Drivers and barriers to reshoring: a literature review on offshoring in reverse

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to clarify the rather blurry concept of reshoring and its main drivers and barriers. At the same time the paper seeks to provide a much-needed overview of the scientific theories employed in previous research on reshoring. Design/methodology/approach: The paper gathers information from previous published research. Data was collected through a systematic literature review on 'reshoring' using primarily qualitative research techniques. Through a structured keyword search and subsequent elimination of papers, 22 peer-reviewed journal papers made it into the final review. Findings: There is currently no consensus on the definition or 'theory of reshoring'. Drivers and barriers could be grouped into five different sets of dynamics: global competitive dynamics, home country, host country, supply chain, and firm-specific. Research limitations/implications:Researcher need to consider the future development of the field and work towards an accepted terminology. Models about reshoring decision need to include several decision criteria, which goes beyond financial metrics. Practical implications: Practitioners need to carefully consider the decision to reshore as to not make rushed decisions. The final decision needs to consider factors such as quality, risk, and brand reputation. Originality/Value: The paper is, to our knowledge, the first overview of earlier research in a research journal. It provides a much needed overview of an emerging field that can hold great importance for both future research and production. The constructed framework structures the dynamics (drivers and barriers) associated with reshoring.

Information System Backsourcing: A Systematic Literature Analysis

“…For this comparison, two existing systematic literature reviews were used ( [15], [48]), which resulted in 22 and 20 selected publications for reshoring manufacturing. Although those reviews are similar in their analysed literature and period, different methods of categorizing the drivers for reshoring manufacturing were used.…”

“…On the other side, Wiesmann et al [48] considered an economic perspective by selecting the following driver categories: global competitive dynamics, host and home country, supply chain and firm specifics.…”

Kapittel 19: Kunnskapsbygging og backshoring

“…Litteraturen viser til et flertall ulike bakenforliggende årsaker til trenden, hvor fokus varierer fra ambisjonen om å forklare drivkreftene for beslutningene, til studier som omhandler effektivitet i lokale verdikjeder. Motiv som ofte blir belyst er eksterne endringer i markedet, som økte kostnader i tradisjonelle lavkostland, økt trykk for mer fleksibilitet relatert til kundekrav, naerhet til markeder, samt inntoget av mer avansert teknologi (Arlbjørn & Mikkelsen 2014, Bals, Daum & Tate 2015, Ellram, Tate & Petersen 2013, Kinkel 2014, Kinkel & Maloca 2009, Wiesmann, Snoei, Hilletofth & Eriksson 2017. Endringer i de politiske rammevilkårene har også blitt rapportert som motiv for å vurdere backshoring.…”

“…Det er imidlertid studier som rapporterer en positiv sammenheng mellom økende salgstall, redusert ledetid og backshoring (se for eksempel Gylling, Heikkilä, Jussila & Saarinen 2015). Det bør likevel nevnes at den mest omfattende forskningen innen feltet først og fremst tar utgangspunkt i eksisterende forskningsgap, og i mindre grad på hvordan bedrifter bør bruke eller implementere en backshoringsstrategi (Stentoft, Olhagar, Heikkilä & Thomas 2016, Wiesmann et al 2017. Dette kan selvfølgelig skyldes det faktum at backshoring er et relativt nytt fenomen, og at det er en mangel på case-studier på feltet, og derfor er det vanskelig å presentere noen konkrete innsikter eller konklusjoner.…”

Sourcing from China: A Literature Review of Motivations, Outcomes, Problems, and Solutions

“…Accompanying benefits and risks of various sourcing strategies are the subject of discussion by a variety of academics and practitioners (e.g. Holweg et al, 2011;Åkesson et al, 2007;Wiesmann et al, 2017). Benefits of sourcing from developing countries, like China, cover aspects such as cost savings, increased capacity, enhanced flexibility and access to skilled and qualified human resources (Coyle et al, 2013;Harland et al, 2005).…”