Published Books and Articles
This Supply Chain Year Will Be Dependent on Politics
Governmental policies and regulations have become an integrated part of supply chain life
Like so many organizations, the Reshoring Institute did a predictions survey for 2024. The results surprised us.
Out of all the responses, politics was the most often cited regarding what will affect supply chains in 2024. Fifteen or 20 years ago, politics wouldn’t have garnered even a mention, as government and laws provided mere background and context for doing supply chain work. But today, politics are on everyone’s mind and are expected to influence the majority of supply chain decisions this year.
Foxconn’s Tijuana Manufacturing Operation Shows the Nearshoring Possibilities
The facility is a testament to investment in Mexico as part of the nearshoring trend
Over the past 20 years, many companies, particularly in electronics, have outsourced manufacturing. One of the giants of contract manufacturing is Foxconn, the famous CM making Apple products in China. In addition to China, Foxconn has established manufacturing facilities in many countries, including Mexico.
The reshoring/nearshoring movement has companies considering Mexico as a viable low-cost alternative to China. The minimum wage in Tijuana as of January 2024 is approximately $2.25/hour. Land, facilities, and the overall cost of operations are lower, too.
The Astonishing Port of Laredo
Laredo is the largest U.S. land port. More than 14,000 trucks per day cross the border at Laredo.
I visited Laredo in October to see for myself. Jacob, one of our interns from the Reshoring Institute, came with me to assist with our research on cross-border commerce and the massive shift to nearshoring manufacturing. What we discovered was jaw-dropping volumes, advanced technology, community college education in trade compliance, and a welcoming business environment.
Will an Investment ‘Supercycle’ Spark the Revival of American Manufacturing?
Will three big recent funding measures entice manufacturers to shift production from China back to the U.S.?
The trend has been evident for a few years now: manufacturers reducing production in China, in favor of lower-cost countries and, possibly, the U.S. Three big investment initiatives — the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act and infrastructure funding bill — could be instrumental in triggering a rush of reshoring.
A Manufacturing Supercycle Has Begun
“We believe the U.S. is in the early stages of a manufacturing supercycle,” wrote Joseph P. Quinlan, head of CIO market strategy at Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank.
Hidden risks in global supply chains
Do you think you already have enough to worry about with the obvious and known risks and have no time to address hidden risks? Rethink that approach. The risk of doing nothing could be disastrous to your business.
The Hidden Risk of Chinese Suppliers
Whether a company stays or goes, being alert for signs of supplier bankruptcy is essential for supply chain managers
The economic news coming from China isn’t good. While the U.S. economy is expanding, the Chinese economic growth rate has declined from double digits just a few years ago to 3% in 2022.
The Last Word with Rosemary Coates
Reshoring is no longer just an idea. Real job growth in the US indicates the trend is upward and sustainable. A recent survey by Kearney Consulting reported that 96% of responding CEOs are considering reshoring their operations or have already done so.
Read More >
Reshoring the Food Supply Chain
Global supply chains are headline news. Shortages and disruptions over the past few years have caused companies in all industries to reconsider where they are sourcing and processing products and the potential for reshoring their supply chains.
Read More >
DC Velocity – April 3, 2023 – Interview – April 3, 2023
Coming home: interview with Rosemary Coates – In a bid to shorten their supply chains, companies are looking to bring manufacturing back to U.S. shores. But are we ready? Rosemary Coates answers that question and more in the last of three interviews on workforce issues.
Read More >
Finding and managing “forever chemicals” in your supply chains
It’s time for supply chain folks to raise a red flag for possible worst case scenarios.
Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of chemicals in use since the 1950s, to make a wide variety of stain-resistant, water-resistant and non-stick consumer products. They are in waterproof cosmetics, raincoats, Teflon pans, water-resistant hiking boots and fire-fighting foams to name a few products. They are in the products in your supply chain.
First, Biden talked about global supply chains
Then he talked about Made in America and transportation infrastructure in his State of the Union. That’s when I tuned in fully.
I usually half-listen to the State of the Union Address while I am doing something else at home. That was my plan this year, too. But then, I heard President Biden talking about global supply chains and I sat down in front of the TV.
Supply Chain Resolutions: Can we stick with it this year?
Here are six areas that could use some extra attention.
I just got home from my Zumba class at the gym. The studio was crowded with newbies and their personal New Year’s resolutions. From experience, I know that this will only last about 6 weeks and then we will get back to normal crowds with those of us who are die-hard gym goers. The rest of the people lose their will to stick with it.
So what resolutions and new ideas are ahead for supply chain management? Will we start new projects and commit to making improvements? Can we stick with it through the year?
