Parcel Zones Are a Margin Variable
Parcel pricing is partly geography. Move the warehouse and the same customer can become a different shipping zone. Across thousands of orders, that…
The Mexico-U.S. Shuttle Model: When Manufacturing Becomes a Loop
Nearshoring does not have to mean moving the entire factory. Some products can be divided by process. Labor-intensive assembly may occur in Mexico.…
Postponement: Finish the Product After You Know Where It Is Going
Not every finished good needs to leave the factory in its final channel configuration. A company can produce a common base unit, then delay…
The Nearshore Advantage Is Optionality
The biggest nearshore advantage may not be freight. It may be the ability to change your mind. A long ocean pipeline requires decisions weeks or months…
Lead Time Is a Balance-Sheet Number
A 45-day supply chain and a 10-day supply chain do not require the same amount of inventory. That sounds obvious. Its financial consequence is often…
China vs. Mexico: The Cheapest Factory May Not Produce the Cheapest Product
A sourcing decision usually starts with ex-factory cost. That is also where many bad comparisons end. China may offer a lower unit cost because of…