2026 AI In Manufacturing & Supply Chain Series – New Technology

More

Foley & Lardner LLP looks beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving demands facing our clients and their industries. With over 1,100 lawyers in 24 offices across the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia, Foley approaches client service by first understanding our clients’ priorities, objectives and challenges. We work hard to understand our clients’ issues and forge long-term relationships with them to help achieve successful outcomes and solve their legal issues through practical business advice and cutting-edge legal insight. Our clients view us as trusted business advisors because we understand that great legal service is only valuable if it is relevant, practical and beneficial to their businesses.

The manufacturing and supply chain sectors face unprecedented transformation as AI-driven technologies like agentic systems, predictive analytics, and digital twins revolutionize operations while simultaneously…

United States
Technology

To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com.

Article Insights

Vanessa L. Miller’s articles from Foley & Lardner are most popular:

• with readers working within the Securities & Investment industries

Foley & Lardner are most popular:

• within Coronavirus (COVID-19) topic(s)

Welcome to the 2026 AI in Manufacturing & Supply Chain Series, a new initiative where we will help industry participants identify and manage the legal risks and business strategies arising from the profound shifts and innovations reshaping manufacturing and supply chain operations.

The sector stands on the brink of unprecedented transformation—and with it, a new landscape of legal exposure. The momentum toward intelligent, autonomous systems—powered by agentic AI, predictive analytics, digital twins, and real-time IoT integration—is accelerating rapidly. While these technological breakthroughs enable proactive decision-making and dramatic efficiency gains, they also create novel liability risks, regulatory compliance challenges, and contractual complexities that demand careful legal planning. The convergence of AI with legacy systems and connected ecosystems is revolutionizing how factories operate and how supply networks adapt, but it simultaneously exposes organizations to heightened cybersecurity vulnerabilities, data governance obligations, and potential disputes with vendors, customers, and regulators.

The year 2026 presents industry participants with formidable legal challenges alongside exciting operational opportunities. As leaders harness AI to drive predictive maintenance, optimize production, and build resilient supply chains, they must also confront emerging sources of liability—from algorithmic errors and autonomous system failures to data breaches and regulatory non-compliance. The sector continues to navigate evolving regulatory landscapes, including new AI-specific requirements that carry significant penalties for violations. Workforce dynamics are shifting as well, raising labor-law questions around human-AI collaboration and automation-driven displacement. Consumer and stakeholder expectations for transparency, sustainability, and ethical AI practices are intensifying, creating reputational and litigation risks for organizations that fall short. Proactive legal planning is essential for manufacturers and supply chain operators seeking to capture AI’s benefits while minimizing exposure.

As these shifts unfold, the volatility of global manufacturing and supply chains remains a critical factor, intensified by geopolitical tensions, economic fluctuations, and persistent disruptions. Strategic legal planning and agile, well-counseled responses are essential to manage competitive pressures and the intricate web of regulations, contracts, and potential claims worldwide.

To aid industry leaders, innovators, and their legal advisors in navigating this complex risk environment, Foley & Lardner is thrilled to present the 2026 AI in Manufacturing & Supply Chain Series. This series will offer legal insights and risk analyses that delve into the pivotal developments influencing these sectors. Join us as we examine key legal risks, emerging regulatory requirements, and strategic imperatives arising from new AI technology, including but not limited to:

• Liability exposure from AI-driven predictive maintenance, quality control, and production scheduling—including product liability implications, warranty considerations, and risk mitigation strategies when AI systems inform critical operational decisions
• Legal frameworks for building resilient, visible, and autonomous supply chains—including contractual risk allocation, indemnification strategies, and liability considerations when deploying AI-driven predictive analytics and agentic systems
• Data governance, privacy compliance, and legal risks of system integration when scaling AI across manufacturing and IoT ecosystems—including legacy infrastructure challenges and regulatory requirements for data handling
• Cybersecurity liability, privacy litigation risks, and governance of AI-enabled smart factories—including regulatory enforcement exposure, breach notification obligations, and strategies for managing unauthorized “shadow AI” deployments
• Intellectual property protection strategies, patentability challenges for AI-assisted inventions, trade secret safeguards, and contractual approaches to data-ownership disputes in smart manufacturing environments
• Compliance obligations and enforcement risks in the evolving U.S. and global AI regulatory environment, including the EU AI Act’s requirements for high-risk systems in manufacturing and supply chain applications and penalties for non-compliance
• Contractual best practices and risk allocation strategies for AI vendor agreements, including liability caps, indemnification provisions, performance guarantees, audit rights, and dispute resolution mechanisms in manufacturing and supply chain contexts
• Legal due diligence for AI investments, avoiding implementation pitfalls that create liability, and establishing governance frameworks that support compliant, enterprise-wide AI deployment in manufacturing and supply chain operations

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide
to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your
specific circumstances.

