National Association of Manufacturers

What National Association of Manufacturers does

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest industrial trade association in the United States, founded in 1895 in Cincinnati, Ohio and headquartered since the 1970s at 733 10th Street NW, Washington, D.C. NAM operates as a private membership-based nonprofit representing more than 13 million people working in manufacturing across all U.S. states and manufacturing subsectors, with a board comprising 200+ top manufacturing executives that includes approximately 80% of Fortune 100 manufacturers (e.g., Rockwell Automation, J.M. Smucker, Dow, Johnson & Johnson). NAM delivers value across four interlocking service areas: (1) policy advocacy organized around the 'Competing to Win' agenda across 12 issue areas including tax, trade, energy, infrastructure, workforce, and regulation; (2) legal advocacy through the NAM Legal Center, which litigates and files amicus briefs nationwide; (3) workforce development through its affiliate The Manufacturing Institute, plus digital transformation research via the Manufacturing Leadership Council and Innovation Research Interchange; and (4) operational solutions including NAM Energy, NAM Cyber Cover, NAM Shipping and Logistics, Manufacturers Retirement 401(k), NAM Incentives Locator, and the CONNEX Marketplace B2B sourcing platform. The organization also runs the NAM-PAC political action committee and a network of annual events including the Rethink: Accelerating Digital Transformation conference, Workforce Summit, Manufacturing Leadership Awards, North American Manufacturing Conference, and a State of Manufacturing Tour.

NAM's revenue model is anchored on recurring annual membership dues across three tiers—Standard Manufacturing Membership, Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers (SMM) Membership, and Leading Edge Membership—augmented by membership fees from the Council of Manufacturing Associations (CMA, 260 national trade associations) and the Conference of State Manufacturers Associations (COSMA, 50 state associations), plus revenue from operational solutions programs, events, and conferences. Its go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales to large manufacturers, a tiered SMM motion scaled for smaller operations, an Ambassador Network of mid-market advocates, distribution through CMA/COSMA association channels, and policy/event-driven engagement. NAM does not disclose pricing publicly; it represents the central institutional voice of U.S. manufacturing with a documented history of legislative success (90% of regulatory recommendations achieved during the first Trump administration; all 10 of manufacturers' tax priorities secured in H.R. 1) and recent court victories (vacating the FTC expanded M&A premerger rule; striking down the NLRB Cemex card-check standard at the 6th Circuit).

Name

National Association of Manufacturers

Legal name

National Association of Manufacturers

Website

https://nam.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest U.S. manufacturing trade association, providing policy advocacy across 12 issue areas, legal representation, workforce development, and operational programs to manufacturing companies of all sizes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NAM generates revenue through membership dues from manufacturing companies of all sizes. Membership tiers include standard membership for manufacturing companies, Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers (SMM) membership scaled for smaller operations, and Leading Edge Membership. The organization represents the largest manufacturing association in the United States.
2. Council of Manufacturing Associations Membership: 260 national manufacturing trade associations pay membership fees to participate in the CMA network, which provides advocacy coordination, industry leadership, and operational excellence resources.
3. Conference of State Manufacturers Associations Membership: 50 state manufacturers' associations pay membership dues for access to resources, insights, strategic allies, and the Power of Us collaborative network.
4. Operational Solutions Programs: NAM offers operational programs including NAM Energy, NAM Cyber Cover, NAM Shipping and Logistics, Manufacturers Retirement 401(k), NAM Incentives Locator, CONNEX Marketplace, and Executive Edge Webinars that provide member benefits and generate revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels16 records

Core offering

NAM is a manufacturing trade association that provides member companies with policy advocacy, operational programs, workforce development, legal representation, and industry research. It serves as the leading collective voice for manufacturers of all sizes before U.S. policymakers, while also offering member benefits such as energy, cybersecurity, logistics, retirement, and digital transformation services.

Product overview

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is a trade association, not a product company. It operates as a membership organization providing advocacy, operational programs, workforce development, research, and professional development services to manufacturing companies. Its core member services include: operational programs (NAM Energy, NAM Cyber Cover, NAM Shipping and Logistics, Manufacturers Retirement 401(k), NAM Incentives Locator, CONNEX Marketplace); professional development (Executive Edge Webinars, Manufacturing Leadership Council for digital transformation, Innovation Research Interchange); workforce development through The Manufacturing Institute; legal advocacy via the NAM Legal Center; research products including the quarterly NAM Manufacturers' Outlook Survey; political engagement through NAM-PAC; and alliance networks including the Council of Manufacturing Associations (260 associations) and Conference of State Manufacturers Associations (50 state associations). NAM advocates on policy issues including tax, trade, energy, environment, infrastructure, workforce, immigration, healthcare, and regulatory reform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NAM Energy

