In this episode of Interlinks, I’m joined once again by two of my expert colleagues from the Global Supply Chain Think Tank in the U.S.: Lisa Anderson, President of LMA Consulting in Los Angeles, and Diane Garcia, President of Lorraine Consulting in Phoenix. Both are highly experienced consultants working at the coalface of U.S. manufacturing and supply chain strategy.

Together, we explore the real-world implications of recent tariff policy shifts and trade tensions, particularly between the U.S., China, and the EU, and what they mean for businesses trying to navigate a constantly evolving global landscape.

We discuss what’s happening on the ground in American manufacturing, including tactical compliance moves, major capital investment announcements, and longer-term strategic shifts—or the lack thereof.

🔍 In this episode, we cover:

• The surge in manufacturing investment announcements in the U.S.—what’s real, what’s delayed, and what’s still uncertain
• How companies are tactically responding to tariff-related compliance and supply chain realignment
• The impact of disrupted shipping flows and tariff-driven inventory surges on logistics networks
• Signs of a potential recession in manufacturing versus booming logistics activity
• The role of labour shortages and the challenges of reshoring amid shrinking talent pools
• The growing push for automation, digitisation, and advanced technologies as countermeasures
• The importance of robust Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) in managing complexity
• The visibility gap in global supply chains, especially around second-tier suppliers
• The broader geopolitical context of trade negotiations, national security concerns, and “friendshoring”

This conversation provides timely insights into how manufacturing industry is adapting to a shifting global order—and where the biggest risks and opportunities lie heading into 2026.

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