Robotics Can Restore U.S. Manufacturing Jobs, Path Robotics CRO Says – News and Statistics

Oct 16, 2026

Robotics could play a central role in restoring manufacturing employment in the United States, according to Heather Carroll, chief revenue officer at Path Robotics. In remarks reported by FOX Business, Carroll said automation can work alongside American workers rather than replace them, and she cited a planned shipyard in Texas as an illustration.

Carroll pointed to Saronic Technologies‘ Port Alpha shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, a project valued at $3.2 billion that is expected to support 10,000 jobs. Vice President JD Vance attended the project’s groundbreaking last month, according to the report.

She described the shipyard as an example of how automation and advanced technology can be combined with hiring large numbers of American workers. The comments came as the United States seeks to regain ground against China in manufacturing capacity.

Carroll said robotics will be essential to expanding U.S. manufacturing at scale because companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers. Asked whether the country could expand manufacturing at scale without robotics, she said the necessary workforce is not available.

She also warned that the United States risks losing further ground if it fails to adopt the technology quickly enough. According to Carroll, China has developed a national strategy around robotics and artificial intelligence that unites government, industry and financing to drive adoption.

Carroll said the United States lacks a comparable approach, which she characterized as a competitive disadvantage. She added that the gap between China’s adoption of robotics and that of the United States is widening.

American manufacturers face several obstacles to adopting automation, Carroll said, including access to capital, uncertainty over demand and a shortage of workers with the technical skills needed to deploy the technology. She said advances in artificial intelligence could help lower some of those barriers by making robots easier to deploy with less technical expertise.

Carroll said automation could help manufacturers offset shortages of skilled workers. She pointed to welding as an area where an aging workforce is facing growing demand from shipbuilding, defense, energy and AI infrastructure.

She said everyday manufacturers report having large order volumes but being unable to take on the work because they cannot hire a second shift. As an example, she said one welder could be trained to operate 10 welding robots while continuing to handle more skilled work.

1. 1. INTRODUCTION

   Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

   1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
   2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
   3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
   4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

   A Quick Overview of Market Performance

   1. KEY FINDINGS
   2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO

3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

   Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

   1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035

4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

   Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

   1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
   2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
   3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
   4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
   5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT

5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

   Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

   1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
   2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
   3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
   4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

   Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

   1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
   2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
   3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
   4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
   5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

7. 7. PRODUCTION

   The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

   1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

8. 8. IMPORTS

   The Largest Import Supplying Countries

   1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

9. 9. EXPORTS

   The Largest Destinations for Exports

   1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
   3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)

