Acorn Systems Reports 28 Percent of U.S. Manufacturing Customers Have “Reshored” Jobs

Lower costs, better product quality and quicker “time-to-market” pressures among factors that are leading U.S. manufacturing customers to consider the “Made in the USA” stamp

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After decades of relying on global manufacturing sourcing, many U.S. manufacturing firms are taking a closer look at reshoring – a term referring to manufacturing that was previously done in foreign countries and has been moved back to America. According to an analysis by Acorn Systems, a leading provider for profitability and cost management solutions, 28 percent of its current manufacturing customers have saved an average of $23 million in annual costs from domestic sourcing.

“We are certainly addressing the topic of reshoring with our current U.S. manufacturing customers. With the help of our profitability and cost management solutions, a growing number of our manufacturing customers can see that, from a pure financial perspective, reshoring is the best business decision for them”

Acorn Systems’ analysis shows that a major driver of the reshoring trend is the manufacturers’ customers themselves. One specialty retailer evaluated all its product categories and analyzed domestic versus import sourcing and then rationalized for lowest cost sources. For many low dollar items, U.S. sourcing is actually more cost-effective when the total picture of all costs is included. Acorn has observed both this indirect and direct evaluations resulting in demand for reshoring.

Gone are the days of low-cost labor to get the “cheapest price” for an end product. U.S. manufacturing and retail companies are now giving more attention to attaining the “lowest total price” or “net landed costs” to avoid the sting of rising wages for Chinese workers and a strengthening Chinese currency. According to a recent report from The Hackett Group, the most important decision-driver in the sourcing strategy for manufacturing firms is net landed costs, which incorporates components historically overlooked, such as raw material costs, manufacturing costs, transportation and logistics, inventory carrying costs, taxes, duties, etc.

Other factors cited when considering the option to reshore include:

• Product quality – For manufacturers, quality is always top of mind. Justin Rose, a principal with the Boston Consulting Group says, “You never know what’s being sourced from local suppliers and if it’s up to quality standards.” Rose also points out that extra-long supply chains add uncertainty to the shipping and distribution process, causing manufacturers to hold a lot more inventory to ensure that retailers can be kept stocked.
• Shorter product life expectancy and faster time-to-market: The life expectancy of products is shrinking so it is important for manufacturing firms to provide high-quality products as quickly as possible to stay ahead of the competition. A recent survey by Mitch Free, CEO and founder of MFG.com, indicated that locating production near a company’s engineering/marketing teams provides crucial collaboration for innovation and quicker time-to-market.
• Nationalism/political pressure: According to a recent survey by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) engineering professor, Dr. David Simchi-Levi, 21 percent of manufacturers listed “pressure to increase jobs” as a factor in reshoring. Dr. Simchi-Levi reported that survey respondents “appear to feel both political and market heat to show that they make products in the U.S.”

“We are certainly addressing the topic of reshoring with our current U.S. manufacturing customers. With the help of our profitability and cost management solutions, a growing number of our manufacturing customers can see that, from a pure financial perspective, reshoring is the best business decision for them,” said Leland Putterman, CEO, Acorn Systems.

Reshoring is a growing trend and is certain to be a major topic of debate in the upcoming presidential election. President Barack Obama recently announced plans for new tax proposals that would reward companies for creating jobs in the U.S. and possibly eliminate tax advantages for moving them overseas. Many high-profile manufacturers such as Caterpillar, GE and Ford have already announced plans to reshore some products to the U.S.

Other recently published surveys validate Acorn’s findings. The MIT survey also shows that 14 percent of U.S. companies ultimately plan to move some of their manufacturing back home. A survey by the Boston Consulting Group (of 100 U.S.-based manufacturing companies with sales over $1 billion) reported that 37 percent responded that they are planning to reshore manufacturing operations back to the U.S., or are “actively considering it.”

About Acorn Systems

Acorn Systems provides companies with profitability and cost management solutions to drive better business decisions. Combining proprietary technology with proven methodology, Acorn reveals enterprise-wide profit opportunities. Our unique approach enables clients to make continuous, fact-based decisions to improve their bottom line.

www.acornsys.com