[View Source]

Source link

U.S. manufacturing revival may have already arrived

OPINION:

I have one manufacturing client in New Jersey and another in Georgia, both of whom are expanding their businesses. “We have large customers who would prefer to buy from us than overseas,” my New Jersey client told me.

A U.S. manufacturing resurgence is already underway, and policy is accelerating it faster than many expected.

In April, the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing purchasing managers index registered its fastest expansion since August 2022. Four of the six largest manufacturing industries (transportation equipment, computer and electronic products, machinery, and chemical products) reported expansion.

The Wall Street Journal’s Greg Ip recently reported on the “stealth manufacturing boom” in the U.S. He cited many examples, including the “booming” rise in aerospace and transportation equipment.

A recently released report from research firm Kearney said a “significant share of executives” are reporting plans to reshore or increase production in the United States.

The recent report showing U.S. gross domestic product growth at 2% has been largely attributed to corporate capital investment. Reuters recently reported that new orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital goods increased by the most in nearly six years and shipments rose “solidly,” suggesting that business spending on equipment helped drive economic growth in the first quarter.

A recent survey from the National Association of Manufacturers found that 75.3% of respondents felt either “somewhat or very positive about their company’s outlook,” a 5.4-percentage-point increase from last quarter and above the historical average of 74.3% for the first time since the first quarter of 2023.

A report in the online trade magazine Manufacturing Tomorrow said reshoring is making a “decisive comeback as manufacturers bring production and key suppliers closer to customers.” The report cited South Carolina, Mississippi and Texas as the beneficiaries of “the largest investment waves in semiconductors, batteries, industrial infrastructure and related industries.”

In Ohio, General Motors recently expanded its Toledo manufacturing capacity with new investment, part of a broader $830 million plan targeting multiple U.S. facilities to support next-generation vehicle production. GM has already invested more than $6 billion in its U.S. manufacturing footprint over the past year, with hundreds of millions of dollars dedicated toward projects in Michigan.

A California-based drone manufacturer announced that it would invest $3.5 billion to expand facilities domestically and plans to create more than 2,000 jobs to “break free from Chinese supply chain dependence.”

In Louisiana, a large construction company announced a state-of-the-art nuclear fabrication facility project spanning two regions of the state. It is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs.

An industrial additive manufacturing company in Michigan said it will start domestic manufacturing of a key product line near Detroit to address customer concerns about lead times, parts availability and total cost of ownership. The company has recently begun manufacturing another product line in Michigan and said it has launched a “broader plan to bring additional major subsystems into U.S. production.”

Kitchen appliance maker Sub-Zero said it would invest $196 million in an expansion in Iowa to “enhance production capacity while further integrating advanced manufacturing technologies into the facility.” Also in the state, a precast concrete manufacturing facility will open, creating dozens of jobs.

These aren’t isolated announcements. They reflect a broader shift toward domestic production. What is behind this?

As with any major change, the cause is never just one thing. Tariffs, of course, are driving more foreign companies to invest in the U.S. and domestic companies to turn to domestic resources.

Supply chain pain from the pandemic has led many companies to rethink how and where they source their materials. Moving production, design and sales closer together speeds innovation.

Quality control is easier with fewer products coming from multiple, unreliable and difficult-to-test foreign sources. The data center boom is playing a significant role. The Iran war is creating demand for more military equipment.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted last year, offered manufacturers enormous tax deductions. Public sentiment, driven by White House messaging, shines a favorable light on companies that keep their operations in the U.S.

Of course, there are challenges. Many manufacturers are grappling with much higher costs, labor shortages, artificial-intelligence-driven upheaval, the uncertainties caused by the Middle East conflict and a polarized political environment.

You can’t expect an expansion of tariffs to turn around decades of crushing economic policy in just a year, but there are signs that the tariffs are already having an impact.

The shift won’t be quick or easy, but the early signals are clear: After decades of decline, U.S. manufacturing is beginning to regain momentum.

Source link

Siemens USA CEO talks milestone $1B investment to US manufacturing

00:00 Speaker A

I’m curious about this milestone that you guys reached. How much of the the billion dollars was sort of in the planning? How much of it was pulled forward as a result of tariffs and you all thinking differently perhaps about your supply chain.