10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

11. 11. COUNTRY PROFILES

    The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition
    PRO

    1. 11.1

       United States

       • Market Size
       • Production
       • Imports
       • Exports

    2. 11.2

       China

       • Market Size
       • Production
       • Imports
       • Exports

    3. 11.3

       Japan

       • Market Size
       • Production
       • Imports
       • Exports

    4. 11.4

       Germany

       • Market Size
       • Production
       • Imports
       • Exports

    5. 11.5

       United Kingdom

       • Market Size
       • Production
       • Imports
       • Exports

    6. 11.6

       France

       • Market Size
       • Production
       • Imports
       • Exports

    7. 11.7

       Brazil

       • Market Size
       • Production
       • Imports
       • Exports

    8. 11.8

       Italy

       • Market Size
       • Production
       • Imports
       • Exports

    9. 11.9

       Russian Federation

       • Market Size
       • Production
       • Imports
       • Exports

    10. 11.10

        India

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    11. 11.11

        Canada

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    12. 11.12

        Australia

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    13. 11.13

        Republic of Korea

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    14. 11.14

        Spain

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    15. 11.15

        Mexico

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    16. 11.16

        Indonesia

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    17. 11.17

        Netherlands

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    18. 11.18

        Turkey

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    19. 11.19

        Saudi Arabia

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    20. 11.20

        Switzerland

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    21. 11.21

        Sweden

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    22. 11.22

        Nigeria

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    23. 11.23

        Poland

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    24. 11.24

        Belgium

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    25. 11.25

        Argentina

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    26. 11.26

        Norway

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    27. 11.27

        Austria

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    28. 11.28

        Thailand

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    29. 11.29

        United Arab Emirates

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    30. 11.30

        Colombia

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    31. 11.31

        Denmark

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    32. 11.32

        South Africa

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    33. 11.33

        Malaysia

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    34. 11.34

        Israel

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    35. 11.35

        Singapore

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    36. 11.36

        Egypt

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    37. 11.37

        Philippines

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    38. 11.38

        Finland

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    39. 11.39

        Chile

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    40. 11.40

        Ireland

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    41. 11.41

        Pakistan

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    42. 11.42

        Greece

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    43. 11.43

        Portugal

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    44. 11.44

        Kazakhstan

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    45. 11.45

        Algeria

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    46. 11.46

        Czech Republic

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    47. 11.47

        Qatar

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    48. 11.48

        Peru

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    49. 11.49

        Romania

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

    50. 11.50

        Vietnam

        • Market Size
        • Production
        • Imports
        • Exports

12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2025
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    8. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    11. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)

13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Consumption, by Country, 2025
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    6. Market Size and Growth, By Product
    7. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
    8. Exports and Growth, By Product
    9. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
    10. Production Volume and Growth
    11. Exports and Growth
    12. Export Prices and Growth
    13. Market Size and Growth
    14. Per Capita Consumption
    15. Imports and Growth
    16. Import Prices
    17. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    18. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    19. Production, by Country, 2025
    20. Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    21. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    22. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    26. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    27. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    28. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    32. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)

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Router Maker TP-Link Proposing $1 Billion Investment in U.S. Manufacturing

Cybersecurity

The company said lawsuits over its China ties were attempts to block its request for a waiver from the Trump administration’s foreign router ban

Photo of Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers outside the Supreme Court in 2023 by Patrick Semansky/AP

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2026 – A major router manufacturer is pushing back on lawsuits from four states alleging the company misled consumers about its ties to the Chinese government.

In a filing posted Wednesday, TP-Link told federal regulators it was planning to spend nearly $1 billion on U.S.-based manufacturing facilities and research and development. 

That, the company said, would allow it to start manufacturing next-generation Wi-Fi 8 routers in the U.S. as soon as next year.

The proposal is contingent on an approval of TP-Link’s request to import new router models. Acting on a determination from other law enforcement agencies, the Federal Communications Commission banned all new foreign-made routers in March. 

Along with the Defense Department and Department of Homeland Security, the FCC has been granting temporary waivers from the ban, including some to other big manufacturers like Asus and Netgear. TP-Link’s still has not been approved.

Those approvals require companies to put forward a plan for onshoring some of their manufacturing. Dell’Oro Group vice president Jeff Heynan said soon after the ban was announced that it was “almost impossible that these companies would even consider onshoring manufacturing, where input costs are significantly higher than in Southeast Asia.”

TP-Link told the FCC it took up 20 percent of the total router market in April, and a former National Security Agency official told Congress last year the company accounted for more than 60 percent of the consumer market.

The California-based company, legally TP-Link Systems, was spun off from Chinese firm TP-Link Technologies in 2024. 

Last week attorneys general from Florida, Iowa, Mondata, and Nebraska each sued the company, alleging it had misled consumers about its continued ties to China and arguing Chinese law could require TP-Link to turn over information to Chinese intelligence services.

TP-Link maintains it manufactures all its American products in Vietnam, but the lawsuits pointed to a 2025 Bloomberg report that found 99 percent of the components assembled in the Vietnam plant came from China.

Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers led a group of 21 attorneys general in a letter outlining similar concerns to the FCC.

TP-Link said DoD and DHS should not weigh those concerns when evaluating its waiver request.

“Rather than seeking to advance legitimate public policy objectives, the letter appears aimed primarily at encouraging federal officials to apply a heightened standard to TP-Link’s pending application that would be unattainable to TP-Link or any other router manufacturer in the world,” Steve Kovsky, TP-link’s corporate affairs officer, said in the Wednesday letter.

He continued, “If successful, this approach would undermine fair competition, damage consumer interests, and place at risk American leadership in the router marketplace, a market where the ability for U.S. companies to compete and innovate freely is critical to our national security and infrastructure.”

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$500M Multistate Investment Expands Critical Grid Electronics Manufacturing

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories is investing more than $500 million to expand its US manufacturing footprint, adding facilities and production capacity across four states. The projects, scheduled from 2026 through 2028, aim to meet growing demand for equipment used to monitor, control, and protect critical infrastructure.

