I always enjoy inviting AME volunteers to guest-write my weekly letters, and this week, it is my honor to feature Glenn Marshall, volunteer extraordinaire and passionate advocate for manufacturing and continuous improvement.
Glenn currently serves on the AME Southeastern Regional Board and has been a dedicated AME volunteer for many years, possibly one of the longest-serving and most passionate supporters of our mission. His commitment to promoting manufacturing as a career choice and advancing LeanShoring™ is truly inspiring.
Fun fact: Glenn was the first person to introduce me to AME, and anyone who knows Glenn knows that his superpower is connecting people.
Glenn Marshall | AME Southeastern Regional Board member
In this week’s letter, Glenn shares a comprehensive perspective on LeanShoring™, a concept that continues to gain momentum as organizations seek smarter, more resilient supply chain strategies. His insights reflect not only his profound expertise but also his unwavering conviction in the transformative power of lean principles to improve operations and communities.
LeanShoring™: Advancing the future of artificial intelligence
Reshoring manufacturing is on the rise as companies seek to strengthen domestic supply chains, boost competitiveness and cultivate a skilled workforce. President Trump recently described this shift as a “golden age for American manufacturing,” highlighting a pivotal movement fueled by advances in robotics, AI, and modern manufacturing and shipbuilding processes, along with the next generation of skilled new-collar workers.
A new-collar worker is someone who “gains skills for a job through nontraditional education paths, like vocational training, apprenticeships, certifications, bootcamps or on-the-job experience, rather than a four-year college degree.” The rise of skilled new-collar jobs has occurred alongside developments in artificial intelligence (AI), resulting in increased employment opportunities for individuals with relevant skills.
AME promotes reshoring, nearshoring and LeanShoring™, which helps companies create resilient supply chains and boost efficiency by applying Lean Six Sigma and advanced technology to cut costs and drive continuous improvement. This approach lowers domestic manufacturing and shipbuilding costs, minimizes inefficiencies and strengthens competitiveness, productivity and sustainability. Domestic production offers benefits such as shorter lead times, improved quality, branding potential, tax benefits, reduced inventory, greater flexibility and lower intellectual property or geopolitical risks.
The Reshoring Initiative® offers a free Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Estimator® to help businesses assess savings and costs when considering reshoring. In addition, according to the Reshoring Initiative’s 2025 survey, OEMs see a larger, better-trained workforce as the top factor for reshoring, surpassing tariffs, currency, deregulation and taxes.
AME helps organizations with LeanShoring™ through varied programs and services. Our AME Consortia enables members to exchange knowledge, ensuring best practices, and aligns member companies’ lean initiatives with the AME Lean Sensei framework.
To learn more about LeanShoring™ and how advancing the future of artificial intelligence, along with developing new-collar workers, is the Gateway to the future and beyond, join us at the 41st AME St. Louis 2025 International Conference on October 6–9!
Please join me in thanking Glenn for his contributions, not just to this letter, but to the AME community at large.
As always, please stay safe and keep looking out for one another.