00:11 Speaker B

Yeah, thanks, Julie. It’s so nice to be with you today, especially as we announce this billion dollar milestone. Uh and it’s a fair question, right? I mean, this uh this billion dollars is the cumulative effect of investments over the last five years. Uh so definitely the pipeline and actually, uh many factories coming online over the last five years as we’ve continued to bring up our investment. A lot of it is associated with our uh build out of the electrical infrastructure. I mean, Siemens is the leading technology company helping to serve America’s industries, infrastructure and transportation. And we like to build close to where our customers are located. Uh the US is our largest market. Uh we have over 50,000 employees here in the United States and factories, manufacturing facilities from California and Texas uh to New York, Pennsylvania and the Carolinas, really across the United States. Uh so much of this has been in the planning for quite some time, but we’re really excited today to announce that we’ve reached that billion dollar milestone.

01:21 Speaker A

Okay, so to go back then to the tariff question, how much of that has sort of fed into your thinking and planning about all of this?

01:30 Speaker B

Well, a lot of these investments, Julie, uh were were planned long before we saw the tariff implementation over the last two years, but certainly for Siemens, like all uh companies doing business in the United States, it’s a topic that we’ve had to carefully navigate over the last few years. Our local for local investment strategy uh that we’ve really enhanced to be honest over the last decade, uh really has helped us to bring on more resilience to implement a supply chain that is more local to local, close closer to our customers and the markets that we serve.

02:22 Speaker A

Um, as we talked about, two of those four investments are tied to AI data center demand, providing um electrical components to some of those um facilities. Um, we know just hearing from the hyperscalers last week that there are some bottlenecks in certain parts of that buildout, right? They’ve talked notably about things like memory chips. I know gas turbines are another area that are way backlogged. So I’m curious where you guys are seeing those bottlenecks and how much some of this US capacity might help to alleviate them.

03:09 Speaker B

That’s a great question, Julie. Thank you. I think as we’re looking at um the the the bottlenecks that we’re seeing in the United States, I mean, workforce is one. Uh and our investments are helping to provide additional jobs in the United States, about 2,200 jobs over the last five years including through 2026 that we will make available in the United States. That’s one issue. I think another major issue in the United States is the demands and the constraints on our energy supply. As we’re looking at where our infrastructure build out is happening and needs to continue to happen in the United States, this is where we’ve really been able to deliver state-of-the-art electrification equipment uh to our customers to help address the increasing demands not just from AI, but certainly the additional manufacturing and onshoring that we’re seeing here in this country.

04:22 Speaker A

So I guess kind of related to that then, um, we heard some of those hyperscalers say, we’re seeing more demand than we can keep up with, right? We can’t we don’t have the capacity to supply as much compute demand. What are you seeing in terms of your demand supply equation at this point, particularly in that sort of AI related demand for your products?

04:48 Speaker B

This is a challenge that everyone’s facing right now. There’s huge demand. Uh we’re able to at this point in time, fortunately, meet the demands of our customers and the the build out of the manufacturing uh portfolio that I mentioned. Those investments uh we anticipate will continue. Uh we see that we’re able to really favorably invest in the United States to build out capacity, to train the workforce, to really elevate our ability to keep up with our customers’ demands. Our customers do include the hyperscalers and some of the largest technology companies in the world, but also uh many of our um, uh small and medium enterprise companies that are also benefiting from the expansion in the United States.

Source link

$9 Trillion Is Pouring Into American Manufacturing — And It’s Just Getting Started

Apple, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor, Eli Lilly, and dozens of other major companies have committed nearly $9 trillion in U.S. manufacturing investment in under a year. Former CIA and Pentagon advisor Jim Rickards says most people are missing the bigger story underneath it all.

Washington, D.C., May 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In less than a year, some of the largest corporations on Earth have committed a staggering $9 trillion to build, expand, and relocate manufacturing operations on American soil. Jim Rickards has released a free video presentation examining what he believes is the most important and least-covered story underneath those headline numbers — and why he says most Americans are looking at only the surface of what is actually unfolding.

Apple has pledged $500 billion for a new advanced manufacturing facility in Houston. Nvidia has announced plans to invest as much as $500 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor is putting $100 billion toward manufacturing advanced chips domestically. Eli Lilly is investing $50 billion to establish four new U.S. manufacturing sites. Hyundai, GE Aerospace, Abbott Laboratories, and dozens of others are following suit.

