Welcome back to the Manuf-AI Weekly Newsletter where we read all the supply chain news so you don’t have to, filter out the nonsense, and hand you the good stuff like a JIT delivery with zero defects (a fantasy, but still).
Apple’s Manufacturing Academy held its largest-ever Spring Forum at Michigan State University, spotlighting how small and mid-sized American businesses are applying AI and smart manufacturing techniques to modernize factory-floor operations with real results already showing up on the shop floor. Apple Newsroom
CBP’s tariff refund portal (CAPE) processed over 75,000 claims since launching April 20, with roughly 15% rejected and the agency anticipating actual refunds hitting importer accounts as early as May 11, though some small business owners are still hitting access snags. CBS News
Despite record investment and tariffs, U.S. manufacturing imports hit a four-year high according to Kearney’s 2026 Reshoring Index, China lost $135 billion in import share, but other Asian low-cost countries picked up $193 billion to fill the gap, and domestic capacity has grown only 1.5% despite investment tripling over four years. MHL News
With growth slowing and competition intensifying, parcel carriers are shifting their focus to margins, automation, and pricing power forcing shippers to fundamentally rethink their parcel strategy heading into the second half of 2026. Logistics Management
A new Dow Jones Risk Journal report found the U.S. lost $107 billion from tariff evasion in 2025, a number that will put significantly more scrutiny on importers, customs brokers, and sourcing practices across every industry in the months ahead. Talking Logistics
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