FEI New Jersey hosted a dinner program on Oct. 21 at the Grain House restaurant featuring John W. Kennedy, Ph.D., senior consultant at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, who discussed tariffs, supply-chain pressures and shifting trade policies.
Kennedy, the former CEO of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, drew on decades of experience in manufacturing and economic development to outline the challenges facing U.S. industry.
“We have no pipeline of talent coming into the industry, and that includes engineers. But it also includes people that are high tech, you know, machinists, CNC operators, welders, things like that,” he said.
He warned that without a steady pipeline of skilled workers, efforts to expand domestic production will fall short.
“We need a pipeline, and we don’t have one, and we need to change that,” Kennedy said.
The discussion also highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities, which Kennedy said were exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. “One of the things is we have no idea what’s in our supply chain… we need to figure this out,” he said.
He questioned whether recent reshoring efforts and tariffs are being applied effectively.
“I love that President Trump is trying to get companies to come into the U.S., but are we bringing the right ones in or we just bring in competitors in to existing companies?”
Kennedy also referenced The Jetsons to highlight the rapid pace of technological change in manufacturing. Pointing to advancements in robotics and everyday innovations like the microwave, he said, “It now seems like The Jetsons were the forerunner to all of what we’re doing today.”
Kennedy emphasized the economic stakes for younger generations, stressing the importance of understanding supply chains and tariffs. He noted that decades of inattention have contributed to mounting national debt, leaving the next generation with the responsibility of addressing a $37 trillion burden.
FEI board member Ron Giaquinto called the program “thought-provoking,” noting that attendees gained a better understanding of the challenges and policy decisions shaping U.S. manufacturing.
“Some may go home happy, some may go home troubled. But I think we’ll all agree that the situations that lie ahead… this generation and the next generation, with their commitment and their intelligence, will be able to figure it out and make the best life and a better life for themselves,” Giaquinto said.
The discussion underscored the importance of preparing the next generation of workers and business leaders to navigate a complex manufacturing landscape, balancing innovation, workforce development and strategic trade policies.
