We are pleased to welcome Don Jackson, Senior Electrical Designer, effective August 1st! Don has many years of experience delivering projects in a design build environment. He is very well versed in lighting, power distribution, fire alarm and other special systems. Don graduated with honors in 1987 from York Technical Institute and earned an Associate degree in Specialized Technology. His work experience spans over 35 years in electrical design, beginning with Manual and AutoCAD drafting for an Electrical Engineering Group in York, PA. His employment history includes working for a large retail company and a large electrical contractor. His previous responsibilities included electrical design, estimation, supervision, project management, and personnel management. He has a special interest in lighting design. In his spare time, Don enjoys working in the garden, making homemade wine, and hunting. Residing in Windsor, PA he’s been married for 34 years and has two daughters and a son. Please join us in welcoming Don!

Among the latest buzzwords (or in this case, buzz terms) in the C-suite is what some are predicting to be the “Golden Era of Reshoring.” To examine this concept, it makes sense to first review history – because as sure is history is to repeat itself, we can learn from the times we’ve been in similar positions before. At the onset of WWII, our English roots primed our new economic well with an already-established vast trading network throughout Europe. We were already producing half of the world’s industrial output and realized the benefits of onshoring at that time – yes, during another global crisis – because we had the resources and desire to become self-efficient and self-sustaining. That trend lasted well into the 1970s, but by the end of that decade, many public companies had begun to look at off-shoring to maximize profit for their shareholders, so the floodgates swung open in the other direction – leaving many domestic factories shuttered by the time the 1980s rolled around. During the Reagan era, global trade was regarded as promoting world peace and a boon to the global economy, giving a much-needed boost to countries who didn’t have the means to create their own self-sustaining economies. We notably did not experience a global crisis, which tended to create an “inward looking” philosophy among many countries. The first big disruption to this period, believe it or not, was Covid-19 – the impact it created will be felt for a very, very long time. Of course, we’ve experienced economic effects of pandemics before: the Spanish flu between 1918 and 1920 resulted in tens of millions of deaths globally, occurring in four waves (sound familiar?). Yet it was proceeded by a decade of innovation, a transportation revolution, and a soaring stock market that saw the GDP rise by 17.7% in the United States alone. But we couldn’t get too comfortable, of course: the Great Depression was just around the corner, and with it came the stock market crash of 1929, leading to great panic in the banking industry. Many economists believe the severity of that crash is highly unlikely to occur again, given the posture and polices of today’s steadier and more calculated Federal Reserve. So here we are, nearly 100 years later: a lot has changed, but it’s interesting how many things remain the same, and which trends and reactions of the 1920s will again rear their heads in the 2020s. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, manufacturers were accustomed to offshore transportation time tying up cash flow and accepted long lead times as simply part of the cost of a globalized economy. But due to the global pandemic dramatically increasing lead times, many companies were forced to re-examine their supply chains and find alternative solutions. Let’s examine what a golden era of reshoring could look like, and 10 ways that manufacturers can prepare and benefit:

  1. Embrace it! This is the reality that we face, regardless of how we got here. In many ways, the past few years felt like a whirlwind. Kudos to anyone who was able to come out the other side still sane! This period of time will have everlasting effects. Change is the only constant in both life and business; we must learn to accept and own this.
  2. Plan and prepare now.  Any U.S. manufacturer in virtually any sector ought to be asking how they can either produce or source domestically in 1, 3 and 5 years – and starting to plan NOW! Think about components as well, either product or packaging. Any and everything that goes into a product by the time it’s shipped to your customer is eligible for domestic sourcing. Plan both in macro and micro terms. Do your homework and create a step-by step “roadmap” to reshoring.
  3. Land (somewhere) now. find or expand real estate ASAP for future production. We’ve seen the corporate office space market crumble due to remote work, which certainly appears to be here to stay indefinitely. Look at investing and retooling these buildings.
  4. Automate now.  It used to be said that location, location, and location were the three most important factors of a consumer-oriented business. Other than food and some services, this is largely no longer the case, thanks to the innovation occurring within our domestic manufacturing and distribution industries. Now, the more important keywords of a business may be automate, automate, and automate! Think smart manufacturing leading to smart product management (case erecting, case packing, palletizing), to smart warehouses and smart “just in time” distribution. Robotics are here today and can assist in every single part of your process, allowing you the ability to develop products around and complimentary to automation.
  5. Hire now, to invest in the future. The “Great Resignation,” accompanied by a mass retirement of baby boomers, and lack of skilled labor coming out of school, is leading to a workforce void. The need to hire and train around automation is critical; you don’t need people doing tasks that robotics and automation can achieve. And with a narrowing ROI, many automation components can pay for themselves within 1-2 years.
  6. Partner now.  Build alliances with key partners who can help you navigate landmines and plan ahead. Architecture and Engineering companies like us will partner with domestic manufacturers to build modern “smart” factories that are set up to succeed and flourish for decades to come. While our firm specializes in food and beverage, many A&E companies out there in a variety of industries are available to work on your behalf and set you up for reshoring success.
  7. Innovate and enhance quality now.  A hundred years ago we were on the cusp of one of the most remarkable decades of innovation in American history. In fact, many of the inventions from that era are still with us now! Today, technological advances are said to “double” on average every 1-2 years. This stat, coupled with a pent-up need for innovation, will lead those businesses that embrace it to an increased level of defensibility. And think about how producing your own products or sourcing them domestically will increase quality, and reduce write-offs and returns. Every country has a different concept of “quality,” and we’d like to think the United States sets the gold standard. Consider the benefits of delivering first-rate products to your customers and the impact to your bottom line.
  8. Practice patience now. We’re already seeing industries like semiconductors announce massive domestic expansions. But because of their vast size, this will take time. While it’s important to look forward and have a sense of urgency around onshoring, it’s also important to be patient and not comprise quality for speed. We live in a 24/7/365 world with ebbs and flows daily – roll with each one, be patient and have the fortitude to march on, knowing that your best days are ahead of you.
  9. Bank on a return of pride. Remember the “Made in the USA” campaign? It’s coming rip-roaring back, with vengeance – although it may look and sound a little different (as a marketer writing this, I think it should!). The difference this time around is that it won’t solely be a consumer-aimed campaign, but rather shared among suppliers and manufacturers. Hang your hat on this being the future of your company!
  10. Profit later – investment is required up front, yes, but eventually profits will be stabilized as tariffs, customs, and duties become things of the past. Imagine a time when transportation and lead times are cut in half. Use this as motivation now to build a successful reshoring plan. Be a leader, not a follower!

For more than 40 years, our talented WEBBER/SMITH team of Engineers and Designers has been committed to forming meaningful relationships and creating comprehensive solutions for the Food & Beverage and other industries. Our collaborative client-centric approach delivers creative, sustainable, cost-effective, and sanitary environments that optimize new and existing spaces, utility infrastructure, and processes. For more information on how we can be of service to you, please drop us an email at info@webbersmith.com or call us directly at 717-625-4140.

We are pleased to announce that our own Jennifer Moll has been selected as one of the Keystone Contractor’s Association’s “Emerging Leaders”! Jen has been with WEBBER/SMITH for over 6 years now and we could not be more proud of this achievement. Please join us in congratulating her!