The Economist featured a special report on manufacturing and innovation. According to Paul Markillie, as manufacturing goes digital, smaller runs and massive customizations will be the key to customer satisfaction. The reshoring of manufacturing into North America may be driven by several factors, including:
– The rising costs of transportation from oversea suppliers
– The shortening of supply chain lead times to get to market quicker
– The rise of digital printers to allow for rapid prototyping
– The unconventional customization opportunities afforded by the Internet and by social media to allow for the personalization of products.
