SUPPLY CHAIN RESET 7 Trends Remaking Manufacturing Through reshoring, retooling, and redening resilience, manufacturers are embracing a new normal shaped by volatility, vision, and the drive to stay ahead.
BY KAREN KROLL
F or decades, manufacturing supply chains were optimized to nd the lowest cost ways to store and move items. Given a relatively stable, predictable business environment, it was reasonable to focus on a few variables, and cost and service typically rose to the top of the list. More recently, however, continued disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and a lack of clarity around tariffs are decimating predictability and stability, while continued labor shortages are hampering production schedules and, in some cases, quality. At the same time, an increased emphasis on sustainability by many consumers and governments is prompting initiatives in more environmentally friendly supply chains. These changes mean the old ways of managing manufacturing supply chains often are no longer optimal. “Unpredictability is more likely to be the new
normal,” says Cam Javor, a member of the consumer products and performance improvement practices with Bain. Rather than wait for a return to predictability, supply chain organizations need to manage and even leverage their exposure to uncertainty and risk. “That will be the biggest differentiator in today’s world,” Javor says. As manufacturing supply chain leaders navigate today’s environment, several trends are shaping their efforts. Many are implementing new technology and automation solutions to drive resilience and visibility, and to navigate labor shortages. Some are considering more regional supply chains, including nearshoring or reshoring. Some supply chain organizations are nding that operating sustainably provides not only environmental bene ts, but also can help them rein in costs and boost resilience. Here’s a closer look.
August 2025 • Inbound Logistics 27
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