Manufacturing Footprint
Optimizing your manufacturing footprint is more important than ever before. Global uncertainties and disruptions are driving many companies to determine how to prepare their manufacturing footprint for the future from for example the perspectives of cost, risk and sustainability.
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News
‘Forbes Magazine Recognizes Buck Consultants International/BCI Global as One of America’s Best Management Consulting Firms’.
For the 8th (!) time in a row, BCI is recognized on this prestigious list of 186 companies - as only specialized location strategy & supply chain consulting firm! As the list is based on recommendations of clients, we are super proud.
Southeast Asia: The Next Manufacturing Powerhouse?
Southeast Asia is the highest economic growth region of the world the next years. But how to organize your manufacturing & distribution set-ups to take advantage of this large market from a manufacturing and distribution perspective? And how does Asia fit into the current global trade tariff discussions?
Calendar
Our vision on manufacturing footprint
In the current global environment, uncertainty is a given. Geopolitical turmoil, (manufacturing ) technology developments, labor market challenges, tax climate changes to name a few, are drivers for your company to review and optimize its manufacturing footprint. Strategic considerations that should be included in the scope of your manufacturing footprint initiatives are for example:
- Can we de-risk our manufacturing footprint through decentralization?
- Should we consolidate to maximize economies of scale or should we manufacture close to our customer base in a decentralized footprint?
- What will be the impact of new manufacturing technology on our optimal footprint for the future?
- How should be balance Make versus Buy strategies?
- Are strategies such as near-sourcing, near-shoring, re-shoring, China+1, viable strategies for our company?
A thorough process, with quantitative analysis combined with qualitative and risk analysis, allows you to determine the best footprint solution for your manufacturing operations taking into account business strategy, volume projections and expected external developments.
Media
Presentation
06 March 2026
Right Sizing Your European Operations to Reduce Cost
Nowadays, the European market is a large but also complex and challenging marketplace. Given geopolitical and economic turmoil, companies are forced to review and right-size their manufacturing and distribution footprint
Presentation
04 March 2026
Having the right Operating Model in place – make vs buy for manufacturing or logistics
The European market is a nowadays large but also complex and challenging marketplace. Given geopolitical and economic turmoil, companies are forced to review and right-size their manufacturing and distribution footprint. Do you have the right operating model in place – or should you insource or outsource your activities in the manufacturing and ...
Presentation
11 February 2026
Making the Difference: Acceleration of the Optimization of your Manufacturing Footprint and Strategic Location Decision-Making
A key priority for leading companies in 2026 is to accelerate the optimization of their manufacturing footprint around the world. In order to become and remain (more) resilient, balance customer-centricity and the pressure on the cost-to-serve, manage resource scarcity in many locations (labor, energy), and take advantage of 12 promising locatio...
Presentation
02 February 2026
Your Agenda for 2026 - Five Successful Initiatives for Tech & Industrial Equipment & Products Supply Chain Leaders
Your challenge is to prioritize and implement strategic and tactical initiatives to become even more customer centric, growing, resilient and profitable. Learn more about five successful initiatives for Tech & Industrial Equipment & Products Supply Chain Leaders
Presentation
23 January 2026
Webinar: Your Agenda for 2026 - Five Successful Initiatives for Medtech Supply Chain Leaders
Your challenge is to prioritize and implement strategic and tactical initiatives to become even more customer centric, growing, resilient and profitable. Learn more about five successful initiatives for Medtech Supply Chain Leaders
Presentation
12 December 2025
Southeast Asia: The Next Manufacturing Powerhouse?
Southeast Asia is the highest economic growth region of the world the next years. But how to organize your manufacturing & distribution set-ups to take advantage of this large market from a manufacturing and distribution perspective? And how does Asia fit into the current global trade tariff discussions?
Presentation
12 December 2025
Growing in India: How to structure your domestic supply chains?
India is one of the highest economic growth regions of the world the next years. But how to organize your supply chain to take advantage of this large market from a manufacturing and distribution perspective? And how does India fit into the current global trade tariff discussions?
