National Association of Manufacturers
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) works for the success of the more than 13 million people who make things in America.
Our work is centered around four values that make our industry strong and America exceptional: free enterprise, competitiveness, individual liberty and equal opportunity.
These pillars guide what we do every day, whether it’s standing up for manufacturers in Washington, DC, inspiring the next generation of manufacturing talent, providing news and intelligence about the industry or helping members innovate and advance.
Representing 14,000 member companies—from small businesses to global leaders—in every industrial sector, we are the nation’s most effective resource and most influential advocate for these values and for manufacturers across the country.
Today, we are a one-stop shop for manufacturers and manufacturing.
NAM History
Manufacturing is America’s economic engine—and for more than a century, the National Association of Manufacturers has stood as the most effective resource and most influential advocate for manufacturers in the United States.
Founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1895, some of the NAM’s earliest efforts were to call for the creation of the U.S. Department of Commerce and to help launch the National Council of Commerce, which later became the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
In the early 1970s, the NAM took advantage of new technology to hold four closed-circuit television conferences reaching as many as 8,000 business executives in 26 cities at one time. The NAM also established its headquarters in Washington, D.C., in order to increase the association’s impact on policy development.
During the 1990s, the NAM established The Manufacturing Institute—the workforce and education partner of the NAM. Today, The Manufacturing Institute drives programs and research to promote modern manufacturing and jumpstart new approaches to growing manufacturing talent.
In just the last few years, guided by the association’s 2020 Vision, the NAM has been a national force in driving solutions and helping to reimagine a landscape for manufacturing that maximizes the talent of our workers and the strength of our industry. We have built a nimble and far-reaching organization that delivers on the promise of manufacturing in America and promotes opportunities for millions of hardworking Americans. And through the extraordinary efforts of men and women across the United States, we have worked to usher in the most productive era for manufacturers in recent history.
Today, the NAM is still innovating and disrupting an ever-changing national landscape in order to build our industry, create progress and advance the values that make our nation exceptional: free enterprise, competitiveness, individual liberty and equal opportunity. We are the one-stop shop for manufacturers and manufacturing, delivering unmatched expertise in advocacy, workforce development, legal action and operational excellence. We’re raising the bar for representation, insights and analysis and service that is an extension of manufacturing teams–to provide unbeatable value for our members and their employees.
All the while, the NAM is shining the spotlight on manufacturing’s success and the ways manufacturers are keeping our promise to invest in our people and communities. Across America, manufacturers are providing the solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, and the NAM is proud to share that story.
Workforce
Manufacturers do the jobs of the future. That’s why we train our employees to take on new challenges and why we need motivated, exceptional workers to start careers in modern manufacturing. To advance that goal industry-wide, we support innovative policy and on-the-ground programs to attract, train and retain the next generation workforce.
Policy and Legal
Manufacturers need smart laws and effective policies. That’s why the NAM is standing up for manufacturers everywhere – from the halls of power where we advance important legislation, to the courts where we fight to defend our rights.
Business Operations
At a time when breaking news and shifting policy environments move faster than ever, our members benefit from innovative programs that keep them at the forefront of the manufacturing industry and support their bottom line.
Become a Member
The National Association of Manufacturers works for the success of the people who make things in America.
Our work is centered around four pillars that have made our industry strong and America exceptional: free enterprise, competitiveness, equal opportunity and individual liberty. These pillars guide what we do every day—whether it’s standing up for manufacturers in Washington, D.C., inspiring the next generation of manufacturing talent or helping members innovate and advance. Representing 14,000 member companies—from small businesses to global leaders—in every industrial sector, we are the nation’s most effective resource and most influential advocate for these values and manufacturers across the country. We are the one-stop shop for the industry—in advocacy, legal action, operational excellence and workforce development.
Advocacy:
Whether it is working directly with Congress and the White House and building support for our priorities or promoting our agenda in the media and delivering news and insights about the industry, our unmatched advocacy expertise, influence and infrastructure give us the ability to tell manufacturers’ story and achieve our priorities. In Washington, D.C., and across the country, we have spent years cultivating trusted relationships so we can be an unbeatable advocate for modern manufacturing—and a voice for positive change.
Legal Action:
The NAM Legal Center’s extraordinary team is second to none, with a proven record and an ironclad commitment to safeguarding manufacturers’ rights. In response to unthinking regulation or aggressive litigation impacting our members, our team fights back against harmful laws and tirelessly defends and advances our gains in the courts.
Operational Excellence:
We understand the challenges facing manufacturers better than any other organization—and we’ve used our extensive knowledge to develop purpose-built tools, best practices, programs, plant tours and events that meet manufacturers’ most critical needs. With our growing and expanding support system, we are meeting manufacturers where they are and delivering tangible and transformational value.
Workforce Development:
The skills gap and an inability to attract and retain talent are among manufacturers’ biggest challenges and The Manufacturing Institute is leading the industry’s efforts to close the gap. The MI is the nonprofit workforce development and education partner of the NAM, and as it continues to expand its suite of programs and initiatives, it is achieving lasting progress in strengthening and building the manufacturing workforce of today and tomorrow.
Be a Leading Voice
90% of the NAM’s members are small and medium-sized manufacturers. Thanks to leading manufacturers who step forward to be their voice, we’re a powerful force for the people who make America.
The NAM Ambassador Network is comprised of a select group of small and medium sized manufacturers who represent a leading voice on priority issues facing the industry.
The NAM’s Ambassadors use their voices to get more priorities across the finish line and shape the debate about our industry. From telling their story to hosting a member of Congress, NAM Ambassadors are proven change makers.
NAM sponsors power exclusive NAM programming and events. They offer our members groundbreaking content and innovative manufacturing business solutions, helping them develop new opportunities in a disruptive environment, stay current on the latest technologies and gain valuable insights on emerging trends. Sponsorships support our members, strengthen our industry and further the goals of manufacturers across the country.
ISSUES:
Economic Data and Growth
Energy
Environment
Health Care
Immigration
Innovation and Technology
Labor and Employment
Regulatory and Legal Reform
Research
Research, Innovation and Technology
Tax
Trade
Transportation and Infrastructure
Workforce and Education
Contact National Association of Manufacturers:
733 10th Street NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
Toll Free: (800) 814-8468
Phone: (202) 637-3000
info@nam.org