Six Projects Target Production Growth

The expansion includes new electronic device manufacturing facilities in Moscow, Nampa, and Post Falls, Idaho, as well as a new manufacturing operation in Pullman, Washington. SEL is also expanding circuit board assembly in West Lafayette, Indiana, and adding panel assembly space in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Idaho projects include investments of more than $70 million in a 305,000-square-foot facility in Moscow and $150 million each in facilities in Nampa and Post Falls. The Moscow site is expected to open by the end of 2027, while the other two locations are scheduled to begin operations in early and late 2027, respectively.

Equipment Upgrades Boost Output

Beyond facility development, SEL plans to invest more than $100 million in manufacturing equipment. The upgrades, combined with additional production shifts and more than 600 assembler positions in Pullman and Lewiston, Idaho, are expected to increase electronic device output by 40% to 60%.

In Indiana, a $25 million investment will expand board assembly capacity by more than 35%. Meanwhile, the $15 million Charlotte project will add more than 50,000 square feet of custom panel assembly space.

Expanding Domestic Supply Capacity

The multistate expansion will increase US production of electronic devices, circuit boards, and custom control panels used in critical infrastructure applications. SEL’s products support electric power systems, where equipment reliability and operational security are important considerations for utilities and industrial operators.

The projects are expected to strengthen its domestic production network while supporting customers in the United States and international markets.

Image credit: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

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GlobalFoundries and US-Japan Partnership to Boost Semiconductor Manufacturing with New Fabs, ETElectronicsWorld

NEW DELHI: GlobalFoundries has been selected as the technology provider and operator for two new semiconductor manufacturing facilities (fabs) at its Malta, New York, site. This initiative falls under a US-Japan partnership that provides up to $21 billion in funding, according to a statement on Wednesday. An initial investment of approximately $10 billion will accelerate construction of a new 300mm semiconductor fab, which is expected to come online in 2029. An additional investment of approximately $10 billion would fund a second fab at the same location.Together, these two fabs are projected to add significant new US manufacturing capacity.The first fab is expected to add approximately 900,000 300mm wafers of annual US manufacturing capacity when fully operational. The second fab would add approximately the same amount. The project is also expected to create about 27,000 construction and ecosystem jobs, along with more than 1,000 high-skilled manufacturing jobs in New York’s Capital Region.GlobalFoundries has also agreed with the US Department of Commerce to amend its existing CHIPS and Science Act award. This reallocation of $955 million will accelerate the company’s investments in silicon photonics, silicon-germanium (SiGe), and advanced packaging at its facilities in Malta, New York, and Burlington, Vermont. These investments aim to expand domestic manufacturing capacity for technologies critical to communications infrastructure and data centers.In a separate agreement, the US Department of Commerce will receive approximately 4 per cent equity in GlobalFoundries.GlobalFoundries expects to break ground on the first fab at its Malta site later this year.“This is a bold new initiative for semiconductor manufacturing, bringing together the United States and Japan with GF’s differentiated technology and decades of manufacturing expertise to accelerate trusted capacity in New York,” said Tim Breen, CEO of GlobalFoundries. “GF was selected because fabs of this scale require more than capital. They require differentiated technology, operational excellence, and a proven ability to execute.”GlobalFoundries’ expanded US manufacturing capacity has received support from industry players.Renesas CEO Hidetoshi Shibata stated that his company is planning around GF’s new capacity as an extension of Renesas’ own production footprint. He highlighted the importance of trusted US-based manufacturing backed by a strong US-Japan partnership.Tony Kawai, president and CEO of Tokyo Electron, affirmed his company’s long-standing support for GlobalFoundries’ manufacturing operations. He noted Tokyo Electron’s contribution to expanding advanced semiconductor production capacity in the United States.Sabih Khan, Apple‘s COO, also commented on the partnership, noting that GlobalFoundries produces essential chips for Apple products in the United States.John Forsyth, president and CEO of Cirrus Logic, mentioned that the new fabs strengthen the US semiconductor ecosystem. He added that they provide Cirrus Logic with access to important domestic manufacturing capability for next-generation mixed-signal products.Mark Reuss, president of GM, emphasized the need for a strong and resilient semiconductor supply chain for software-defined vehicles.



