On this week’s episode, host Ellen Wood presents part two of her conversation with Jonathan Egan, CEO at FabCast Solutions. Jonathan shares his professional journey from Ireland to Shanghai to the Americas and what he learned by establishing a US company that imports products from Chinese factories—and he delves into the cultural differences that influence manufacturing practices in China and Mexico. Ellen and Jonathan also uncover some of the challenges of navigating local regulations, power grid concerns, and the impact of communication styles on business decisions.

Join us as we discuss:

• How the number of vertically integrated plants in Mexico (versus countries like China) affects the country’s manufacturing processes
• Criteria for deciding between in-house manufacturing and utilizing a third-party manufacturer
• Supply chain resilience in the face of geopolitical risks, labor issues, and climate change
• How U.S. companies can address its manufacturing workforce gap

Notes:

• “Five Key Challenges Facing U.S. Manufacturing” (Article)