A TOTAL COST ANALYSIS OF U.S. SUPPLIER COMPETITIVENESS

摘要

Over the last 10 to 20 years there has been an unprecedented global expansion of supply chains and it is now common for large companies to offer products from suppliers operating in underdeveloped economies throughout the world. While the globalization of supply chains has created many new and exciting opportunities, it has also resulted in a significant competitive cost disadvantage for manufacturers located in the United States and other industrialized nations. This research presents manufacturing costs in terms of a global topographical map and uses a value chain approach to evaluate the challenges facing U.S. manufacturers in competing on costs in this new competitive environment.