Manufacturing minute: 4 must-read articles on reshoring with robotics, digitizing legacy equipment, and more
Every minute counts in manufacturing—especially when you're chasing uptime, efficiency, and performance. That’s why we created Manufacturing Minute, a curated snapshot of articles worth your time. From real-world reliability wins to smart maintenance practices, we’ve got you covered. Here's what’s trending across the industry this week.
Why It’s Impossible for Most Small Businesses to Manufacture in the US
Author: Zeyi Yang
Source: WIRED
60-second snapshot: This article explores why small American businesses still overwhelmingly rely on Chinese manufacturing, despite rising tariffs and growing political pressure to bring production home. Business owners cite China’s unmatched infrastructure, supply chain flexibility, and ability to support small production runs as reasons U.S. manufacturing isn’t a viable alternative. Experts explain that cost is only part of the equation—China’s decades of specialization, skilled labor force, and deeply embedded ecosystems give it a competitive edge that the U.S. can’t replicate overnight. With tariff policies in constant flux, many small businesses are left in limbo, unsure how to plan for the future.
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Tackling Industry 4.0 With Legacy Equipment: A Practical Approach
Author: Nikhil Pal
Source: IndustryWeek
60-second snapshot: This article explores how manufacturers can modernize existing, decades-old equipment to embrace Industry 4.0 without costly overhauls. It outlines practical strategies like sensor retrofitting, edge computing, and middleware solutions to integrate digital capabilities into legacy systems. The piece emphasizes prioritizing retrofits based on ROI, data value, and production impact while advocating for phased roadmaps that align technology upgrades with workforce development. Ultimately, it reframes brownfield facilities as assets, showing how digital transformation can succeed by enhancing—not replacing—what already works.
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Sustainability is Here to Stay: How ESG, Sustainability, and Regulations Come Together to Impact the Future of Manufacturing
Author: Danny Gavin
Source: Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
60-second snapshot: Sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) are shaping the regulatory and operational landscape of modern manufacturing, pushing companies to align with evolving societal values. While often used interchangeably, sustainability is a broader concept focused on long-term business viability, with ESG serving as a framework for evaluating non-financial impacts. Increasing regulatory requirements—ranging from supply chain transparency to sustainability reporting—are driving manufacturers to adapt or risk falling behind. Embracing sustainable practices not only ensures compliance but also unlocks business benefits like innovation, customer loyalty, and long-term market access.
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Optimizing and Securing Wi-Fi in a Modern Manufacturing Facility
Author: Anil Gupta
Source: Smart Industry
60-second snapshot: As manufacturing operations grow increasingly reliant on Wi-Fi, traditional infrastructure-focused monitoring often misses real-world connectivity and security issues. The dynamic RF environment of factory floors and a mix of legacy and modern devices create blind spots that only client-centric monitoring can expose. By adopting client-side intelligence and AI-powered analysis, manufacturers can detect performance bottlenecks, rogue access points, and security threats more effectively. This strategic, data-driven approach enables targeted improvements without disruptive infrastructure changes, supporting both operational efficiency and robust cybersecurity.
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The only way some manufacturing jobs will return stateside is if AI-empowered robots do them—and that’s a good thing
Author: Tom Biegala
Source: Fortune
60-second snapshot: The return of U.S. manufacturing jobs is unlikely without significant automation, as manual labor costs remain too high to compete globally. AI-powered robotics offer a viable path to reshoring production by handling repetitive, complex tasks while human workers manage and optimize the systems. Key challenges include developing flexible robotic capabilities, building a skilled labor pipeline, and strategically navigating supply chain complexities. Despite the capital-intensive nature of manufacturing, new robotics business models promise strong investment returns, with tariffs potentially accelerating this shift.
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