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Lockheed Martin says munitions manufacturing expansion will create 6,000 U.S. jobs

Lockheed Martin plans to create 6,000 jobs across the United States, including 2,000 in Texas, as it expands munitions production. A $300 million investment in its Grand Prairie operation forms part of a broader commitment to spend $8–9 billion through 2030.

The Texas project will add manufacturing space and equipment for automation, digital production and precision machining. Hadrian will supply a 24-machine automated cell, expected to be operational in early 2027 and run by Lockheed Martin’s production workforce.

Lockheed Martin did not give a hiring timetable or say how many of the new Texas jobs would be at Grand Prairie. Nearly 800 production employees currently work at the facility, which manufactured 250,000 parts in 2025.

The expansion will bring the site’s manufacturing footprint to more than 735,000 square feet. It includes 100,000 square feet of new space and 85,000 square feet of offices being converted for manufacturing.

More than 30 additional high-precision machines installed in recent months are already producing thousands of components each week. The company expects to have added nearly 100 advanced machines at Grand Prairie by the end of 2026.

“Lockheed Martin has brought together commercial speed and combat-proven performance because America needs both,” said Jim Taiclet, the company’s chairman, president and chief executive. “By combining advanced technology with the expertise of our American workforce, we’re transforming manufacturing to deliver critical munitions at speed and scale.”

Grand Prairie supplies components for Missiles and Fire Control programs, including PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, PrSM and JATM. Its output supports final-assembly sites including Camden, Arkansas, and Troy, Alabama.

Lockheed Martin’s wider investment commitment covers modernization or expansion of more than 20 U.S. facilities through 2030. The company is also working with GM Defense to apply automotive manufacturing expertise to defense production.

“This expansion is more than just a new facility; it is a stronger supply chain and a more resilient industrial base,” said Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment. “Today in Grand Prairie, American industry is answering the call to support our warfighters.”

The company said agreements for PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, PrSM and JATM provide greater certainty for investment in personnel, equipment and supply chains. Those arrangements, developed with Department of War leadership, are intended to support faster production and deliveries.

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CurTec expands US manufacturing and warehouse capacity in South Carolina

CurTec USA is investing $10 million to expand its Westminster, South Carolina operations, creating 10 new jobs. The project will increase warehouse and production capacity and broaden the range manufactured in the United States.

The expansion will add approximately 27,300 square feet and more than 2,000 pallet positions. Groundbreaking is planned for October 2026, with completion expected in Q2 2027.

CurTec is expanding its manufacturing operations in Westminster, S.C. with a new warehouse and additional production capacity.

CurTec is expanding its manufacturing operations in Westminster, S.C. with a new warehouse and additional production capacity.

“When we opened Westminster in 2023, our goal was to get closer to North American customers and create a platform for growth,” says Bart van Berkel, CEO of CurTec. “This expansion strengthens local production, inventory and supply reliability while broadening the range we manufacture in the United States.”

Expanding local production

A new blow molding line will significantly increase capacity and extend local production to smaller packaging sizes. CurTec plans to produce 6- and 10-liter Click Pack pails in Westminster before year-end, followed by smaller Wide Neck Drums in 2027.

“Expanding production and warehousing together gives us greater flexibility to respond to customer demand,” says Roy Kuipers, Operations Directorat CurTec. “It also allows us to manufacture more of our portfolio locally.”

“Westminster was designed for future growth,” says Martin Lamar, Site Director USA. “We are now adding capacity and capability while growing our local team.”

“It is another ‘Top Shelf for Business’ day in Oconee County,” says Jamie Gilbert, President and CEO of the Oconee Economic Alliance. “Just three years after opening the facility, this investment reflects CurTec’s confidence in our workforce and business climate. We value our partnership and look forward to CurTec’s continued growth in our community.”

About CurTec

CurTec manufactures high-performance packaging for life sciences and fine chemicals.

CurTec supports life sciences and fine chemicals companies with high-performance packaging for the safe handling and containment of critical materials. CurTec has GMP-certified production facilities in Westminster, South Carolina, and Rijen, the Netherlands.

  

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Bipartisan Robotics Panel Warns of Widening U.S. Deployment Gap With China – Unite.AI

The National Security Commission on Robotics for Advanced Manufacturing, a bipartisan initiative of the Special Competitive Studies Project, released its 90-page Preliminary Report on October 13, 2026. The commission’s central finding: the United States leads in the technologies that form the brain of modern robotics, including artificial intelligence, computer vision, autonomy and software, yet lacks the scale to deploy robots, produce robotic systems and manufacture critical components domestically.

