America’s manufacturing sector faces critical decisions on reshoring, workforce development, and automation. In this episode, Harry Moser, founder of the Reshoring Initiative, shares more than 50 years of industry experience and a practical look at what it will take to strengthen US manufacturing.

Harry breaks down why short-term thinking hurts manufacturers, how Total Cost of Ownership changes sourcing decisions, where reshoring opportunities exist, and why workforce development, automation, and smarter purchasing decisions all matter. If you run a machine shop, manage supply chains, or care about the future of American manufacturing, this conversation is packed with real examples, useful tools, and actionable ideas.

Connect with Jess:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaurbans/

Connect with Christina:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinacasanova/

Connect with Harry:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-moser-58a8024/

Reshoring Initiative:
https://reshorenow.org/

Total Cost of Ownership Calculator:
https://reshorenow.org/tco-estimator/

Import Substitution Program:
https://reshorenow.org/isp/

Join CNC Underground:
https://swiy.co/cncunderground

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About Midwest CAM Solutions:
The world’s largest GibbsCAM reseller, helping manufacturers improve productivity through CAM software, training, and support.
www.midwestcamsolutions.com

CHAPTERS

00:00 Short-Term Mentality in US Manufacturing
00:57 Harry Moser’s Background and Motivation
03:14 Family Legacy and Industry Changes
04:17 Founding the Reshoring Initiative
06:00 Early Resistance and the Role of TCO
06:43 What Surprises Manufacturers about TCO
07:57 Geopolitical Risks and Supply Chains
09:10 Partnerships vs. Vendors
10:26 Long-Term Workforce Investment
11:01 US vs. Europe Investment Patterns
12:04 Why the Workforce Shortage Isn’t a Surprise
13:15 Attracting Young Workers
15:27 Visibility and Exposure in Manufacturing
16:59 Manufacturing’s Image Problem
19:42 Stories of Factories Closing
21:02 Societal Costs of Manufacturing Decline
21:46 Lowest Price vs. Total Cost
22:18 How Many Manufacturers Use TCO
23:34 TCO Examples That Changed Decisions
25:05 Inventory Reduction and Hidden Benefits
25:58 Other Overlooked TCO Factors
27:58 Engineering and Manufacturing Proximity
28:58 Bringing Programming Back In-House
29:02 Advice for Shops Losing Bids
30:02 Pricing, Freight, and Tariffs
31:06 Competing with Overseas Providers
32:21 Automation for Competitiveness
33:02 Speed of Delivery as an Advantage
34:03 Consumer Buying Habits
35:07 Quality vs. Price
36:06 Buying Decisions and US Jobs
37:13 Apprenticeship Programs
38:38 Building the Workforce Pipeline
41:07 Can AI Make US Manufacturing Competitive?
42:21 China vs. US Productivity
43:11 Congressional Testimony and Tariffs
44:31 Capital Equipment Tariffs
45:32 US Steel Decline
47:43 Industry Structure, Unions, and Change
49:13 Generational Workforce Shifts
51:56 Wage Pressure and the Dollar
52:23 TCO and True Cost Differences
54:06 Lightning Round
55:19 Reshoring Success Stories
58:08 Sourcing Decisions and US Jobs
59:21 “Made in China” on American Symbols
1:00:07 Reshoring Initiative Resources
1:01:34 How Job Shops Can Find Opportunities
1:04:01 Optimism and Next Steps
1:04:41 IMTS and Where to Connect