What does the CHIPS and Science Act mean for global supply chains?
Semiconductors or “chips” as they are often called, are essential to our lives. They are in our cell phones, our cars, our laptops, our washing machines, our TVs and airline avionics – it’s hard to imagine a world without them.
Supply Chain Woes Accelerate Reshoring, Nearshoring Trend
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic followed by supply chain disruptions around the world has sparked a resurgence of companies bringing sourcing and manufacturing back to the United States or closer to U.S. shores.
While the pandemic continues to be a catalyst, interest in reshoring and nearshoring has been growing over the past several years. Companies are coping with rising costs to source and produce goods in China and other Asian locales. They also have faced tense geopolitical environments, unreliable and expensive global shipping services and supply chain delays exacerbated by port congestion and even inland transportation issues. These factors have encouraged manufacturers to move closer to the source of consumption — the U.S.
Global Risk Mitigation: Using risk assessment tools to evaluate global suppliers
Now that the worst of it seems to be over, it’s time to take action to mitigate any future risk of supply chain disruptions. Developing a tool or using an existing software tool for assessing risk will help identify the weak links in your supply chain—but a tool alone is not enough.
Risk management has been among the top priorities on board agendas and in procurement departments for many years, yet companies found themselves unprepared for the pandemic-driven increase in supplier risks and the resulting supply chain disruptions.
As suppliers shut down across China and other global locations, it became increasingly more difficult—or impossible—to keep inbound products and parts flowing. As a result, many suppliers went bankrupt, or couldn’t maintain deliveries.
Rosemary Coates, Reshoring Insitute
Rosemary Coates is founder and executive director of the Reshoring Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on expanding U.S. manufacturing supply chains. She is also president of Blue Silk Consulting, a supply-chain management consulting firm that has helped global supply chain clients for more than 25 years. She is a best-selling author of five supply chain books, including The Reshoring Guidebook and the Legal Blacksmith – How to Avoid and Defend Supply Chain Disputes. She also works as an Expert Witness on legal cases involving global supply chains.
Rosemary serves on the board of directors at the University of San Diego Supply Chain Management Institute and teaches Global Supply Chain Strategy at UC Berkeley. She earned an MBA from the University of San Diego and a bachelor’s degree in business logistics from Arizona State University.
Reshoring, Supply Chain Disruption, Survival Strategies – A Chat With Rosemary Coates
China’s zero Covid policy, and the shutdown of Shanghai are impacting global supply chains. To discuss this, and strategies organizations can take, I invited the Reshoring Institute’s Rosemary Coates back onto the podcast.
The Move Towards Automation Is Critical – conversation with Rosemary Coates
“To make your manufacturing lines more efficient and to extract labor, you have to move towards an automated solution. This makes manufacturing competitive in high-cost areas like America. It is one of the critical underpinnings of reshoring and looking at where in the world you should be manufacturing.” – Rosemary Coates, founder and Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute in a conversation with Lénárd Sándor.
Are there Uyghurs in Your Supply Chain?
Some companies unknowingly include forced-labor component parts from tier two or tier three suppliers. Are there forced-labor parts in your products?
Muslim Uyghurs, held in forced labor camps in China, have become front-page news. More recently, reports from human rights organizations reveal that many top American brands are using these labor camps as factories.
Global Supply Chains and Pandemic Prices
Hiccups in the global supply chains during the pandemic drove prices to record highs. In May this year, the U.S. consumer Price Index rose 5%, a 13-year record high. Mostly driven (one-third) by the price of used cars that rose 30%. New car sales rose past a record 7 million vehicles as dealer inventory fell to historical lows, while automotive manufacturers closed plants. The biggest reason: shortage of computer chips from contract manufacturers (foundries) in Asia. Experts predict high car prices will continue until 2023.
Both the problems and possible solutions are global and complex.
Come learn from expert and best-selling author Rosemary Coates, and ask your questions directly.
Bringing Manufacturing back to America
On this week’s Industrial Talk Podcast we’re talking to Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute about “Bringing Manufacturing back to America”. Get the answers to your “Reshoring” questions along with Rosemary’s unique insight on the “How” on this Industrial Talk interview!
What Seems Impossible, Is Merely Difficult
The US has been the innovator of most breakthrough technologies and processes developed since World War II. With our constant emphasis on generating products that are newer, better, and faster, these innovations have set America apart from other nations.
Reshoring is Booming – Some Astonishing Statistics to Ponder
The pandemic is the primary reason for this uptick in the return of American sourcing and manufacturing.
Reshoring manufacturing is booming – but reshoring cannot simply be defined as reestablishing new factories in the U.S. that were once in China.
