 |
 |
Registration is now available for the July 15th Talking Freight Seminar. Topic: Reshoring Overseas Manufacturing to the U.S. and North America and its Impacts on the Transportation System Date/Time: July 15, 2015 1:00 - 2:30 pm EST Registration: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/talking_freight/index.htm Description: For many years, a number of U.S.-based companies have diversified their manufacturing operations from only in the U.S. to various countries around the world, particularly China. Much of the drive by companies to relocate at least some of their manufacturing operations outside the U.S. has been spurred by low labor costs in other countries besides the U.S. and inexpensive and reliable international freight transportation networks that made offshoring manufacturing operations feasible. However, in recent years a variety of factors, including transportation-related concerns such as rising fuel prices, marine shipping slow-steaming, and increasing congestion at U.S. ports, and non-transportation related issues such as increasing labor costs in "low-cost" countries, large-scale natural and human-induced disaster events, and product quality concerns, have encouraged some companies to relocate at least some of their manufacturing operations back to the U.S. or North America to reduce transportation costs and/or supply chain disruption risk. If current, longer-term trends with growing international labor costs, fuel costs, and port congestion continue in their current patterns, and companies continue to increase their recognition of these trends, it is likely an increasing number of companies will look to relocate their production targeted for the U.S. or North American market back to the U.S. or North America in an effort to reduce costs, get higher-value goods to market quicker, and mitigate supply chain risk. This webinar will discuss the specific factors that companies need to look at when comparing the pros and cons of manufacturing in the U.S. vs. the rest of North America vs. outside of North America, and will also examine the transportation-related implications of reshoring production back from non-North American locations to the U.S. or North America. Topics and Presenters: Overview of Reshoring Benefits, Costs, Opportunities, and Risk Considerations This presentation will discuss the various factors that companies should consider when locating or relocating their international manufacturing operations. It will also briefly touch on the transportation implications of reshoring manufacturing to the U.S. or North America. SPEAKER: * Harry Moser, Reshoring Initiative Reshoring's Potential Impacts on Freight Transportation Infrastructure This presentation will discuss the on-going National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE) study "Reshoring and Its Impacts on Transportation Infrastructure and the U.S. Economy", talking about its purpose, anticipated results, and feedback needed from interested audience members. SPEAKER: * Dr. MD Sarder, University of Southern Mississippi There may also be a speaker from Walmart or GE Appliances who will provide a 1st party, "lived it" perspective on their company's reshoring efforts. The Freight Office is still working to secure a speaker or speakers from one of the companies. If you have not yet participated in Talking Freight, I encourage you to do so. These monthly seminars, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, are held via web conference, which means that you view the PowerPoint presentations over the Internet while listening to the presenters over your computer or the telephone. There is no cost involved and you do not have to leave your desk to participate. More information about Talking Freight is available at http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/talking_freight/index.htm Links to past presentations and recordings are available on http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/freightplanning/talking.htm. Talking Freight seminars are eligible for 1.5 AICP Certification Maintenance Credits (for AICP members). In order to receive credit, you must attend the full seminar and login to the seminar with your full name or type your full name into the chat area during the seminar if you are in a room with a group of people. Visit the AICP web site<http://wwwcf.fhwa.dot.gov/exit.cfm?link=http://www.planning.org/cm/> for more information about AICP Certification Maintenance Credits. If you have any questions about the webinar content, please contact Chip Millard, FHWA Freight Office, at 202-366-4415 or [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. If you have any questions about the technology aspects of the webinar, please contact Nicole Coene, Leidos, at 703-318-4267 or [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Nicole Coene | Leidos Task Manager | Transportation Solutions and Technology Applications Division phone: 703.318.4267 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> | leidos.com [cid:[log in to unmask]]