My co-host Ann Franz and I recently had one of our most loyal podcast listeners join us in the studio for an episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights: Buckley Brinkman, executive director and CEO of the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing Productivity.
While most episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights are relatively evergreen, Buckley’s visit was in many ways a “current event.” Ann and I had invited him on the show weeks earlier to discuss the results of WCMP’s annual Wisconsin Manufacturing Report — some key findings from which can be found in this month’s “Making Way” (page 8). But by the time his visit to Woodward Community Media came around, the federal government had announced, and subsequently reversed, a funding cut for 10 states’ Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) programs, making a new topic the defining headline in Buckley’s day-to-day life.
The MEP, which was created during the Reagan administration, focuses its efforts on helping American small and mid-sized manufacturers increase their productivity. Wisconsin, which has one of the largest and most active MEPs, overseen by WCMP, wasn’t on the list of axed and un-axed programs this spring. But WMEP’s funding renews at the end of the year. So insert giant question mark, and maybe an exclamation point, here. To quote Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry CEO and WCMP Board Chair Sachin Shivaram, who penned an op-ed supporting the continuation of MEP funding for Industry Week last month, “This was more than just bureaucratic turbulence. Something bigger was at play.”
In my conversations with manufacturing leaders, I have learned that many see the Trump administration’s tariffs as an opportunity, others as a significant challenge, and in some cases both — but defunding an organization like WMEP while at the same time making reshoring an economic priority is broadly viewed as counterproductive, and the announcements and reversals on all manner of supply chain and manufacturing issues are making some heads spin.
You can check out Ann’s and my conversation with Buckley on the May 8 episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights, but it’s also possible things have changed again since we recorded the show or sent this issue of Insight on Manufacturing to the printer. At IOM, we’re doing our best to stay on top of how federal and global issues are affecting our manufacturing community, but a bimonthly magazine isn’t an ideal way to cover these ever-changing topics. I encourage you to subscribe to the weekly NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast and to Insight’s daily newsletter for more timely coverage, and to keep the conversation going by staying in touch with me and with each other. I’d love to hear about your latest challenges and opportunities; write me any time at kbruns@insightonbusiness.com.
Meanwhile, check out this issue of IOM for new stories on B Corps, trade missions, cybersecurity and, well, cheese — the heels of the NFL draft seemed like a good time to embrace the old cheesehead heritage. And as always, I hope this issue sparks an idea or conversation for you.
Thanks for reading!