Who Owns Those Factories at the US-Mexico Border? Surprise! It’s probably the Chinese
Chinese factory development and investment on the Mexican side of the border has resulted in job creation in Mexico, but also in the U.S. through logistics operations and support services.
Supply Chain Chat: Accelerating Trends Towards Reshoring and Why It Matters
In 2020, vulnerabilities and risks were exposed in offshoring manufacturing and supply chains. Companies were forced to find alternative ways to meet demand and the trend towards reshoring was accelerated. Watch this recording to hear from Stephanie Richelieu Stagger, COO/CRO at 3G, and special guest, Rosemary Coates, Founder and Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, for a discussion about the accelerating trend towards reshoring and why it matters.
Are There Counterfeits In Your Supply Chain?
In 2020, counterfeits were estimated at $1.8 trillion or 6.8 percent of global trade. Did you know that one out of 20 parts imported into the U.S. is counterfeit? In this APQC webinar, get insights into how to combat counterfeits in your supply chain with advice from Rosemary Coates, global supply chain consultant and an expert witness for legal cases involving counterfeit imports.
POLITICO – April 29, 2021 – commentary
‘Buy American’ sounds good in theory. Biden will find it’s painfully slow in practice.
The government’s ability to control the supply chains of private companies is limited, despite the administration’s pledge to aggressively enforce “Buy American” mandates.
Jaw-dropping, Spectacular Supply Chain Management
I am so impressed. I just got my second Covid vaccine. I scheduled both the first and second appointments online with no wait and at the appointed time I drove to the nearby vaccination location in Silicon Valley. There was no line. I filled out a form, showed my insurance card, and was escorted to a vaccination station, got my shot, waited 15 minutes, posted a photo on Facebook, and left. The whole process took less than a half-hour. It was very well organized, and stress-free. I am seeing postings from my friends all across the country who had similar experiences.
Leaving China? It’s Not That Easy
Are you packing up your operations in China and moving to another low-cost country or reshoring back to the U.S.? Many companies are rethinking their global manufacturing strategy in light of the global pandemic and recognizing supply chain vulnerabilities. Reshoring is the hottest topic on executive agendas and in board rooms across the U.S.
Challenges of Moving Manufacturing Out of China
When moving manufacturing out of China, there’s a lot to consider, e.g., employment contracts, retrieval of tooling and molds, IP protection, and taxes and fees.
There is plenty of manufacturing capability around the world for consumer goods, PPE, testing equipment, medical devices, consumer goods, and other industrial products. So why are companies reshoring their manufacturing operations now?
Biden Has a Plan for Supply Chains and U.S. Manufacturing – But Will It Work?
Like all politicians’ statements, this one is high-level, sweeping verbiage with little or no defined detail.
The Biden-Harris transition website posts Biden’s policy for U.S. manufacturing and for addressing supply chain shortages due to Covid19. But can we take what is written at face value? Like all politicians’ statements, this one is high-level, sweeping verbiage with little or no defined detail.
How to Create a More Resilient Supply Chain
Supply chain management veteran, Rosemary Coates, shares the ingredients for a more resilient supply chain and the lessons learned from COVID-19.
If there’s one word those in supply chain management hate to hear, it’s “uncertainty.” Success in supply chain comes from its antonym: certainty. From the point of origin to the final destination, everyone across the chain of custody needs to play their part to create predictability. It’s a tough promise to fulfill without a little flexibility.
A Fresh Look at Reshoring
Running the gauntlet of COVID-19 has shifted how businesses think about global supply chains. Companies are not just looking at manufacturing costs, but at what happens if their supply chain shuts down.
Eye On Industry – Episode 10: Made in America – Reshoring: Moving Production From China Back to the US
We’ve sat down with Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute and President of Blue Silk Consulting. She is a management consultant with over 25 years of experience and 80 global supply chain clients and is also a Chinese Manufacturing Expert Witness for legal cases involving global supply chain matters. Rosemary is passionate about bringing manufacturing back to America.
“Watch: Is the Pandemic Driving Manufacturers Back to the US?”
Rosemary Coates, executive director of The Reshoring Institute, explains why the coronavirus pandemic might finally be the crisis that drives manufacturers to shift production from China back to the U.S.
Coates: COVID has led manufacturers in China to look at TX-MX border region
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – An expert on reshoring says the Texas-Mexico border region can benefit from the COVID-19 induced disruption to the supply chains used by manufacturers in China.
Rosemary Coates used to help U.S. companies locate in China. Now, as founder and executive director of the Reshoring Institute, a 501c3 nonprofit, and president of Blue Silk Consulting, she is doing the reverse.
