Key Insights for Building Resilient Operations
Manufacturing Days 2025
Manufacturers across Ohio gathered in Wooster on October 3 and Cleveland on October 10 for Rea’ s Manufacturing Days— two full-day events designed to address the most pressing challenges facing the industry today. From tariff strategy to cybersecurity vulnerabilities, the sessions delivered practical frameworks manufacturers can implement immediately.
The recurring theme across both events was clear: the manufacturers thriving in 2025 aren’ t waiting for conditions to improve. They’ re actively managing complexity through better data, stronger security postures, strategic capital planning, and intentional leadership development.
Tariff Strategy: Stop Overpaying on Imports
Tyler Potter from BDO USA delivered sobering news about the 2025 tariff landscape. China imports now face 59-75 % effective duty rates through tariff stacking. But Potter outlined four immediate mitigation strategies that most manufacturers aren’ t fully leveraging:
Duty Drawback returns 99 % of duties paid on goods that are re-exported. Foreign Trade Zones allow duty deferral until goods enter commerce. First Sale valuation can reduce dutiable values by 16 %. Transfer Pricing optimization ensures you’ re not overstating import values.
The reality: manufacturers not actively managing customs strategy are overpaying by 30-50 % on import duties. Even more concerning, most have refund opportunities sitting in their past five years of customs data that expire if not claimed. This isn’ t speculative savings— it’ s money already paid that can be recovered through proper claims processes.
Data Analytics: Real-World Lessons from the Factory Floor
Andrew James from Rea moderated a panel bringing together finance leaders from manufacturing companies at different stages of their data journeys:
John
Fox( VP of Finance at ProVia), Chris Holmes( Rea Principal, Data Analytics), Tom Theis( Director of Revenue Growth Management at The J. M. Smucker Company), and Mike Swartzentruber( VP of Finance at Flextur).
The panel challenged the common assumption that better analytics requires buying more software. Their collective framework starts with“ People, Process, Technology” in that specific order. One panelist shared how Robotic Process Automation reduced invoice keying by 75 %— but only after fixing the underlying processes first.
The bigger insight from these practitioners: calculating return on investment is now table stakes, not competitive advantage. Competitors with better analytics are making faster, smarter decisions while manufacturers drowning in manual reporting and spreadsheet chaos lose ground daily.
The fix starts with master data quality and process documentation. Technology amplifies what you build, but it can’ t fix broken foundations. Hearing this from finance leaders actively managing manufacturing operations— not software vendors— gave the message credibility.
Capital Planning: The OBBBA Tax Opportunity
Kaitlyn Robison‘ s analysis of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act revealed significant opportunities for manufacturers planning capital investments. A case study showed a manufacturer planning $ 7.7 million in spending saves an additional $ 1.17 million in first-year taxes under the new law versus old rules.
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