The report addresses physical AI, its term for artificial intelligence embodied in machines that sense and act in the real world, and argues that leadership will be determined by productive deployment and resilient production capacity rather than model capability alone. The commission frames the document as a diagnosis rather than a prescription; a Final Report with recommendations is scheduled for March 2027.

A Bipartisan Commission and Its Method

The commission is co-chaired by Senator Ted Budd, a North Carolina Republican, Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, and SCSP President and CEO Ylli Bajraktari. Members include executives from Playground Global, Path Robotics, FANUC America, Intrinsic, NVIDIA, Andreessen Horowitz, Boston Dynamics, AMD, General Motors and Mytra; the director of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; and academics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan. Ayanna Howard stepped down as a commissioner in June 2026 to focus on her new role as president of Spelman College.

The analysis covers robotic systems used in advanced manufacturing, from fixed industrial robots and collaborative systems to autonomous mobile robots and emerging general-purpose platforms. The findings draw on publicly available data, academic and industry research, commission deliberations, briefings and site visits, and engagements with manufacturers, workers, technology developers, systems integrators, researchers, educators and investors. The commission labels them preliminary because robotics technologies, markets and deployment models are evolving rapidly and the available evidence remains uneven in several areas.

The Deployment Gap Behind the Finding

According to International Federation of Robotics figures cited in the report, Chinese factories installed approximately 354,200 industrial robots in 2025, 59% of worldwide installations, compared with approximately 38,400 in the United States. By the end of 2024, Chinese firms had more than two million industrial robots operating in factories, which the report describes as more than five times the U.S. stock of 393,700; that stock represented 8.3% of the global total as of 2024.

The United States ranked eighth worldwide in robot density in 2024, at roughly 307 robots per 10,000 manufacturing employees, a fraction of the Republic of Korea’s 1,220 but above China’s density. U.S. annual installations peaked at 40,000 units in 2022, or 7% of the global total, and the U.S. share fell to 6.3% in 2024; preliminary numbers indicate a rebound to 38,400 units in 2025. Most industrial robots installed in the United States were imported, while Chinese suppliers accounted for 55% of installations in their domestic market in 2025.

Only 12.1% of U.S. manufacturing plants reported using robots in 2021, according to U.S. Census Bureau data cited in the report. China’s Made in China 2025 initiative, launched in 2015, set a goal of 1.8 million operational robots by 2025, and the report states China met it early, in 2024, when its operational stock surpassed two million. The commission cautions that these figures measure industrial robots and do not capture newer systems such as mobile robots and humanoids, and that comparable deployment data for those systems are needed before drawing broader conclusions about physical AI leadership.

Ten Findings Across Four Pillars

The report organizes ten preliminary findings around four pillars: the national framework, the talent pipeline, adoption at scale and the innovation ecosystem. At the center sits what the commission calls a supply-demand paradox: manufacturers wait for robotic systems to become cheaper, more adaptable and better proven, while robotics firms cannot lower costs or improve performance without the deployment volume manufacturers provide. The commission describes this first-mover problem as a market failure unlikely to resolve on its own.

On the national framework, the report finds federal robotics initiatives spread across at least four executive departments and numerous agencies, with no single institution accountable for national-scale outcomes. The National Robotics Initiative coordinated more than $250 million across more than 300 projects before the National Science Foundation ended the program in 2022.

On the talent pipeline, a 2024 Deloitte and Manufacturing Institute study cited in the report projects the industry will need to fill approximately 3.8 million jobs by 2033, with up to 1.9 million potentially going unfilled. The commission finds the employment effects of robotics ambiguous and not predetermined, shaped simultaneously by job displacement, job transformation and new job creation. Apprentices make up only 0.3% of the U.S. workforce as of 2025, the report notes, and traditional multi-year apprenticeship programs struggle to keep pace with rapid technological change.

According to the commission’s release, small and medium-sized manufacturers, about 95% of U.S. manufacturing firms, face capital constraints, knowledge gaps, narrow return-on-investment metrics and cybersecurity and liability uncertainty. The report adds that AI-assisted programming, low-code tools and collaborative robots are expanding the feasibility of automation beyond rigid, high-volume production, while safety frameworks and performance standards struggle to keep pace.

