In this country, manufacturing isn’t fading—it’s evolving. U.S. machine shops like Reata are thriving in a global environment where international collaboration, advanced automation, and customer relationships drive innovation and growth.
As a precision machining business that ships to countries across various hemispheres, we understand firsthand how American manufacturing is deeply connected to a worldwide network of producers, customers, and suppliers.
American Manufacturing Isn’t Just National—It’s Global!
For decades, American job shops have worked seamlessly with international customers, and vice versa. This isn’t new, and we don’t see it going away anytime soon.
Reata is proud to be part of this tightly woven global supply chain. We regularly source components and materials from across the globe—including Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia—for assembly and sub-assembly. These parts are critical to completing highly technical builds, from life-saving medical devices to mission-critical aerospace components. Additionally, our international presence supports our engineering and manufacturing services, whether we’re collaborating on design for manufacturing or delivering comprehensive solutions.
It’s evident that we rely on the success of manufacturers around the world—and they rely on us.
The Impact of Tariffs and Other Regulations
While international collaboration is key to competitiveness, shifting global trade policies—especially tariffs on foreign machine tools and automation equipment—are making it more expensive to operate in the U.S. Many of the critical tools that power our precision machine shop, from high-end robots to complex CNC machining equipment, are made overseas. That means most U.S. shops are paying more to invest in the very technologies that keep them competitive on a global scale.
We’ve seen firsthand how this affects our own operations—and we’re not alone. We surveyed seven of our largest customers (many of whom operate multinationally) and found that nearly all of them identified these economic policies as a significant factor impacting their business.
No matter what challenges come our way, American manufacturing professionals will continue what we do best: act with agility, think strategically, and go above and beyond to ensure our customers are satisfied every time.
What Makes Reata the Ideal American Manufacturing Partner? Our People!
Don’t get us wrong—highly technical equipment and software solutions are critical factors to our success. However, it’s the people—our engineers, machinists, and problem-solvers—who ensure our shop keeps delivering when the unexpected occurs.
Collaboration is key
One lesson we’ve learned is that customer feedback and transparency are essential to success in our industry. In our recent customer survey, we learned that while pressure from tariffs and regulations is real, quality remains the number-one priority for many manufacturers, followed closely by lead time and price.
By having open conversations with our customers and understanding where their priorities lie, we’re better equipped to forecast industry trends and respond with speed and flexibility.
American Manufacturing: Built on Global Connections
Today, American manufacturing isn’t a closed system—it’s an open network of suppliers, contract manufacturers, and customers across the globe. U.S.-based shops like Reata play a critical role in this global manufacturing ecosystem. And pulling those international connections is like pulling spokes out of a wheel, leaving the entire system off balance.
And while a contained American manufacturing sphere sounds great in theory, we believe that the future of this industry depends on strong relationships, smart investments, and a shared commitment to quality across borders.
Want to learn more about how we prioritize customers’ needs, even during times of rapid regulatory changes? Connect with the Reata team and partner with our skilled team today!