It’s a wave of capital flowing into American industry at a scale that hasn’t been seen in generations. And according to Jim Rickards — an economist, best-selling author, and former advisor to the CIA, the Pentagon, and the White House — most people are focused on the headline number without asking the question that actually matters.

“You cannot have an industrial boom without energy from coal, oil, natural gas, or nuclear power,” Rickards said. “And you cannot have an industrial boom without metals like copper, iron ore, rare earth elements, lithium, and silicon.”

In other words, $9 trillion in new factories means an unprecedented surge in demand for the raw materials required to build and power them. And Rickards believes almost nobody is paying attention to what that means.

The Supply Chain Nobody’s Watching

Every new manufacturing facility requires steel, copper, concrete, and wiring. Every factory that comes online needs a power source. Every piece of advanced technology rolling off a new production line depends on critical minerals — many of which the U.S. currently imports almost entirely from abroad.

After years of offshoring production and neglecting domestic mining, the United States now relies on China for 100% of 15 key minerals. These are the materials that go into fighter jets, electric vehicle batteries, smartphones, laptops, and the semiconductor chips that the new factories are being built to produce.

“We’re completely dependent on our number one strategic competitor,” Rickards said. “That’s a huge problem for America.”

The $9 trillion in new manufacturing investment doesn’t just represent a reshoring trend. Rickards argues it represents a structural surge in demand for resources that the U.S. doesn’t currently produce at anywhere near sufficient scale.

A Government Response Unlike Anything in Modern History

Rickards’s presentation points to an aggressive federal push to close that gap — one he says has no modern precedent in scope or speed.

Earlier this year, an executive order titled “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production” directed federal agencies to ramp up mining operations on public lands. The Financial Times has estimated those lands hold as much as $100 trillion in untapped mineral wealth.

Through a program called FAST-41, critical mining projects are being fast-tracked from permitting timelines that once stretched to 10 years down to a matter of weeks. The Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada received its federal permits in just 89 days. The stated goal is to push that timeline down to 28 days.

“This is a true game-changer for the industry,” Rickards said. “A lot of big investors want nothing to do with mining projects because it normally could take over a decade for them to see any return. But with these accelerated permits, that entire equation has changed.”

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has captured the administration’s posture in a single phrase: “Everybody likes to say, ‘drill, baby, drill.’ I know that President Trump has another initiative for us, which is ‘mine, baby, mine.’”

The Pentagon Is Buying Mining Companies

Beyond regulatory changes, the federal government has taken an even more unusual step — investing directly in mining companies.

The Department of Defense put $400 million into MP Materials, a rare earth producer, becoming the company’s largest shareholder. As part of the deal, the government agreed to purchase the company’s output at a guaranteed floor price.

“The company now basically has a guaranteed buyer for its products,” Rickards said in his presentation. “The best kind of buyer you can ask for — a buyer with unlimited spending power. The U.S. government.”

A $35 million federal investment followed in Trilogy Metals, securing critical mining operations in Alaska. Reports indicate the administration is planning a direct equity stake in Lithium Americas. And a $5 billion mining investment fund is in the works, designed to take direct stakes in companies producing critical minerals domestically.

The CEO of the National Mining Association, Rich Nolan, has called it “the New Deal for minerals” — comparing the scale to FDR’s infrastructure programs during the Great Depression.

A Pattern That’s Repeated Throughout History

Rickards’s presentation says this isn’t theory. It’s a pattern that has played out before — and the results were staggering.

In the early 2000s, China’s state-backed industrialization effort consumed twice as much steel between 2000 and 2020 as the United States used during the entire 20th century. That state-driven demand triggered what economists call a supercycle — a sustained, multi-year boom in the value of metals, energy, and raw materials.

Rickards believes the same dynamic is now emerging in the United States, driven by two forces converging at once: a government-backed push to rebuild American industry, and a wave of nearly $9 trillion in private capital pouring in on top of it.

“Throughout history, every single industrialization effort has been powered by natural resources,” Rickards said. “I honestly never thought I would see another supercycle in my lifetime. But here we are.”

He’s not alone in that view. Adam Rozencwajg, who manages a natural resource hedge fund, has called this “the best opportunity that I’ve seen probably in the 150-odd years that we’ve been studying these markets.”

The Connection Most People Haven’t Made

Rickards believes the core disconnect is that most Americans see the manufacturing headlines — Apple building in Houston, Nvidia expanding domestically, chip fabs going up across the country — and think of it as a jobs story or a trade story. What they’re not seeing, he says, is the cascade of demand those commitments create underneath.

