The Problem Is Real and Getting Worse
American manufacturers are facing serious challenges right now. Supply chains are breaking down more often. Tariffs are making materials more expensive. And many companies don't know how to fix these problems.
Here are the facts: Nine out of ten supply chain leaders had problems in 2024. That's almost everyone. Even worse, supply chain disruptions increased by 38% compared to the year before.
These aren't small problems. When supply chains break down, factories stop running. Workers lose jobs. Companies lose money. And customers can't get the products they need.
What's Causing These Problems?
Several things are making supply chains harder to manage:
Trade Wars and Tariffs The government has put high taxes (called tariffs) on goods from other countries. Tariffs on Chinese products are now more than 145%. This makes imported materials much more expensive.
Global Disruptions Problems around the world affect American factories. For example:
- •Attacks on ships in the Red Sea make shipping dangerous and expensive
- •Floods in Europe stopped car factories from running
- Political tensions make it hard to get computer chips and other important parts
Not enough skilled workers as 90% of companies don't have enough talent to run modern supply chains. This makes it hard to use new technology that could solve problems.
The Tariff Problem: Trying to Help But Making Things Worse
The government created tariffs to help American manufacturers. The idea was simple: make foreign products more expensive so people buy American products instead.
But there's a big problem with this plan. Many American manufacturers need foreign materials and equipment to make their products. When tariffs make these things more expensive, it hurts American companies too.
Here's what's really happening:
- Companies filed over 1,000 requests to avoid tariffs on manufacturing equipment from China
- Big companies like Tesla and Ford asked for exemptions because they need foreign equipment to build electric cars in America
- The manufacturing sector lost 14,000 jobs in May and June 2025, even with tariff protection
- US manufacturing productivity went down in April 2025
Why Companies Are Struggling to Respond
When supply chain problems happen, companies are slow to fix them. It takes an average of two weeks to plan and respond to supply chain disruptions. In today's fast business world, two weeks is way too long.
Why are companies so slow? Several reasons:
- They can't see what's coming. Only 60% of companies can see what their direct suppliers are doing. Even fewer can see deeper into their supply chains. When problems start with suppliers' suppliers, companies don't know until it's too late.
- Leadership doesn't understand the problem only 30% of company boards really understand supply chain risks. If the people making big decisions don't understand the problem, they won't invest in solutions.
- They don't have the right technology only 10% of companies have finished setting up advanced planning systems. These systems help companies see problems coming and respond faster.
What Smart Companies Are Doing
Some companies are finding ways to deal with these problems with 73% of companies working on dual-sourcing strategies. This means they get the same parts from two different suppliers. If one supplier has problems, they can still get what they need from the other.
60% of companies are also regionalizing their supply chains instead of getting everything from far away, they're finding suppliers closer to home. This makes shipping faster and cheaper.
But moving suppliers isn't enough. Companies also need to change how they make products. That's where automation comes in.
How Automation Solves Supply Chain Problems
Automation means using machines and computers to do work that people used to do. This might sound intimidating, but it actually helps solve many supply chain problems:
- Reduces dependence on foreign workers when you use robots and automated systems, you don't need as many workers. This means you can make products in America even though American workers cost more than workers in other countries.
- Improves quality control as automated inspection systems catch problems that human inspectors might miss. This means fewer defective products and happier customers.
- Works 24/7 and machines don't get tired or sick. They can work all day and night, which means you can make more products faster.
- Reduces shipping costs when you make products closer to your customers, you spend less money on shipping. You also get products to customers faster.
The Adams' Solution: Made in America Automation
At Adams, we've been helping American manufacturers for over 60 years. We understand the challenges you're facing, and we have solutions that work.
Machine vision systems - our machine vision systems use cameras and computers to inspect products automatically. They can:
- Check for defects that human inspectors might miss
- Read lot codes and expiration dates
- Measure parts to make sure they're the right size
- Work much faster than human inspectors
This means no more manual inspections and improved traceability in the event of an issue.
Robotic solutions - our robotic solutions can handle a wide array of tasks:
- Assembly: Put parts together quickly and accurately
- Material Handling: Move heavy items safely
- Machine Tending: Load and unload machines automatically
- Palletizing: Stack products on pallets for shipping
- Welding: Weld parts with perfect consistency
These robotic solutions help you compete with overseas manufacturers by reducing labor costs and improving quality.
Reliability solutions - helping keep your equipment running smoothly:
- Predictive Maintenance: Systems like Urban.io tell you when equipment needs service before it breaks down
- Automatic Lubrication: Solutions like perma, keep machines running smoothly without manual maintenance
- Oil Filtration: Products from Donaldson Hy-Pro increase equipment life and reduces replacement costs
When your equipment runs better, you have fewer supply chain disruptions.
Real Results from Real Companies
We don't just talk about solutions – we deliver results. Here are some examples:
- Food processing company - We helped a food processing company install robotic palletizing systems. Result: 40% reduction in labor costs and faster, more consistent packaging.
- Aerospace manufacturer - Our machine vision systems helped an aerospace company improve quality control, resulting in 60% reduction in defective parts and better customer satisfaction.
- Medical device company - We installed predictive maintenance systems for a medical device manufacturer resulting in 99.9% equipment uptime and almost no unexpected breakdowns.
Why Choose American-Made Automation?
When you buy automation equipment from Adams, you get several advantages:
- Fast support when you have problems, our engineers can be at your facility quickly. You don't have to wait for support from overseas.
- Our combination of machine vision and robotic expertise allows our team to provide innovative solutions to handle the most complex tasks.
- Custom solutions we design systems specifically for your needs. We're not trying to sell you a one-size-fits-all solution from another country.
- Training and support we provide factory-certified training so your workers can operate and maintain the equipment properly. This reduces downtime and improves results and helps customers take ownership of their systems.
Steps You Can Take Right Now
Don't wait for supply chain problems to get worse. Here's what you can do today:
- Step 1: Assess your risks look at your supply chain and identify weak points. Which suppliers are most important? Which ones are most likely to have problems?
- Step 2: Consider automation, think about which jobs in your factory could be automated. Start with repetitive tasks that are hard to fill with workers.
- Step 3: Plan for dual sourcing for critical parts, find backup suppliers. This gives you options when your main supplier has problems.
- Step 4: Invest in training make sure your workers have the skills they need to operate modern equipment. This is an investment in your company's future.
The Bottom Line
Supply chain problems and tariffs are making life difficult for American manufacturers. But companies that invest in automation and domestic suppliers are finding ways to succeed.
At Adams, we're here to help. We've been strengthening American manufacturing since 1960, and we know how to help you compete in today's challenging environment.
Don't let supply chain uncertainty hold your business back. Contact us today to learn how our automation solutions and extensive line of fluid power products can help you build a stronger, more resilient operation.
Sources:
•McKinsey Global Supply Chain Leader Survey 2024: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/supply-chain-risk-survey
•NBC News Tariff Impact Report: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/economics/trumps-tariffs-are-causing-pain-us-manufacturers-rcna204786
•Resilinc Supply Chain Disruption Data: https://resilinc.ai/blog/resilinc-reveals-the-top-5-supply-chain-disruptions-of-2024/