Have you seen the latest commercial for the Jeep Grand Cherokee? It’s the one that starts out \”The things that make us Americans are the things we make.\”

It’s a sentiment echoed by John Engler, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers. In the introduction to \”Manufacturing Strategy for Jobs and a Competitive America,\” a report released by NAM, Engler writes: \”America’s prosperity and strength are built on a foundation of manufacturing.\”

We Deliver Distribution News to Your Inbox Sign up below to receive MDM Update, your free weekly distribution news update by email.

But recently, Engler continues, the U.S. has \”given up\” on the manufacturing sector, allowing those types of jobs to be snatched up by overseas firms.

The report, released on June 28, presents a comprehensive strategy for rebuilding the U.S.’s dominant position in manufacturing – in the American market and in exports. Currently, the U.S. ranks 15th in the world for manufacturing exports, according to the World Bank. The graphic below, from the NAM report, shows this:

According to the report: \”An effective manufacturing strategy will promote domestic manufacturing that serves the U.S. and the increasingly integrated North American markets, while also supporting companies that export and expand abroad to serve foreign markets.\”

The strategy includes: reducing regulatory and tariff barriers in international trade agreements, updating and modernizing the export control system in the U.S., investing in infrastructure and assisting small and medium-sized manufacturers with exporting.

As the Jeep commercial says: \”As a people, we do well when we make good things and not so well when we don’t. The good news is this can be put right.\” And the NAM hopes its plan can help with that.

Download the full \”Manufacturing Strategy for Jobs and a Competitive America\” at nam.org.

Order Now: Saving American Manufacturing – Growth Planning for Small and Midsize Manufacturers