More factories mean more power consumption. More power means more nuclear energy, more natural gas, more uranium. More advanced manufacturing means more copper, more lithium, more rare earth elements. And all of it has to come from somewhere.

“After many years of underinvestment in the mining sector, we now rely on China for 100% of 15 key minerals,” Rickards said. “That’s why the response you’re seeing now is so aggressive. And that’s why I believe this is just the beginning.”

Rickards has published his full analysis through his research service, which is followed by thousands of readers nationwide.

About the Presentation

Jim Rickards’ full video presentation is free to watch and available for on-demand viewing at no cost. To access the complete session, click here.

About Jim Rickards and Paradigm Press

Jim Rickards is an economist, best-selling author, and former advisor to the CIA, the Pentagon, and the White House. Across nearly five decades in international finance, he played direct roles in the resolution of the Iran hostage crisis, the creation of the Petrodollar Accord, and the Federal Reserve’s response to the Long-Term Capital Management banking crisis. His books, including Currency Wars and The Death of Money, have been widely read across both Wall Street and the intelligence community. His work is published by Paradigm Press, an independent financial research firm. The publisher maintains a 4.8-star rating on Google across more than 1,900 public reviews from readers who follow its research and commentary.

CONTACT: Derek Warren Public Relations Manager Paradigm Press Group Email: dwarren@paradigmpressgroup.com

Source link

US Manufacturing Holds Up as Costs Gauge Hits Four-Year High

A worker arc welds a metal door during production at a manufacturing facility in Sacramento. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)

May 1, 2026 11:01 AM, EDT

This year’s U.S. manufacturing expansion extended into April even as the Iran war drove input prices sharply higher.

The Institute for Supply Management’s gauge of prices paid for manufacturing inputs climbed for a fourth straight month to a four-year high of 84.6, according to data released May 1.

The group’s measure of overall factory activity held steady at 52.7, matching the highest level since 2022. Readings above 50 indicate growth.

Military conflict in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted supply chains around the world, driving up the cost of oil and other materials like aluminum and helium. Higher gasoline and diesel prices have also made shipping products more expensive.

Thirteen manufacturing industries reported growth in April, led by textile mills, nonmetallic mineral products and primary metals. Three industries indicated a contraction.

Sustained inflationary pressures may spur manufacturers to hike prices too, which could ultimately lead to higher costs for consumer goods. Data out April 30 showed the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of inflation jumped in March by the most since 2022.

.@ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report: New orders ticked up, #employment contracted further and the prices elevator went even higher as #tariffs and the Middle East conflict remained headaches. The #ISMPMI was 52.7% for a second straight month. https://t.co/J7Z1OI1HlC #economy

— Institute for Supply Management (@ism) May 1, 2026

The ISM report showed new orders picked up in April as production growth decelerated. A measure of supplier deliveries rose to the highest level since 2022, with the longer lead times likely a result of war-related disruptions.

The group’s gauge of employment fell to a four-month low, indicating factory head count continued to shrink. The government’s April employment report is scheduled to be released May 8.

“Among panelists, 60% indicated that managing head counts remains the norm at their companies as opposed to hiring, and of those managing head counts, 34% are using layoffs and 43% using attrition or not backfilling positions,” Susan Spence, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, said in a statement.

Source link

US manufacturing expansion continues in April despite Iran war

This year’s US manufacturing expansion extended into April even as the Iran war drove input prices sharply higher.

The Institute for Supply Management’s gauge of prices paid for manufacturing inputs climbed for a fourth straight month to a four-year high of 84.6, according to data released Friday.

The group’s measure of overall factory activity held steady at 52.7, matching the highest level since 2022. Readings above 50 indicate growth.

Military conflict in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted supply chains around the world, driving up the cost of oil and other materials like aluminum and helium. Higher gasoline and diesel prices have also made shipping products more expensive.

Thirteen manufacturing industries reported growth in April, led by textile mills, nonmetallic mineral products and primary metals. Three industries indicated a contraction.

Sustained inflationary pressures may spur manufacturers to hike prices too, which could ultimately lead to higher costs for consumer goods. Data out Thursday showed the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of inflation jumped in March by the most since 2022.

The ISM report showed new orders picked up in April as production growth decelerated. A measure of supplier deliveries rose to the highest level since 2022, with the longer lead times likely a result of war-related disruptions.

