TAKEAWAYS
MANUFACTURING: THE FUTURE IS FEMALE
For years, manufacturing was seen as a male-dominated industry, but the tides are turning. Women are not only thriving in the sector but also driving innovation, leadership, and progress. The latest Women in Manufacturing study from Xometry, Thomas, and the Women in Manufacturing Association reveals an industry in transformation—one where women are more optimistic than ever, companies are addressing labor shortages, and diversity is proving to be a business advantage.
TARIFFS SHAKE UP U.S.MEXICO TRADE As the constant flux of tari policies loom over U.S.- Mexico trade, companies are rushing to adapt. With many businesses pulling forward shipments to get ahead of trade deadlines, capacity is tightening and border congestion is ramping up. Shippers shared their sentiments on the impact in the Q1 2025 Cross-Border Index from Redwood Logistics. “Many of our customers are already moving to mitigate potential risks. One customer is planning to relocate over 25% of its Mexican operations back to the U.S.,” says Jordan Dewart, president, Redwood Mexico. “However, in the short term, this shift is driving significant disruptions, with border wait times exceeding one hour at the WorldTrade Bridge and almost two hours at the Ysleta- Zaragoza Bridge.” Here are some key takeaways from Redwood’s report: • Proactive shipment strategies. Businesses are ramping up production and stockpiling goods ahead of tari deadlines, leading to disruptions at major border crossings.
Here’s what 1,110 industry professionals say about the evolving landscape of manufacturing careers: 80% of women and 81% of men recommend a manufacturing career, a high overall approval of manufacturing careers and an improving perception of manufacturing among women compared to previous years. 78% of women say significant progress has been made for women in manufacturing in the past five years and are optimistic about the progress made. 79% of companies report experiencing labor shortages, a slight decrease from the previous year, which suggests potential improvement. This could be due to increased automation, reshoring eorts, or other factors impacting the labor market. 74% of women and 49% of men “fell into” manufacturing careers, highlighting a key dierence in how genders enter the industry. Women are more likely to enter unintentionally, suggesting a need for greater awareness of manufacturing career paths among young women and more proactive recruitment eorts. 87% of women and 56% of men agree that workplace diversity improves business outcomes.
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Retaliatory tari s. Mexican and Canadian responses could severely impact the profitability of cross-border manufacturing. Operational constraints. With existing contracts tying companies to Mexican- based operations and lacking U.S.-based alternatives, pivoting has become a logistical and financial maze. Visa and carrier uncertainty. Approximately 35% of cross-border truck carriers rely on B1 visas, creating further hesitancy given current U.S. immigration policies. Infrastructure disruptions. A surge in cargo theft during transit highlights the need for enhanced planning and security measures.
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April 2025 • Inbound Logistics 15
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