The global manufacturing sector is changing. Drivers like uncertainty, political instability and new tariffs are rerouting supply chains and forcing business leaders to adapt. What do you need to know as a manufacturer as you look toward 2026? From a high level, the answer is that businesses willing to embrace flexibility and evolving tech like automation will be better able to overcome the challenges of the moment.
But let’s drill down on specifics. Keep reading to understand where the manufacturing sector is going and how you can better compete.
Uncertainty continues to influence decision-making
Uncertainty is the biggest factor influencing manufacturing today. After navigating challenges associated with post-pandemic inflation, the business climate has felt an additional wave of pressure since the Trump administration took office and began taking a markedly different approach to economic policy than its predecessors.
At home, unpredictable tariffs make it harder for businesses to plan for the long term. Many manufacturing firms are holding off on making major strategic decisions or big investments because leaders simply don’t know whether what makes financial sense today will still do so tomorrow.
However, tariffs are also raising current costs. Manufacturers importing materials or unfinished products now often have to pay tariffs when those goods arrive at ports of entry. And as those tariffs are subject to change without warning, they create an additional layer of financial friction.
Tariffs aren’t the only factor driving uncertainty either. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has been signed into law, but the effects will play out in the months and years to come. How will the huge changes in energy policy, for example, affect manufacturers?
No one has a full answer yet.
Read this article in full in our Integr8 2025 Playbook, “Global Trends & Supply Chain: Planning for a Shifting World,” here.
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