Education

To understand whether there is a shift in the manufacturing sector, the MIT Forum for Supply Chain Innovation launched a U.S. Re-shoring survey, in conjunction with Supply Chain Digest, to understand what U.S. manufacturers are really thinking about in terms of re-shoring, what factors are driving their decision process and to determine, if in fact, a geography shift is occurring.

This article analyzes the distribution of value from innovation in the global supply chains of the Apple iPad and iPhone. We find that Apple continues to capture the largest share of value from these innovations.

Career paths are not narrow, ladder-like pathways; they consist of broad, irregular landscapes. Along the way, you will almost certainly make lateral moves in response to unexpected obstacles, opportunities, and shifting ambitions.

Driven by the pressure to control operating costs and focus on core competencies, the past few decades have witnessed a growing trend toward offshore manufacturing as firms move their production activities from developed countries to emerging economies.

This report presents the findings of the 2013 annual survey and analysis, and compares the results of previous years’ surveys, creating a predictive indicator of emerging priorities in the trucking industry.

Despite the difficulties of monitoring trends in an industry as large and diverse as trucking, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) continues to proactively monitor the challenges facing the trucking industry.

What is research? In layman’s terms, research is the way you solve problems in a systematic manner and, you know very well, problems are part of the business environment.

Many people attribute the reshoring trend to the inflating manufacturing and logistics costs in low cost regions such as Asia. As the cost advantage of offshoring diminishes, will firms eventually all move back to the US? Not necessarily.

To meet the challenges ahead, it’s vital that we keep up on supply chain trends. We must read, watch and listen to what other professionals are saying and doing. Logistics and supply chain management are becoming core competencies in progressive, successful companies, both public and private, around the globe.

Manufacturing Day would not be complete if it did not offer opportunities to hire our heroes—the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. Veterans play an important role in closing the skills gap. They have skills that make them uniquely suited to careers in manufacturing.

ReMaking America is the second volume on manufacturing policy edited by Richard McCormack. The first, Manufacturing a Better Future for America, came on the heels of the worst decade for manufacturing in our nation’s history. It set the stage for an unprecedented focus on “Made in America.” ReMaking America unveils a new story: one of hope. With the right policies, the authors argue, manufacturing may see a new dawn in America along with the wealth and growth opportunities needed...

Reshoring Initiative founder, Harry Moser recently participated in an Economist online debate, presenting in defense of the motion “Do multinational corporations have a duty to maintain a strong presence in their home countries?”

Our panelists, Dr. Irene Petrick, Penn State University Professor; Carl Pope, Former Executive Director, Sierra Club; Sridhar Kota, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan. Moderated by Scott Paul, President, Alliance for American Manufacturing, touch on the shift from low-cost/low-wage manufacturing, to a high-tech focus in the US.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) recently celebrated its five-year anniversary. Over that time, our polling, town hall meetings, research, grassroots advocacy, and policy development have helped to make “Made in America” part of the national political conversation again, culminating in heavy exposure during the 2012 presidential election campaign—from both parties—and the past two State of the Union addresses.

Supply professionals are in a unique, critical position to impact the global supply chain and therefore should supplement their organization's work in sustainability and social responsibility by promoting sustainability and social responsibility through leadership and participation on appropriate committees, boards and panels of governmental and nongovernmental organizations.

Today digital technologies and borders open to the flow of ideas, goods, and services make it possible to build international partnerships for bringing innovation into production and into the market. We must take steps now to regain U.S. manufacturing momentum if we want to sustain the nation’s signature economic advantage: innovation.

This report—prepared by Guardian Six Consulting LLC for the Alliance for American Manufacturing—recommends 10 actions to make America less dependent on foreign nations for the vital products that enable America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines to be the most powerful and effective fighting force in the world.

Results from the Deloitte Consulting, the Corporate Responsibility Officer Association (CROA), the Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM), and the American Society for Quality (ASQ) Sustainable Value Chain Survey.

A program to audit suppliers across multiple tiers of the supply chain is an important first step. That process begins with a supplier code of conduct which provides a baseline for evaluating a supplier’s basic labor and human rights policies.

The program will introduce students to the issues and challenges involved in producing leading technology vehicles through a case study. They will examine topics such as component purchasing strategy, global vs. domestic sourcing, risk management, and battery production locations.