The Economics of Small Manufacturing

About the talk

Dr. Owen Faraday, economist specializing in regional manufacturing policy, spoke at UW–Porter Falls in March 2026 as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series, nominated by the College of Management.

What the talk covered

Faraday presented data on how small and mid-sized manufacturers in the Upper Midwest have adapted to reshoring trends and labor shortages, arguing that the region's advantage is workforce reliability rather than lower costs.

A line worth remembering

“Nobody picks Wesconsin because it's the cheapest option on the spreadsheet. They pick it because the part shows up correct and on time.”

— Dr. Owen Faraday

If you missed it

Distinguished Lecture Series talks are recorded and streamed live from the Halvorsen Library auditorium, and a recording is typically posted afterward through the sponsoring college's page. Reach the College of Management directly if you are looking for a specific talk that is not yet posted.

How it connected to coursework

The College of Management typically builds a short discussion or reflection assignment around its nominated speaker into at least one course that term, so students who could not attend live still engage with the ideas secondhand. Faculty who teach in areas adjacent to “The Economics of Small Manufacturing” say the Q&A after the formal talk is usually where the most specific, applicable answers come out — worth staying for if you do attend in person.

Common questions

Can students propose a speaker? Each college nominates its own speaker; a student with a suggestion should raise it with a faculty member or the department office in the relevant college, since faculty typically make the actual nomination.

Is attendance required for any course? Some instructors offer extra credit or a short reflection assignment tied to a relevant talk, but attendance is never a blanket requirement across the university.