Announcing the Reshoring Institute

I am thrilled that at long last we have the Reshoring Institute up and running! The Institute is an IRS-approved 501c3 non-profit organization supported by sponsors and donations.

A study by the Boston Consulting Group found that 54% of companies over $1 billion in revenue are considering Reshoring at least part of their production. While there are a lot of news articles and people talking about Reshoring, there are very few other resources to help companies through the process. The US Department of Commerce offers the ACE tool, but it is not enough for most companies to complete a Reshoring project.

The Reshoring Institute is collaboration between the University of San Diego and Blue Silk Consulting to provide research and support for companies trying to bring manufacturing and services back to America. This research may include things like site comparisons, tax incentives available, science and math education available by area, marketing and PR and cost comparison development. The Reshoring Institute Directors oversee and guide this Reshoring research and support work, using graduate student interns from the University.

The Reshoring Institute has a dual purpose:

- To provide support and research for companies trying to reshore manufacturing to the US
- To provide supply chain internships for university students studying Supply Chain Management

The University of San Diego was chosen for this collaboration because of its strong programs in global supply chain management, its proximity to Mexico and production that could return from there, availability of graduate-level interns and its very active Supply Chain Management Institute.

Full disclosure: I am also a graduate of the University of San Diego MBA program. I want to see the USD supply chain students succeed and know that internships are very helpful in transitioning students from the classroom to full employment.

Three graduate-level students will be chosen in January to be our interns. The first three projects we will be working on are:

- Establish an on-line library of articles and other resources; develop case studies
- Analyze industries with best potential to reshore: cost structures, competition, localization
- Cost comparisons of geographic locations like to attract reshored manufacturing

As the research is completed, we will be publishing the results. I will write more about our findings as the information becomes available. For now, we are off and running!

SC
MR