COVID-19 has put critical manufacturing under the microscope. Facing shortages of personal protective equipment, ventilators and parts, testing kits, and the absence of a vaccine, Americans are asking, “What would it take to make more?” While the United States produces more than ever before, shifts in global sourcing and ever more complex supply chains have changed the way that the manufacturing economy adjusts to shocks. This paper introduces a series that will explore those changes and how manufacturers can overcome new challenges and find opportunity in these difficult times.