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of NAM's regulatory recommendations achieved during first Trump administration
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Confirmed participant in inaugural 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo co-hosted by SBA and NAM at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The event connects large producers with small domestic suppliers under the Made in America agenda.
• Ford Motor CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Confirmed participant in inaugural 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo co-hosted by SBA and NAM at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Event designed to connect large producers with small domestic suppliers.
• Lockheed MartincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Confirmed participant in inaugural 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo. Lockheed Martin is one of over 20 major buyers participating in one-on-one matchmaking sessions with suppliers.
• HoneywellcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Confirmed participant in inaugural 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo co-hosted by SBA and NAM. Honeywell joins other major buyers in one-on-one matchmaking sessions with suppliers.
• ToyotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Confirmed participant in inaugural 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo. Toyota participates as a major buyer connecting with small domestic suppliers under the Made in America agenda.
• Eli LillycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Confirmed participant in inaugural 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo co-hosted by SBA and NAM. Eli Lilly participates in one-on-one matchmaking sessions with domestic suppliers.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026SBA and NAM co-hosted the inaugural 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo at Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina. The event connected large producers with small domestic suppliers under the Made in America agenda, with over 20 major buyers confirmed.
• Council of Manufacturing Associations (CMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CMA is a division of NAM that connects 260 national manufacturing trade associations representing 130,000 companies worldwide. 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.
• Conference of State Manufacturers Associations (COSMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026COSMA is a network of 50 state manufacturers' associations representing 59,000+ companies that work together to advocate for and solve the industry's biggest challenges. Provides state associations access to resources, leading insights, strategic allies, and thought leaders through the Power of Us.
• Aerospace Industries AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed on NAM USMCA Trade page. Represents aerospace manufacturers in North American trade discussions.
• Autos Drive AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization on NAM USMCA Trade page. Advocates for integrated North American automotive supply chains.
• SEMIcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner organization on NAM USMCA Trade page. Represents semiconductor manufacturers and supply chain in North American trade framework.
• American Chemistry CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization on NAM USMCA Trade page. Represents chemical manufacturers in North American trade discussions.
• The Manufacturing InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAM's workforce development and education affiliate that drives programs and research to promote modern manufacturing and jumpstart new approaches to growing manufacturing talent. Programs include MFG Day, STEP Ahead Awards, Heroes MAKE America, and FAME.
• Manufacturing Leadership CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDivision of NAM providing digital transformation insights, research and peer networks for senior manufacturing executives leading Manufacturing 4.0. Operates Manufacturing Leadership Awards.
• Innovation Research InterchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-industry community of innovation leaders advancing the practice of research, development and new-product innovation. Division of NAM.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• SEMI: Global industry association serving the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing supply chain. A NAM USMCA partner organization representing a high-priority manufacturing sub-sector with similar advocacy and policy engagement models.
• National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW): Trade association representing the wholesale distribution industry, an adjacent manufacturing-adjacent sector. Operates a comparable dues-funded advocacy and operational programs model targeted at policy influence in Washington.
• American Chemistry Council: Industry-specific trade association for the U.S. chemical manufacturing sector. Listed as a NAM partner on USMCA trade advocacy, illustrating how NAM's alliance network includes specialized manufacturing associations with parallel advocacy models.
• Aerospace Industries Association: Trade association representing aerospace and defense manufacturers, also a NAM partner on USMCA. Comparable as a sectoral manufacturing trade association with similar lobbying, legal advocacy, and policy priorities, but narrower in scope.
• Associated Builders and Contractors: National trade association representing the U.S. construction industry, including commercial and industrial contractors. Operates a similar state-chapter + national federation model and pursues comparable policy priorities on labor, regulation, and workforce.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The largest broad-based business association in the United States, representing more than 3 million businesses across all sectors. Comparable to NAM as the apex cross-industry advocacy body, though broader than manufacturing-specific and overlapping heavily in policy influence.

Emerging players

• National Foreign Trade Council: Trade association focused on international trade policy and tariffs, with overlapping membership among multinational manufacturers. Comparable on trade advocacy but narrower in scope than NAM's full manufacturing agenda.
• Information Technology Industry Council (ITI): Global trade association representing the technology hardware and software industry, including major manufacturers. Comparable on policy advocacy structure (tax, trade, workforce) but focused on tech rather than physical manufacturing.

Direct peers

• Business Roundtable: Association of CEOs of major U.S. companies, with a strong manufacturing footprint and similar advocacy, governance, and policy positioning. Operates a comparable CEO-led membership model with stated policy priorities and public campaigns.
• National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB): The leading small and medium business association in the U.S., directly comparable to NAM's SMM Membership tier. Operates a similar dues-funded, state-federated advocacy model targeting regulatory burden and tax policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShopFloorNAM
• YouTubeyoutube.com/namvideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/NAMpage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/15935

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Association of Manufacturers