Doug Woods’ journey into manufacturing began about the time most kids were learning to ride a bike. He grew up spending weekends in his grandfather’s shop surrounded by toolmakers, mold makers, and the hum of machinery. “When you start that young, it becomes part of your blood,” says Woods, president of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. “I never lost my childhood excitement of thinking ‘Hey, we made this thing that didn't exist before.’ It's kind of hard to get that out of your system.” In addition to machining skills, Woods absorbed philosophy. "My grandfather would concede that while other people could buy the same equipment, his people were the differentiating factor. He believed if you get the right group of people together, you can accomplish about anything,” says Woods. AMT – At the Center of Manufacturing That philosophy stayed with Woods throughout his career and ultimately led him to the helm of AMT, which he describes as a world-class manufacturing technology organization that supports the companies that design, build, sell, and service the technologies powering modern production. “Everything starts with us,” he states, emphasizing how foundational technology providers are essential to U.S. manufacturing success. When asked about the current state of manufacturing in the United States, Woods is unequivocally optimistic. “There’s never been a better time to be in manufacturing,” he says. First, the U.S. is the biggest consumer market in the world. “Why wouldn’t you want to make goods closer where they’re consumed? Second, you want to tap into the American attitude. We’re willing to push the envelope, take risks, fail, and start again.” As a result of those factors, Woods notes that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) continues to accelerate and lead the rest of the world, driven by a reshoring wave that doubled its pace in recent years. Reliable and low-cost energy also makes the U.S. an attractive place to locate. When critics ask who is going to work at all the jobs being brought back, Woods notes his grandfather also had to manage the workforce shortage issue. “I have news for everybody: it’s never going away. Also, we’ve always solved the issue through innovation,” he says. Woods further notes that good U.S. government policies also strengthen manufacturing, especially the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, for which AMT lobbied. “The OBBB encourages America’s entrepreneurial spirit through a combination of tax incentives and financial relief to the manufacturing sector,” says Woods (see AMT story on how OBBB provisions benefit manufacturers, especially small- and medium-sized businesses). Shaping the Future As manufacturers seek to invest, Woods sees industrial AI, automation, and autonomous robotics as the most transformative technologies, with growth especially coming from contract manufacturers that serve the defense, space, and aerospace industries. “Growth of advanced technologies in those industries is good because they spin off technology applications into other areas,” says Woods. These trends will take center stage at IMTS 2026, which Woods describes as the industry’s “jaw-dropping mind melt of everything you need to make anything.” IMTS is a place where manufacturers discover not only what’s available today, but what could redefine their businesses tomorrow. “The world, according to Doug Woods, is opportunity and innovation,” he says. “Those two things are the core of success. There’s always opportunity, and there’s always something more innovative. Now is your time to take advantage of it, which is another reason why there’s never been a better time to be in manufacturing.”
Opportunity is everywhere. Innovation is accelerating. The makers who act now will shape the future. There’s never been a better time to be in manufacturing.
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