The recent surge in U.S. manufacturing signals a real inflection point for an industry that has navigated volatility for years. In the wake of tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and higher costs, manufacturers have been forced to rethink when, where, and how they produce.
US Manufacturing Hitting an Inflection Point Amid Uptic
Q&A with Sanjeev Singh Sahni, President and Incoming CEO | Xometry
Tell us about yourself and Xometry.
Xometry is the leading global, AI-native marketplace that’s connecting buyers and suppliers of custom manufacturing. Since our founding in 2013, Xometry has been on a mission to digitize manufacturing with cutting-edge AI technology to make custom manufacturing smarter, faster, and easier to scale.
Over the past year as President of Xometry, I’ve had direct responsibility for the company’s global operations, product, technology, and people teams. In that time, Xometry has continued to scale its marketplace globally, including delivering record revenue last quarter and strong full-year 2025 results as enterprise adoption of AI-powered manufacturing accelerates.
I’m thrilled to step into the CEO role at Xometry, effective July 1. As I transition into the role, I’m focused on building upon that momentum, further strengthening Xometry’s presence as the global marketplace for manufacturing by advancing cutting-edge digital technologies and AI.
Before Xometry, I spent over 7 years at Wayfair, serving as Vice President of B2B E-Commerce and Head of B2B & B2C Sales. I also led Customer Experience, applying AI, data, and automation to strengthen touchpoints at every stage of the customer journey. In total, I bring 20+ years of experience across consulting and industry, with leadership roles spanning e-commerce, AI, and supply chain management.
What’s actually driving the current resurgence in U.S. manufacturing, and what convinces you this momentum will last even amid economic uncertainty?
The recent surge in U.S. manufacturing signals a real inflection point for an industry that has navigated volatility for years. In the wake of tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and higher material and operating costs, manufacturers have been forced to rethink when, where, and how they produce. That shift has allowed manufacturers to be more purposeful in the partnerships they pursue.
At Xometry, we leverage AI to help manufacturers access U.S. production capacity in seconds instead of days, keeping more work here at home, while equipping a modern, AI-enabled workforce with the tools to move faster, operate more resiliently, and compete globally. It’s a structural reset driven by a new operating reality, and AI will be a driving factor in how manufacturing scales and competes in the years ahead.
Where is AI delivering the most immediate value for manufacturers today?
There are so many ways in which AI is delivering meaningful value to manufacturers. In manufacturing-heavy sectors like aerospace and defense (A&D), leaders are leaning into AI. Our survey data, in partnership with Zogby, found that 85% of A&D leaders are using AI to enhance pricing visibility, streamline sourcing workflows, and support faster, more informed procurement decisions.
More notably, the impact is even clearer when looking at industry trends. McKinsey and MIT’s MIMO program found that companies successfully scaling AI/ML for manufacturing achieve up to 4x the results in half the operating time as their peers. That’s especially promising for manufacturing and supply chains where speed often defines success. AI increasingly helps manufacturers move faster without sacrificing confidence, supporting supplier vetting and improving part-to-capability matching. The result is a more resilient supply chain with tangible outcomes like lower inventory costs and fewer stockouts.
Why is reshoring a competitive necessity for manufacturers in today’s landscape?
Geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policy have made the global manufacturing landscape far more unpredictable. In fact, 90% of A&D leaders cite reshoring as essential to success.
Over the last year, tariffs have exposed how dependent manufacturers are on offshore suppliers, and how easily that access can be disrupted, impacting the rest of their business model.
When speed matters, having more production onshore makes it easier to pivot because more of the operation sits within the same ecosystem. Reshoring strengthens resilience by enabling manufacturers to invest in trusted domestic capacity and supply chains, reducing exposure to external disruptions and improving operational continuity.
Despite automation headlines, manufacturers plan to keep hiring in 2026. Which roles are expected to grow and change the most?
Right now, we’re seeing that the biggest shift in manufacturing is that the nature of the work is changing and becoming increasingly digital. Our data found that 47% of A&D leaders plan to upskill or reskill at least a quarter of their workforce because of AI. That’s a workforce transition happening in real time.
The roles most likely to grow and change are those closest to production. Machine operators, technicians, and production engineers will increasingly use AI-powered tools to manage more projects at once, monitor and improve quality, and continuously optimize workflows. I anticipate that those with hands-on manufacturing expertise and data fluency will be in high demand.
What are common barriers manufacturers are facing when it comes to reskilling/upskilling their workforce?
Two barriers come up most often.
First is perception, and what a modern manufacturing job actually looks like. Too often, manufacturing is seen as low-tech and behind the times, a narrative that shows up early in high schools and the emerging workforce. It makes it harder to attract younger talent, who I believe would be interested in today’s tech-enabled, skills-forward manufacturing workplace.
Second is representation. Manufacturing continues to lag in diversity, which limits the talent pipeline. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up 47% of the workforce but only 27% of manufacturing. Among women who enter manufacturing, survey data from Xometry, in partnership with Thomas and Women in Manufacturing, found that only 23% entered the field intentionally, compared to 35% of men. Closing that gender gap while modernizing how we talk about and represent manufacturing careers is a challenge and an opportunity we must address.
Looking ahead, what will separate U.S. manufacturers that pull ahead from those that fall behind over the next few years?
The manufacturers that pull ahead will be the ones who treat AI as an operational capability and must-have, not a pilot program. Manufacturing advantage comes down to speed and adaptability to making decisions faster, sourcing parts more quickly, and moving into production sooner.
We can’t bet on volatility going away anytime soon. Companies that invest now – embedding AI into quoting, sourcing, scheduling, and workflows – will build the responsiveness and resilience that compounds over time. Those that delay will operate on slower cycles, with less visibility and flexibility, and will fall behind competitors who react in hours and days, not weeks.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of ManufacturingTomorrow
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