Select ISM Industry Comments

“Demand for manufactured goods is trending higher versus last year; however, geopolitical uncertainty and rising oil and diesel prices continue to weigh on demand. Many customers are exercising caution and remain in a wait-and-watch mode.” — Transportation Equipment

“Geopolitical risk, especially in the Middle East, as it pertains to commodity and energy markets remains a concern and is being monitored by the business. Supply chain risk concerns pertaining to increased cost and transit time for rerouted shipments due to conflict in the Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz and Suez Canal.” — Transportation Equipment

“Continuing fluctuation in US tariffs as well as market constraints for certain materials are affecting our current business.” — Computer and Electronic Products

“All products tied to crude, polyethylene resin or energy (liquified natural gas) have seen multiple increase spikes tied to the Iran crisis and market supply inflation.” — Chemical Products

“Revenues are very strong. However, price increases are similar to a few years ago with the supply chain crisis. All imports from China are up 15 percent to 25 percent, which is impossible for us to absorb or to fully pass along.” — Chemical Products

“General uncertainty over the total impact of the U.S.-Iran war. Have not yet started to see the full impact of fuel increases but are aware they are coming.” — Machinery

“Business levels have been decent this year, in line with the same period last year and improved from the second half of 2025. However, higher cost pressures are impacting margins.” — Fabricated Metal Products

“Our business remains strong and stable, but there are a lot of concerns in the geopolitical arena. If the Iran conflict persists, the impact on market pricing and supply continuity could be extreme. Electronics component market remains very volatile (pricing and continuity) based on AI.” — Miscellaneous Manufacturing

The group’s gauge of employment fell to a four-month low, indicating factory headcount continued to shrink. The government’s April employment report is scheduled to be released May 8.

“Among panelists, 60% indicated that managing head counts remains the norm at their companies as opposed to hiring, and of those managing head counts, 34% are using layoffs and 43% using attrition or not backfilling positions,” Susan Spence, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, said in a statement.

— By Jarrell Dillard

Source link

GM Announces New US Manufacturing Investments

The largest automaker of the Detroit Big Three has announced new investments for manufacturing facilities in the United States of America. Said investments total $340 million, and they will support mostly full-size pickup trucks.

First and foremost, around $150 million is going into the Saginaw Metal Casting Operations facility to increase head casting volume for next-generation small blocks. The only gen-six engine announced to date is the LS6 of the Corvette, a 6.7-liter small block that powers the Stingray, Grand Sport, and Grand Sport X for model year 2027.

Later on, the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra will receive gen-six engines. Hearsay suggests larger displacements compared to the outgoing 5.3- and 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8s, although there is no concrete information available on the replacement of the 6.6-liter small block for heavy-duty applications.

$40 million will be invested to support Toledo Propulsion Systems capacity increases for the 10-speed automatic that GM uses in light-duty pickup trucks. Around 1,650 people work there as of May 2026, whereas Saginaw prides itself on approximately 350 employees.

The 10-speed transmission is referred to as 10L80 in General Motors vernacular. Mostly developed by Ford as part of a joint venture that also gave us the 10R series, the 10L carries over just around 80 percent of the Ford unit’s internal hardware. Despite this commonality, said transmissions clearly aren’t identical.

Manufactured in separate plants, the 10L and 10R use brand-specific parts and software. In the light-duty Silverado and Sierra, the 10L80 can take an estimated 800 Newton-meters (590 pound-feet) of twist. Its dry weight is 230 pounds (104 kilograms), and this baby drinks Dexron ULV automatic transmission fluid exclusively.

Photo: GM

A mega $300 million will be going to Romulus Propulsion Systems to further support 10-speed automatic production. Once again, the Detroit-based automaker mentions full-size pickup trucks as the primary recipients. Full-size utility vehicles also need mentioning because the Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 have many SUV-bodied siblings.

Chevrolet offers the Tahoe and long-wheelbase Suburban, whereas GMC is much obliged to sell you two versions of the Yukon. The latter applies to Cadillac’s incredibly popular Escalade as well. Going for the long-wheelbase option results in more legroom for the rearmost passengers and more cargo space behind the third-row seats.

All six utility vehicles feature 10-speed autos, whereas the Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 with the base 2.7-liter turbo inline-four engine pack an eight-speed unit. A heavier-duty version of the 10L is used in the Escalade-V, which is GM’s most powerful SUV based on the T1XX platform introduced by the Silverado 1500 in 2018.

Light-duty pickups retained the good ol’ solid live axle with leaf springs to prioritize towing durability and payload capacity. Higher trim levels feature a composite second leaf to shave off a few pounds while maintaining roll stiffness. On sport utility vehicles, multi-link rear suspension is standard.

