# It's Not a Workforce Issue, It's a Workflow Issue w/ Alex Torrey

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2026-08-25
- Length: 28m
- Episode: 324
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-25-its-not-a-workforce-issue-its-a-workflow-issue-w-alex-torrey
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-01a00889-f227-7048-b905-17bc4cac0bf9

## Summary

Alex Torrey, co-founder and CEO of AIC (America's Innovation Corporation), argues that American manufacturing's constraint is workflow, not workforce, citing component shops running at 20-50% utilization versus world-class 90%+. He explains AIC's model of acquiring original component manufacturers to deploy proprietary software that empowers human operators, aiming to secure US supply chain sovereignty in physical AI. Torrey contrasts this 'permanent home' holding company approach with the short-term flip of private equity and the hollowing-out risk of strategic corporate acquirers, offering owner-operators a third option to preserve their legacy while scaling.

## Chapters

- [0:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-25-its-not-a-workforce-issue-its-a-workflow-issue-w-alex-torrey#t=34) Introduction: Alex Torrey and AIC's Mission
- [3:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-25-its-not-a-workforce-issue-its-a-workflow-issue-w-alex-torrey#t=213) Torrey's Background: CIA, Critical Thinking, and Startup DNA
- [7:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-25-its-not-a-workforce-issue-its-a-workflow-issue-w-alex-torrey#t=473) Defining Physical AI: Software that Moves Matter
- [8:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-25-its-not-a-workforce-issue-its-a-workflow-issue-w-alex-torrey#t=522) AIC's Model: Acquiring Component Manufacturers and Deploying Software
- [12:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-25-its-not-a-workforce-issue-its-a-workflow-issue-w-alex-torrey#t=732) National Treasures: Why Small Shops Are Critical to the Supply Chain
- [16:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-25-its-not-a-workforce-issue-its-a-workflow-issue-w-alex-torrey#t=1015) Workflow vs. Workforce: The Real Constraint in Manufacturing
- [19:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-25-its-not-a-workforce-issue-its-a-workflow-issue-w-alex-torrey#t=1145) Proprietary Software vs. Off-the-Shelf SaaS Solutions
- [22:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-25-its-not-a-workforce-issue-its-a-workflow-issue-w-alex-torrey#t=1369) The Three Options for Owner-Operators: PE, Strategic, and AIC
- [25:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-25-its-not-a-workforce-issue-its-a-workflow-issue-w-alex-torrey#t=1543) Advice for Transitioning Owners and AIC's Federated Model

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- AIC (company)
- America's Innovation Corporation (company)
- Guerrilla 76 (company)
- CIA (other)
- Berkshire Hathaway (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [248. Xometry’s Oscar Lovera & How AI Is Rebuilding Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-07-14-248-xometrys-oscar-lovera-how-ai-is-rebuilding-manufacturing) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [245: A Grassroots Approach to Shaping the Future of American Industry with Bret Boyd, CEO of Sustainment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-07-08-245-a-grassroots-approach-to-shaping-the-future-of-american-industry-with-bret-b) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: Purpose-Built AI for Manufacturing: How AI Agents Are Transforming Workflows on the Factory Floor with Apprentice CEO Angelo Stracquatanio](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-05-01-bonus-purpose-built-ai-for-manufacturing-how-ai-agents-are-transforming-workflow) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [From Garage Startup to EMS Excellence with Out of the Box COO Allison Budvarson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-14-from-garage-startup-to-ems-excellence-with-out-of-the-box-coo-allison-budvarson) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [On-Demand Labor, Operations, and Finding a Co-Founder with Veryable CEO Mike Kinder](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-09-21-on-demand-labor-operations-and-finding-a-co-founder-with-veryable-ceo-mike-kinde) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

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