Manufacturing strengths... and headwinds
Celebrating the innovative makers of Washington and fighting to support them.
The sheer diversity of manufacturing in Washington is inspiring, and AWB’ s annual cross-state Manufacturing Week bus tour is a great way to explore and highlight it. As the state’ s designated manufacturing association, AWB has a unique role to play in telling the story of Washington’ s manufacturers and advocating for them with policymakers in Olympia and Washington, D. C. In addition to this year-round advocacy, every October is a special time as we visit dozens of shop floors( and this year, a dairy birthing barn) in person to learn about their operations during MFG Week.
This book takes you along on the ninth-annual bus tour, opening with Sekisui Aerospace, an innovative high-tech manufacturer in Renton, and concluding in Cle Elum with a tasty brewpub tour of Dru Bru hosted by the namesake brewer himself, Dru Ernst. On every page you’ ll see businesses that are surviving and thriving despite challenges that seem to pile up ever higher— like an increasing state tax burden that hits in new ways every year. In my third-annual State of Manufacturing address, I was joined by employers and a bipartisan legislative panel to talk through these issues and look toward solutions.
Along with the photos, click the QR codes on each page to watch a short, fun mini-documentary video produced by the AWB team. After you walk with us through the shop floors of Washington’ s innovative manufacturers, you’ ll never see manufacturing the same way again. That’ s why we do this. It’ s our pleasure to have you virtually join us on the tour, and we invite you to join AWB’ s ongoing advocacy for Washington’ s vibrant and vital manufacturers.
Kris Johnson
Kris Johnson, President, AWB
To see video from each tour stop, scan the QR codes throughout the book.
© 2025 association of washington business. photography by brian mittge.
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