We talk lights-out factories in the age of AI, more controversy at the NLRB and, of course, tariffs in the first IW Weekly Reads for April 2025. Without further ado, the top content over the past seven days is as follows:
D.C. Appeals Court Issues Ruling in Trump’s Favor: NLRB to Lack Quorum Again: The constitutional question of the president’s ability to fire members of independent agencies may go on to the Supreme Court.
We Need More Than Tariffs to Save US Aluminum: Reliance on volatile electricity markets and expensive fossil fuels has left our domestic industry in a dire position.
Is Getting an AI Agent for Your Machine Tools a Good Idea? Agentic AI could redefine what’s possible at “lights-out” factories. Human labor may suffer…but not the way you might think.
Domestic Manufacturing, Onshoring in the Age of Tariffs and Trade Wars: See how Trump's tariff strategy affects American manufacturers, from established companies like Warwood Tool to newcomers like Hard Head Veterans.
How Do You Build a Strong Leadership Culture: It's one of manufacturing's critical differentiators, but most CEOs and senior executives don't know how to get there.
Trump Unveils Sweeping Global Tariffs: "This is Liberation Day," Trump said, adding that it would "forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America's destiny was reclaimed."
3 Manufacturers, 3 Takes on Tariff Uncertainty: U.S.-based manufacturing leaders with production in Mexico, Canada and overseas share how they’ve been strategizing around and coping with weeks of huge, sometimes-conflicting policy announcements.
Navigating Cost Pressures: Strategic Insights for Manufacturers: Uncertainty and critical challenges require a shift from reactive to proactive planning.
As Tariffs Concerns Grow, Where Is the USMCA? Dispute resolution mechanisms and a looming review in 2026 may shape the future of North American trade.
US Manufacturing Shrinks in March on Uncertain Tariff Picture: The Institute for Supply Management manufacturing index slipped to 49.0% last month, a 1.3 percentage point fall from February.
