Globalisation is undergoing a number of profound structural changes that we are only beginning to understand. Global trade has diminished in importance. It was a major driver of global economic growth between the early 1990s and the onset of the…
The electronics aisles at Walmart, Costco, Target, BestBuy and the car dealerships of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler around the country will soon all be empty — not because a fourth wave of the COVID-19 virus will wreak havoc (hopefully…
The U.S. public health system is part of our country's center of gravity: a critical sustaining element of our society and a comparative advantage that sets us apart from—and supports—other parts of the world. But our system is not without…
The Hackett Group’s 2021 Key Issues Study reveals some very interesting information as it relates to the thinking of top procurement executives. It should come as no surprise that after the challenging year all businesses witnessed in 2020, these procurement executives are…
Supply chain leaders over the last 18 months have dealt with issues they never had to even consider before the pandemic hit. Agility or resilience is now the watchword of supply chain design. Thus, many have started to look at…
Reshoring supply chains to North America could be limited by the region's reputation for protectionism, the resilience of Asian supply chains during the coronavirus pandemic and the growing consumer market in Asia, according to a new report from The Economist Intelligence…
In theory, supply chain risk management should be self-regulating, to a certain extent at least. If companies fail to identify, account for and mitigate risks in their supply chain, they suffer the financial consequences. So, it's in their interest to…
The last thing consumers needed in 2016 was another kids fashion brand. But former Gymboree CEO Matt McCauley came out of retirement when he saw an opportunity for classic, heirloom clothes that would be passed to the next generation, rather…
he Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and West Michigan economic developers recently held their first-ever furniture industry symposium, and supply chain disruptions led the list of concerns. The MEDC, Pure Michigan Business Connect, The Right Place and Lakeshore Advantage co-hosted…
The Biden administration outlined its vision for reviving the domestic production of semiconductors, large capacity batteries, critical minerals and pharmaceuticals in a report that followed its 100-day review of critical supply chains. The 250-page report is being released as multiple industries are facing…
If 2020 was the year of the pandemic, 2021 is shaping up to be the year of stressed supply chains and the shortages economy. In scale and scope, unprecedented supply shortages have had a cascading impact on global supply chains…
![Identifying Weaknesses, Using Data To Strengthen Supply Chains [Q&A]](https://reshoringinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/750px-1.png)
As vaccination levels rise, COVID case numbers drop, and health guidelines ease, the economic bounceback has generated as many supply chain challenges as economic upswings. For manufacturers, this means navigating another "new normal" packed with new sourcing variables that impact…
When one thinks of motor vehicle ingenuity, the name ‘Ford’ almost immediately comes to mind. Founded in 1903, the Ford Motor Company (Ford) produces around 5.5 million vehicles per year and continues to deliver in terms of comfort, safety and…
Reshoring manufacturing is booming - but reshoring cannot simply be defined as reestablishing new factories in the U.S. that were once in China. Reshoring is defined more broadly to include: Manufacturing returned to America New sourcing of raw materials and…
Dive Brief: Total cost of ownership is the top factor manufacturers consider when making reshoring decisions, according to the State of North American Manufacturing 2021 Annual Report. Of the 337 qualified respondents surveyed by Thomas for the report, 23% said total…
Welcome to the Thomas Index Report for the week of June 7th. There’s been a lot of discussion lately around the surge in reshoring as North American businesses shift back to domestic production and operations in the wake of COVID-19-related…
It’s been nearly a year and a half since the pandemic brought supply chains around the globe to a screeching halt. As the wheels of commerce begin to churn, we’ll learn which changes were temporary, which are permanent and which…
Lateral flow immunoassay (LFI) rapid diagnostic tests play an essential role in the fight against COVID-19’s spread, but before the pandemic erupted, many LFI devices were imported into the United States from lower-cost-manufacturing countries. As was the case with numerous…