Council of Manufacturing Associations

Connect with the resources and experts you need to succeed.

The NAM's Council of Manufacturing Associations

The network where manufacturing's associations lead together

With a membership including 260 national manufacturing trade associations representing 130,000 companies worldwide, the CMA creates partnerships across the industry, amplifies manufacturers’ voices and connects members to experts and trade association executives. Guided by three strategic objectives — Advocacy, Industry Leadership and Operational Excellence — CMA members gain insights, share perspectives, form coalitions and ensure manufacturers have a strong voice in national policy.

A powerful network for the industry that powers America:

260
national manufacturing trade associations
130,000
companies represented worldwide
~13M
American manufacturing workers
$2.91T
contributed to the U.S. economy each year

Figures: CMA membership (NAM, 2026); manufacturing employment and economic contribution — 2025 CMA Annual Report.

Partnerships that produce

Where CMA partners moved the needle in 2025

2025 required agility in every sense — a new administration, shifting regulatory expectations, a challenging trade environment and a fast-moving technology landscape. CMA partners turned that uncertainty into coordinated action.

A Historic Tax Victory

Nearly 100 trade associations joined the NAM in calling for passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). All 10 of manufacturers’ tax priorities were secured — plus a bonus 11th: a new deduction for constructing or expanding a manufacturing production facility.

Sensible Regulations

Through the Manufacturers for Sensible Regulations coalition — powered by the CMA — more than 100 organizations delivered a regulatory roadmap of three dozen day-one actions to boost manufacturing growth, then kept members ahead of every major rulemaking.

Trade & Tariffs

CMA kept associations informed and aligned on tariff developments, put an interactive tariff impact data tool to work and gathered member input on proposals such as a U.S. Manufacturing Investment Accelerator to strengthen domestic production.

AI & Energy Dominance

Building on the NAM’s “Manufacturing’s Roadmap to AI and Energy Dominance,” CMA translated AI from buzzword to practical problem-solving — pro-innovation rules, affordable energy, modernized permitting and AI as a tool for people, not a replacement for them.

IP & Right to Repair

CMA coordinated member engagement on National Defense Authorization Act provisions that would have mandated disclosure of privately developed intellectual property — underscoring the risks to innovation, safety, cybersecurity and the defense industrial base.

Legal Advocacy

Together with CMA members, the NAM Legal Center notched amicus wins at the U.S. Supreme Court — including Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County and San Francisco v. EPA — and continues the D.C. Circuit challenge to unworkable PFAS drinking-water standards.

A year of agile navigation

When manufacturing's associations speak with one voice, Washington listens

10 of 10
manufacturers’ tax priorities secured in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) — plus a bonus 11th provision for new production facilities.
100+
organizations united behind the Manufacturers for Sensible Regulations roadmap of day-one regulatory actions.
38
CMA Weekly Updates published in 2025, keeping the community ready to act on up-to-the-moment policy issues.
"In a year where the ground seemed to shift every few weeks, our greatest strength was each other. CMA partners showed what agile navigation really looks like — from sharing intel and playbooks instead of guarding them, to moving quickly without losing sight of our values and speaking with a unified voice on the issues that matter most to manufacturers." — Alison Bodor, President and CEO, American Frozen Food Institute, and 2025 CMA Chair

Source: 2025 CMA Annual Report, Council of Manufacturing Associations in 2025.

2025 in action

Convening leaders across the network

From high-level strategy sessions to focused workshops and new digital communities, CMA programming reflected the same agile navigation it asks of its members.

  • January 2025

    The Winter Leadership Conference in Baltimore launches the Agile Navigation theme — and the first-ever Forum for America’s Manufacturing Associations brings national, state and regional association leaders together around a shared narrative for the industry.

  • April 2025

    CMA CEOs gather for a workshop on rethinking membership models — a candid, peer-level look at aligning dues structures and value propositions with evolving member needs.

  • June 2025

    A pop-up workshop equips association staff with practical tactics for staying agile: piloting new offerings, sunsetting low-impact activities and using data and feedback loops.

  • July 2025

    Congress passes the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) — “a manufacturers’ bill, through and through” — and CMA members convene at the Summer Leadership Conference in Nashville to build on the momentum.

  • Throughout 2025

    38 Weekly Updates, the CMA 2025 Compensation Survey (nearly 70 participating organizations), the Women CEOs’ Networking Group and new CMA LinkedIn communities keep the network connected year-round.

CMA member benefits

Benefits that can't be found anywhere else

Members of the Council of Manufacturing Associations receive a range of exclusive benefits.

Lead the Industry

The CMA is where the top minds in manufacturing come together to solve the industry’s toughest challenges. Members gain exclusive insights and engage with executives who are driving transformation.

Advocacy That Gets Results

As part of the National Association of Manufacturers, the CMA puts you on the front lines of policymaking. Tap into the power of the NAM’s expert policy team and collaborate with peers to influence legislation that impacts manufacturing. Your membership fuels real change, delivering results that matter.

Achieve Operational Excellence

The CMA provides the resources and expertise to take your organization to the next level. From cutting-edge HR strategies to innovative workplace policies, CMA members are setting the standard for operational success.

Professional Development

Engage with other association leaders while accessing valuable professional development opportunities, and share knowledge and expertise through CMA leadership conferences and events.

Newsletters & Alerts

Be among the first to know when news impacting the manufacturing sector breaks. Timely publications, reports, alerts and briefs, like the Monday Economic Report, provide the vital information you need to lead your association today and into the future.

Events

Get access to experts and programming that can help ensure your association’s future and positively impact your bottom line.

CMA Member Organizations Browse the full list

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Membership listing maintained by the NAM Council of Manufacturing Associations. To add or update your association's listing, email [email protected].

Lead your industry with the strength of the whole

CMA members and the NAM are among the most trusted and respected advocates for manufacturing among policymakers, the public and the media. Bring your association into the network shaping the future of manufacturing. Questions or highlights for the CMA Weekly Update? Email [email protected].