Source link

Manufacturing Internships – Cutting Tool Engineering

During my 45-year career as a machine tool distributor in the Midwest manufacturing sector I have witnessed all sorts of changes throughout the industry. In the early 1980s I watched the apprenticeship model close down as more and more companies began offshoring. High schools with shop classes began to shun shop skills as the shift to “a service-based economy” gained momentum. Having just joined the industry, I naively overlooked the impact that shift would have on the industry. In retrospect, what seemed like a loud cry for more skilled workers back then now seems like a mere whisper compared to the skills gap we face today.

Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for a workforce shortage decades in the making. Resolving the manufacturing labor crunch will require a multi-faceted effort involving industry, government and the educational system. For this article, however, I want to focus on one significant component of that effort: Advanced manufacturing internships and how they help introduce young people to metalworking careers.

Manufacturing Internship Infrastructure Matters

Internships in the Midwest are very popular and very well accepted in the manufacturing sector.  Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana — where I’ve spent most of my career — have embraced manufacturing internships. While that’s great for the Midwest, internship acceptance levels from one state to the next are painfully uneven throughout the rest of the country. There are states that have a huge manufacturing presence, but their internship infrastructure cuts across many industry sectors. Manufacturing is important to the economy in these states, but not the dominant industry.

Meanwhile, states that shine brightly in their implementation of manufacturing internships often happen to be states where the manufacturing sector is the chief GDP breadwinner. In my view, that’s no coincidence.

To gain a better understanding of the factors shaping the U.S. manufacturing internship landscape, I jumped down the rabbit hole known as ChatGPT chasing after information that would help demonstrate how a robust manufacturing internship infrastructure can help manufacturing-centric states take their workforce pipelines to a higher level. My digital journey led to research delving into the following characteristics deemed essential for a state’s manufacturing internship infrastructure:

• the prevalence of statewide work-based learning initiatives,
• the clarity of youth labor and workers’ compensation frameworks,
• the willingness of large manufacturers to offer structured internship programs, and
• the strength of each state’s career and technical education (CTE) pipeline.

The legislative policy and workforce information I found primarily comes from state-level labor and education agencies, the U.S. Department of Labor, and Advance CTE, a national association of CTE professionals. I also gathered recent manufacturing employment and economic data on the chance I might find a connection between advanced manufacturing internship acceptance and manufacturing’s share of total employment and total GDP within each state. For this, I primarily relied on data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Ultimately, I managed to identify a dozen bellwether states that have achieved a level of advanced manufacturing internship acceptance that is highly normalized and structurally embedded within their statewide workforce systems. The 12 bellwether states include Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Midwest Neighbors

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin combine strong manufacturing concentration with coordinated education-to-industry pipelines, clearly defined work-based learning frameworks and widespread employer participation. Internships are not isolated initiatives but part of mature, scalable talent development ecosystems.

These states also have demonstrated alignment across manufacturing density clusters, CTE participation, apprenticeship infrastructure and employer adoption. Large manufacturers in these states anchor internship pipelines that extend to small- and mid-sized firms, reinforcing a culture where early exposure to manufacturing careers is standard practice rather than an exception. Major manufacturers offering internship programs in these states include Procter & Gamble (Ohio), GM (Michigan), Ford (Michigan), Cummins (Indiana), GE Aerospace (Ohio), Caterpillar (Illinois), Rockwell Automation (Wisconsin) and Dow (Michigan).

Regional Mix

Meanwhile, Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee have developed strong and expanding internship ecosystems, though adoption may vary regionally. Manufacturing remains a significant economic driver in these states, and statewide work-based learning initiatives are present and growing. Internship participation is common among major employers and increasingly adopted by mid-sized firms.

These states often combine robust manufacturing business clusters with active workforce policy initiatives. Internship programs are increasingly integrated into CTE pathways and apprenticeship expansion efforts.

Major manufacturers offering internships in these states include Caterpillar (North Carolina), Michelin (South Carolina), Honda Aircraft (North Carolina), Nissan (Tennessee), Volkswagen (Tennessee), Kia (Georgia), Hyundai Metaplant (Georgia), Eastman Chemical (Tennessee), Medtronic (Minnesota) and Honeywell Aerospace (Minnesota).

Finish task to continue reading

Review the print ads from this magazine to continue

This quick advertiser review unlocks the rest of the article and keeps the full-screen reader focused on the ads instead of the page chrome.

