Re-assessing industrial footprints

In most manufacturing industries, the rules for designing an optimal ‘footprint’ have dramatically changed over the last 15 to 20 years.

By footprint we mean:

• What and how much product/service should we produce where?
• What products and services should we offer to which markets?
• Where should we locate our operations?’
• How can we generate value and how should we develop our products and services?

At OC&C we have supported companies and investors through a wide range of situations, typically involving footprints of up to 50+ factories worldwide. Although exposure to globalization varies significantly across industries, some generic features have emerged.

So what are the main challenges and opportunities and how can a company best reset its footprint?