove production, and argues gloves are strategic for industries like semiconductors,...

Matt Horine argues that U.S. manufacturing is seeing a real “vibe shift” and structural turn in early 2026, based on shop-floor signals rather than GDP. It highlights ISM Manufacturing PMI rising to 52.6 (expansion) with strong new orders, production, and rebuilding backlogs, plus buyers positioning ahead of anticipated tariff-related price changes. The host discusses supply-driven cooling in pric...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, host Matt Horine welcomes Alex Huckstepp, Co-founder of Uptool—a manufacturing technology startup focused on solving quoting and sourcing bottlenecks through AI-driven solutions. Alex discusses his journey into the manufacturing industry and the founding of Uptool with his co-founder. They delve into the importance of speeding up the quoting process, th...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, Matt Horine talks to Renan Devillieres, Founder and CEO of OSS Ventures, about the evolving landscape of American manufacturing. Renan, with his unique background in economics, venture capital, and industrial operations, discusses the importance of innovation in manufacturing, the intersection of startups and industrial technology, and the significant r...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today powered by Veryable, host Matt Horine discusses the future of the American manufacturing landscape with Chris Luecke, Host of the Manufacturing Happy Hour podcast. The conversation delves into the origins and evolution of Manufacturing Happy Hour, the key themes recurring in industry discussions, and the critical role of culture in manufacturing. Chris s...

Today we are re-casting a prior interview done on the Inspired Stories Podcast, hosted by Anthony Codispoti. Check out the original recording at the links below. Website -   ⁠https://inspiredstoriespodcast.com/matt-horines-reindustrialization-mission-building-on-demand-labor-for-american-manufacturing/⁠ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY4qRWcOftM&t=207s   Apple Podcasts -   https://p...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, hosted by Veryable, the focus is on American industry and its critical role in national independence and economic self-determination. The guest, John Gardner, author of 'Manufacture Local' and a seasoned professional in precision machining, discusses the historical significance of localized production in the US and its implications today. Highli...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, hosted by Matt Horine, the focus is on the critical role data plays in the reindustrialization of American industry. Matt is joined by Errol Rodericks, Product Marketing Director at Denodo, a leader in data virtualization and logical data management. The discussion covers the rise of microfactories, driven by demand volatility, product variation, sustai...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, host Matt Horine chats with David Socha, CEO of the Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company. David shares his journey into the toy and collectibles business, starting from his childhood love for toys and progressing through his entrepreneurial ventures. They discuss the company's commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and ethical manufacturing. David also p...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, the podcast powered by Verayble, host Matt Horine features Tony Gunn, CEO of TGM Global and creator of the Worldwide Machinist brand. Tony shares his journey from nearly becoming a professional soccer player to entering the manufacturing industry at age 20, eventually evolving into a global advocate for machinists and the manufacturing sector. The discu...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, our host Matt Horine talks with Chad Woods, Director of Operations at Alcon Industries, a Cleveland-based metals manufacturer. Alcon Industries has been a trusted name in specialty alloys and nickel-based castings for over 50 years. Chad discusses Alcon's recent innovations, including a more flexible workforce and the adoption of new technologies, t...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, our host Matt Horine speaks with Jake Grossman, the leader of Fibematics and Founder of EZPZ Brands. With over 60 years of family history in manufacturing in Philadelphia, Jake offers a unique perspective on managing trade policies, maintaining a multi-generational business, and building resilient supply chains. He shares the story behind Fibematics and...

In this episode of US Manufacturing Today, host Matt Horine welcomes Friddy Hoegener, founder of Scope Recruiting, to discuss how industrial firms can develop an effective workforce strategy in today's shifting manufacturing landscape. Friddy shares insights on aligning talent strategies with operational goals, the impact of AI and automation, and the importance of flexibility and adaptability...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, powered by Variable, host Matt Horine welcomes back Rosemary Coates, Founder and Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, to discuss the current state of U.S. manufacturing. With over 25 years of experience in evaluating sourcing decisions and supply chain risk, Rosemary delves into the recent trends impacting manufacturing, including the effects...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, host Matt Horine explores the profound impacts of recent US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU on manufacturing supply chains. Joined by Timur Göreci, CRO of Orderfox, the discussion delves into the hidden tariff risks within supply chains that many manufacturers overlook. Timur shares insights on how AI-driven tools like Gieni AI and Par...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, powered by Veryable, host Matt Horine discusses the intersection of AI and human interaction in the manufacturing industry with Nelson Bruton, president of Manufacturing Chats. Nelson highlights the potential drawbacks of highly advanced chatbots and the importance of human-centered selling in building business relationships. The conversation covers the...

This episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, powered by Veryable, delves into the challenges and future of the American manufacturing workforce with guest Nirit Cohen. Cohen, a thought leader and Forbes contributor, discusses the evolution of hourly and shift work, the impact of COVID-19 on work models, and the growing demand for workplace flexibility. The conversation addresses how manufacturers can...

In the latest episode of US Manufacturing Today, Matt Horine sits down with Dillon Baxter, co-founder of PlantSwitch. They explore the critical issue of industrial displacement, questioning whether manufacturing can produce an economically viable material to replace plastic. Dillon discusses PlantSwitch's innovative compostable materials, which are designed to run on existing extrusion, inject...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today, our host Matt Horine sits down with Andrew Crapuchettes, Founder and CEO of RedBalloon, to discuss the important role of values in the hiring process and the challenges facing the current labor market. Andrew shares his journey from leading a labor market analytics firm to founding RedBalloon, a platform designed to connect employers with job seekers wh...

In this episode of U.S. Manufacturing Today powered by Veryable, host Matt talks with Bryan DeBois, Director of Industrial AI at RoviSys, about how data, artificial intelligence, and smart factories are transforming American manufacturing. Bryan shares his 25-year journey in the industry, the evolution of his company's AI initiatives, and how they are addressing current challenges. Key topics...