Coates spoke at a Virtual Site Selector Tour of Brownsville hosted recently by the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation and Select USA.
Americans Say They Prefer Products Made In The USA and Will Pay More For Them
THE RESULTS ARE IN – Americans say they prefer products that are Made in the USA and they are willing to pay up to 20% more for them. The Reshoring Institute recently surveyed nearly 500 Americans across the country and asked if they prefer to buy products that are labeled “Made in the USA.” Would they be willing to pay more for these items? Nearly 70% of the respondents said they prefer American-made products. Slightly more than 83% said they would pay up to 20% more for products made domestically.
Webinar: Diversify Your Global Supply Chain
Gain new perspectives on reshoring and expanding sourcing operations. Join DiCentral and special guest speaker, Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, on an exclusive webinar on diversifying your supply chain. Rosemary will share best practices on tariff strategies, supply chain relocation and leveraging new technologies to help your company rebound and rebuild post-pandemic.
Decoupling & Reshoring
What is the current status of a “#decoupling” process? Is change happening now, in 6 months, or part of a much longer-term plan?
Are some industries going to #restore faster than others? which ones?
#Reshoring in the age of coronavirus: what are some of the #hurdles in #leaving #China?
Reshoring: The Hottest Trend in Business
Reshoring is the practice of transferring a business operation that was moved overseas — typically to a low-cost manufacturing — back to the country from which it was originally relocated. The goal of reshoring is to rebalance a country’s economy, create new jobs and cut its trade deficit.
Manufacturing Tomorrow
Listen to the podcast online at OSU.edu >>
COVID-19’s Impact on Reshoring and the Supply Chain
The trade war and disruption from the coronavirus are spurring companies to rethink their global supply chains, manufacturing processes, factory design, automation and workforce needs. In this episode, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, about how the trade war and COVID-19 have affected manufacturers worldwide, why it has more companies considering returning their manufacturing to the U.S., the hurdles and issues to leaving China, and what decision-makers should be thinking about when planning for manufacturing in the future. Listen here >
Global Supply Chains In The Wake Of COVID-19 In Socially Critical Industries – Is It Time To Reshore?
As countries, economies, and businesses adjust to life in the COVID-19 era, many governments have started to ask questions about the wisdom and longer term implications of allowing key components of socially or economically critical products like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and defense products to be sourced beyond domestic borders. Read more at National Law Review >>
Business Facilities Webinar: Rethinking the Global Supply Chain
Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute and the best-selling author of five books on supply chain management, discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global supply chain, and share how these disruptions may accelerate a ‘local for local’ strategy resulting in more reshoring of manufacturing. Listen online on Youtube >>
Coronavirus and Your Global Supply Chain – Part 2 – Rising Panic
We have been helping companies with their global tariff strategies because of the trade war and the resultant economic emergency. The Coronavirus is causing a different kind of economic crisis that is even more urgent. Read at Supply Chain Management Review >>
A look at the Coronavirus and your global supply chain
Propelled by the Trump Administration Trade Wars, many companies have already left China for other Asian manufacturing locations. But – there are no guarantees that the virus won’t spread to these new locations. Read more at Logistics Management >>
Supply Chain Turbulence in the Trade Wars
Rosemary Coates is Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, President of Blue SIlk Consulting and an Amazon.com best selling author well known for her knowledge in the supply chain arena. She joins hosts Lew Weiss and Tim Grady to discuss the trade wars and its impact on businesses across America. Listen on Manufacturing Talk Radio >>
Are there counterfeits in your supply chain?
Determining if there are counterfeit products in your supply chain is no easy task. How do you know if you’re buying and using true products from your suppliers and distribution channels?
The Reshoring Guidebook
Following these steps will help you avoid reshoring failure.
The Price of Counterfeits
The massive global problem of counterfeit products carries a high price tag. Fortunately, this intellectual property theft can be curtailed.
Legal Blacksmith: How to Avoid and Defend Supply Chain Disputes
Legal Blacksmith was written to help executive management, supply chain executives, in-house legal professionals, and other attorneys to deal with difficult supply chain issues.
42 Rules for Sourcing and Manufacturing in China
A practical guide to finding, qualifying, and managing Chinese manufacturers.
42 Rules for Superior Field Service: The Keys to Profitable Field Service and Customer Loyalty
The Keys to Profitable Field Service and Customer Loyalty.
Negotiation Blueprinting for Buyers: fact based negotiation with case studies
Published Videos
How to Move Production Out of China
Manufacturers Corner Interview
Reshoring: The Urgent Need to Bring Manufacturing Back to America
US Experts See Growing Desire to Curb Outsourcing to China
Published Interviews
