US manufacturing sector faces constant cost volatility due to fluctuating commodity prices and reliance on imported materials. Several major events have occurred in the recent past, such as Panama Canal draught in 2023-34, Suez crises in 2024-25, Russia Ukraine war and 2025 Tariffs, that have drastically increased import costs. As per market research blog, U.S. tariffs imposed in early 2025 resulted into estimated $328.2 billion annual additional cost on the manufacturing sector (marketresearch.com 2025)

This paper proposes a structured analytical framework to help manufacturing companies assess these impacts objectively and enable rapid decision-making via the use of advanced technologies like Integrated Business Planning (IBP) software with AI&ML capabilities. The core of this methodology is a "What-If” analysis tool, which leverages master data and various costs maintained in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System. Manufacturing companies should utilize this analysis tool not as a one-time report but as a living dashboard.