On the innovation ecosystem, the report describes a commercialization valley of death for U.S. robotics startups, whose capital-intensive hardware requirements align poorly with traditional venture capital timelines. China accounted for approximately 60% of global rare-earth mine production, 91% of refined output and 94% of sintered permanent-magnet production in 2024, according to the report, which describes such magnets as necessary components in most motors and actuators used in industrial robots; it adds that in 2025 China implemented export restrictions that disrupted industrial supply chains in the United States and its allies. The operational data U.S. firms produce sits locked inside individual companies, in incompatible formats and behind contracts that bar sharing.

The findings also cite security risks: a 2026 national security determination that added foreign-produced advanced robotic devices to the Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List; a vulnerability discovered in early 2026 in a Chinese company’s robot vacuums that exposed live camera feeds, microphone audio and floor plans from nearly 7,000 devices across 24 countries; and a pre-installed backdoor found in 2025 in a quadruped robot made by Unitree Robotics that enabled surveillance of customers worldwide and unauthorized remote control of the robots.

A National Mission and the March 2027 Final Report

The report concludes that the United States needs a national mission organized around deployment, mobilizing private-sector dynamism, research strength, capital markets, regional manufacturing ecosystems and skilled workers. Such a mission would not copy China’s state-directed model or require domestic production of every component; the strategic question, the commission writes, is where concentrated or adversary-linked dependencies create vulnerability and where domestic or allied capacity is essential.

“A software advantage that cannot be embodied, manufactured, deployed, and sustained at scale will not be sufficient to secure American industrial leadership,” Bajraktari wrote in a letter opening the report.

In the release announcing the report, Budd called the report an important step toward harnessing physical AI, automation and robotics, and said reindustrializing the United States is essential to strengthening critical supply chains, securing leadership in emerging technologies and staying ahead of China. Slotkin said the country needs to bring back and expand critical manufacturing processes and shore up vulnerable supply chains without harming American workers.

The commission says such a mission should be judged by national outcomes rather than the number of programs created or dollars announced, citing measures including the breadth of adoption across industries, regions and smaller manufacturers; the time and cost required to move from assessment to productive operation; the share of pilots that advance to repeat deployments; and domestic and allied capacity in critical components. The Final Report, scheduled for March 2027, will propose recommendations for federal, state and regional leaders; manufacturers and technology companies; educators and workforce-development organizations; workers and labor representatives; investors; and research institutions.

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US Army aspires to create Indo-Pacific manufacturing hub in Korea

In the Pacific, a single bolt can become a giant headache and the source of months of delay. The bolt that Col. Scott Carpenter held up Monday during the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting belonged to a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station turret, and it is back-ordered until February 2027.

At U.S. Army Materiel Support Command — Korea, the unit Carpenter commands, soldiers built the bolt through the drill-out process of subtractive manufacturing for a cost of $1.27, avoiding months of delay and saving more than $300 in the process.

As the Eighth Army in Korea builds out its logistics capability, it’s investing in advanced manufacturing with an eye to supplying spares, not only to local Army forces, but also to troops across the Pacific region.

“I want to be the advanced manufacturing center for INDOPACOM,” Carpenter said at an engagement with reporters at the AUSA meeting. “That’s my goal.”

Eighth Army officials spoke earlier this year about how establishing a Korea-based regional sustainment hub, or center for logistics, maintenance and supply, could cut down the burden and cost of long-distance sustainment. At a roundtable event Monday, Eighth Army Commander Lt. Gen. Joseph Hilber indicated the force was moving out to build that sustainment hub.

“Now, rather than taking equipment that might need a major overhaul and send it back to the United States, we’re looking at ways that we can overhaul it there in Korea and keep it in the fight longer. Keep it west of the [International Dateline] longer,” Hilber said. “That’s going to involve everything from some added manufacturing capabilities to additional repair capabilities that we’ve got in there in terms of being able to fabricate parts, being able to fabricate materials, and then being able to return that equipment back into the fight.”

The Eighth Army has already resourced maintenance support teams that cross service and regional boundaries, departing the Korean Peninsula to support the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, and to Hawaii to support Army rotational units, Carpenter said.

