Manufacturers today are operating in an increasingly volatile global environment—where shifting tariffs, supply chain disruption, geopolitical unrest, and rising energy demands are all converging at once.
Energy has quickly become a central factor in global competitiveness. From the strain of AI-driven data centers and electrification to regional disparities in power cost and availability, manufacturers must now evaluate not just where to source or produce—but whether the infrastructure exists to support it.
This roundtable will convene trade experts, policy analysts, and industry leaders to explore how manufacturers can remain competitive, agile, and globally aware while navigating uncertainty across trade policy, supply chains, and energy constraints.
To help spark thoughtful dialogue and enrich our discussions at this roundtable, we invite you to consider the following questions relevant to today’s topic.
- Many manufacturers now balance both global and domestic suppliers. What factors tip the scale when deciding whether a part should be sourced internationally or produced closer to home—especially when factoring in energy cost, reliability, and infrastructure?
- As global supply chains continue to shift under geopolitical pressure, what changes are you seeing in your sourcing strategies (nearshoring, dual sourcing, reshoring)? How is energy availability influencing those decisions?
- Trade policy shifts can alter cost structures overnight. How are you building agility into your sourcing and pricing strategies when tariffs, regulations, and energy costs can all change faster than planning cycles?
- With energy demand surging—driven by electrification, AI/data centers, and advanced manufacturing—how are you planning for long-term energy access and cost stability within your operations?
- Are you seeing energy infrastructure (or lack thereof) becoming a limiting factor in site selection, expansion, or reshoring decisions?
Agenda
8:30 a.m. Arrival, check-in, coffee, breakfast
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introduction from Automation Alley
9:10 a.m. Roundtable Discussion: Tables will engage in breakout conversations
10:10 a.m. Short Break
10:15 a.m. Key Takeaways: Table representatives will engage in a fireside chat to discuss breakout conversation highlights
10:45 a.m. Closing
11:00 a.m. Optional Networking for Participants