Start print ads

Finish task to continue reading

Next print ad

Print ads from this magazine

Task complete

Continue reading

Thanks for supporting the advertisers that help keep the magazine moving. Continue reading below.

Click a page to zoom, then drag to pan.

Hide tip

Source link

Fed Leaders Highlight Growth, U.S. Manufacturing at ENC

Transit Bus Manufacturer ENC welcomed the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (SF Fed) for a tour of the Company’s 227,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Jurupa Valley, California.

The visit is part of the SF Fed’s ongoing engagement with major employers and industries across Southern California and, more broadly, the western U.S. to better understand regional economic conditions and business outlooks.

A Look at American Manufacturing

Hosted by company executives, the tour provided a firsthand look at how federal transit investments translate into skilled jobs, domestic manufacturing capacity, and economic activity in the Inland Empire.

Visitors from the SF Fed toured ENC’s production floor, observing the end-to-end bus manufacturing process, from welding and painting to final assembly and testing.

According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), 77% of federal public transportation investment flows directly to American businesses, supporting manufacturers, small suppliers, and job creation in communities across the country. Federal transit funding reaches more than 3,000 suppliers in 50 states and Washington, D.C.

ENC officials said, with suppliers in more than 30 U.S. states, the company is a direct example of how those investments strengthen domestic supply chains and create family-wage jobs.

Since assuming ownership of ENC in 2024, Rivaz has invested more than $50 million in facility upgrades, workforce development and upskilling, and planned expansions. The company currently employs approximately 230 people at its Jurupa Valley facility, with a pathway to approximately 500 jobs at full production capacity.

“Our investments in expanded capacity and workforce training are about more than building buses – they are about building long-term economic strength in this region,” said John Obert, VP of transit sales at ENC. “The SF Fed’s visit reflects the growing recognition that American transit manufacturing is essential infrastructure, and ENC is proud to be leading that effort from right here in the Inland Empire.”

Visitors from the SF Fed toured ENC’s production floor, observing the end-to-end bus manufacturing process, from welding and painting to final assembly and testing.

ENC’s Facility

ENC’s Jurupa Valley campus spans 17 acres and operates as an ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facility. Every vehicle produced is designed to meet federal Buy America requirements, ensuring that transit agency investments support California workers and California manufacturing, said officials.

All models are Altoona-tested and FTA-approved.

Source link

Iran war disrupts oil exports, US manufacturing costs surge

## Market Snapshot

The “Fed Rate Cuts Predictions for 2026” market is examining the likelihood of rate cuts, currently showing uncertainty due to inflation pressures. Meanwhile, the “Bitcoin Above on April 30” market indicates a 100% YES resolution, though underlying sentiment may be shifting. The “WTI Crude Oil Prices in May 2026” market lacks current pricing data but is closely tied to geopolitical developments.

## Key Takeaways

– Rising input costs due to the Iran war appear to suggest inflationary pressures, which could impact Fed rate cut expectations for 2026. – Current market pricing suggests Bitcoin remains above $86,000, though broader economic conditions may influence future sentiment. – The ongoing Iran conflict and its effect on oil supply routes are consistent with scenarios where WTI crude oil prices remain high, potentially exceeding $150.

## Article Body

The United States’ manufacturing sector continues its expansion into April 2026 despite challenges posed by the Iran war, which has led to a significant increase in input prices. The conflict, which began with US-Israel military strikes on Iranian facilities, has disrupted oil exports and critical shipping routes, notably the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices have surged to wartime highs, impacting US manufacturing costs. Nevertheless, the defense sector has seen increased demand, with companies like RTX and Northrop Grumman reporting higher orders. The European Central Bank has cautioned that prolonged conflict could trigger stagflation and recession risks in the EU.

## Market Interpretation

The impact of rising input costs and geopolitical tensions appears consistent with a scenario where the Federal Reserve may hold off on rate cuts in 2026, suggesting a moderate impact on rate cut predictions. The Bitcoin market, despite showing a 100% YES for April 30, may face indirect pressures from a risk-off environment due to inflationary concerns. The WTI crude oil market reflects a high impact, with the potential for prices to reach $150, consistent with ongoing supply constraints from the Iran war.

## What to Watch

Observers should monitor upcoming Federal Reserve statements and inflation reports for indications of policy adjustments. Key developments in the Iran conflict, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, will be crucial for WTI crude oil pricing. Additionally, any significant changes in Bitcoin’s sentiment or speculative asset trends could influence market dynamics, particularly if broader economic conditions shift.

Get prediction market intelligence as a structured API feed. Early access waitlist.

Source link