Through additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, and subtractive manufacturing, or cutting a part out of a solid block of metal, the Eighth Army is manufacturing an increasing number of critical parts, Carpenter said. The materiel support command recently acquired a metal 3D printer and is now building out infrastructure to house it.

“But we think come January, February, the metal 3D printer [will be] in, and my goal is … I would like to get to a point where I can 3D print the bolt,” Carpenter said.

U.S. Army officers tour a South Korean navy shipyard to examine 3D printers used for their equipment on March 25, 2026. (Spc. Keli Luangrath/U.S. Army)

By next summer, he said, the Eighth Army is set to receive $3 million worth of advanced manufacturing machines, with some $10 million worth of additional machinery set to be requested in the Army’s fiscal 2028 budget.

“I’ll be able to print bumpers; I’ll be able to print doors,” Carpenter said. “These are not just desktop printers.”

Recently, he said, a Guam-based military unit requested an assembly that would have cost $36,000. The Korea-based team built it through subtractive manufacturing for $82.

Through a request system, Carpenter said, any joint forces member can now request a part and get routed to the Army’s logistics hub in Daegu, South Korea.

“If you’re the Marines operating in Okinawa and you need this bolt … I get this bolt back over to the Marine at a fraction of the cost, and a lot quicker than if they were to order through the supply system,” he said. “So again, we’re maintaining combat power inside the First Island Chain.”

Hilbert said some hurdles remained for the Eighth Army, including intellectual property restrictions with manufacturers; data-sharing to ensure the advanced manufacturing processes deliver components that are up to spec; and seamless connection into existing Army logistics systems not designed for these new modes of parts production.

“We’re continuing to work through those pieces to enable us to fix faster,” Hilbert said.

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U.S. Army to stress-test defense production and supply chains in ‘Manufacturing Rodeo’

The U.S. Army plans to hold its first Manufacturing Rodeo early next year to find where its production processes and supply chains fail under pressure. Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle announced the competition at the opening ceremony of the AUSA annual meeting.

“The U.S. Army is going to do something we’ve never done before: early next year we will conduct what I’m calling a Manufacturing Rodeo—a race between our industrial base partners that strains our organic industrial base, stresses the supply chain, pressures manufacturing processes, and shows us exactly where it breaks,” Telle said. The exercise will test both the Army’s Organic Industrial Base and the wider U.S. manufacturing network.

Telle said the Army would learn by doing rather than “sitting around postulating at the Pentagon.” It intends to identify weak links, strengthen them and keep testing improvements to make production more resilient and responsive.

The initiative follows the Army’s shift this year from production targets for individual systems toward manufacturing capabilities that can make a wider range of components. The service has established advanced manufacturing hubs at Red River, Anniston and Tobyhanna Army depots and secured public-private partnerships with Hadrian and Siemens.

The Army said those investments have expanded its ability to manufacture subcomponents on demand for existing and future weapon systems. Products include complex electric motors and replacement parts such as tank engine transmission belt housings.

The service is also seeking to reduce bureaucratic barriers to working with U.S. companies and speed up the acquisition of new capabilities. It said integrating autonomous technologies and expanding production would help provide soldiers with equipment when needed and in sufficient quantities.

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Why the US Army is planning a manufacturing rodeo

The US Army will launch its first-ever “manufacturing rodeo” early next year to test the resilience of military production facilities, identify supply chain vulnerabilities and assess whether American manufacturers can meet military equipment demands at scale.

Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle announced the initiative Monday during the opening ceremony of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) National Convention in Washington, Anadolu Agency reported.

Telle described the event as a competitive exercise designed to challenge both the Army’s Organic Industrial Base (OIB) and the wider US manufacturing network under demanding conditions.

“The US Army is going to do something we’ve never done before: early next year we will conduct what I’m calling a manufacturing rodeo — a race between our industrial base partners that strains our organic industrial base, stresses the supply chain, pressures manufacturing processes, and shows us exactly where it breaks,” Telle said.

The exercise will seek to expose weaknesses in production systems and supply chains when they come under pressure. The findings are expected to help the Army determine where additional investment, improved manufacturing processes or new production capabilities may be necessary.

Telle said the initiative would prioritize practical testing of industrial capacity rather than relying solely on planning and analysis. The goal is to identify potential bottlenecks and assess how effectively the US industrial base can support the military’s equipment requirements.

News.Az 

By Aysel Mammadzada

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