Presentation
11 December 2025
How to make your European Manufacturing Operations Competitive and Future Proof?
Regionalization of value chains means servicing European customers with nearby competitive manufacturing plants. Required: cost effective production with smart manufacturing technologies in locations in Europe, Middle East and Africa which combine low cost, high quality of the business environment (a.o. talent base) and low risks
Video
01 July 2025
Making Informed Choices About Where to Build and Grow Manufacturing Operations
Learn from Johan Beukema about site selection and footprint optimization in a world where these decisions are always important, but recent events are bringing them into sharper focus than ever
Presentation
25 June 2025
How and Where to Find the Most Competitive Manufacturing & Distribution Locations in the US/Mexico?
For many companies the US is their largest market, for other companies the US market is of growing importance. Fueled by discussions on import tariffs more and more companies are considering to expand their manufacturing and distribution operations in North America. This presentation shows the differences between States/counties/metro’s in...
Presentation
25 June 2025
Roadmap for a Future Proof Value Chain; the Ten Golden Initiatives for Developing and Implementing a Future Proof Value Chain
Nearly all companies have taken short term measures to cope with US import tariffs; the main challenge now is to develop a resilient and future proof value chain. The 90-days reciprocal tariff pause ends at July 8th and will probably urge you to accelerate strategic initiatives to develop and implement a robust global manufacturing footprint and...
Presentation
18 December 2024
How to De-Risk Your Global Value Chain in an Uncertain, Geopolitically Risky and Trade Restricting World
With President Trump taking office on January 20th, 2025 one can expect that global trade barriers will rise...
Presentation
17 October 2024
Southeast Asia: the next manufacturing powerhouse ?
Southeast Asia is the highest economic growth regions of the world the next years. But how to organize your manufacturing & distribution set-up to take advantage of this large market from a manufacturing and distribution perspective?
Presentation
15 October 2024
Expanding your manufacturing and distribution network in India: the next biggest manufacturing destination and largest consumer market?
India is one of the highest economic growth regions of the world the next years. But how to organize your manufacturing & distribution set-up to take advantage of this large market from a manufacturing and distribution perspective?
Video
17 September 2024
Striking the Supply Chain Balance Between Risk, Cost, and Control
Learn from Pieter de Wit how companies are rethinking their footprint, updating their supply chain networks, and preparing themselves for future growth in a rapidly evolving business landscape
Video
23 April 2024
Geopolitical Issues Facing Manufacturers Today
Learn from René Buck what geopolitical issues internationally active manufacturers face every day
News
Case
High Tech medical device
The company’s management decided to start an initiative in order to ensure the company’s manufacturing operations could keep pace with market growth and secondly, to build a robust, low risk footprint that could support the company for the next 10 years out.
News
28 August 2025
Forbes Magazine ranks BCI Global among the World’s Best Management Consulting Firms
For the fourth consecutive year business magazine Forbes has recognized the economic, supply chain and location strategy advisory firm BCI Global (headquarters in the Netherlands) as one of the best consulting firms in the world
Case
Manufacturing Footprint Optimization: hearing aid manufacturer
Our client, one of the leading manufacturers of hearing aids around the globe, had a historically grown manufacturing network. This network included sites in different parts of the globe and with significant capacity in North America and Europe and a lighter presence in Asia.
Case
FMCG distribution footprint optimization for growth in the APAC region
Determine the optimal manufacturing and distribution network across the globe for a technology company transforming into a fast-moving goods company with over 1,000 retail outlets across the globe.
News
04 December 2024
Coping with Rising Trade Tariffs
Trade restrictions are on the rise all over the world. President Trump will probably give a push to higher import tariffs, provoking retaliation measures of other trading blocs like Europe and Japan.
News
04 December 2024
Semicon Investments Surge
Demand for chips will undoubtedly accelerate in the future. But how to guarantee risk-free supply? And what does that mean for the strategy of individual semiconductor companies?