Purpose - There is a knowledge gap in the literature on how firms initiate the manufacturing relocation process and how decision-makers can adopt a more proactive approach to relocation. This paper aims to address these gaps by presenting a conceptual model for the initiation of the manufacturing relocation process.

Design/methodology/approach - The conceptual model is developed by integrating literature on relocation decision-making with related topics such as operations strategies, internationalisation and sourcing decision-making.

Findings - The proposed conceptual model consists of five stages, including firms’ strategies, awareness, incubation, triggers/tipping points and initial evaluation. To show how the model could be applied in practice, we provide insight into four different pathways for initiation. Furthermore, the paper suggests an approach for practitioners on how to work proactively with the initiation, where scenario building is strongly recommended as part of this process.

Research limitations/implications - As this is a conceptual paper, its main limitation is the absence of original empirical evidence. Instead, the arguments and ideas presented are grounded in prior empirical studies identified in the literature. Another limitation concerns the availability of relevant literature, which is addressed by drawing on insights from adjacent fields. These limitations highlight the need for future research to further develop and validate the proposed conceptual model from both empirical and theoretical perspectives.

Originality/value - The proposed conceptual model makes a valuable contribution to both research and practice by establishing a foundation for understanding and advancing the topic. As the first extensive model on the initiation phase, it provides novel insights and a basis for further development. In addition, the paper outlines promising avenues for future research, particularly emphasising the need for empirical validation and continued refinement of the four pathways.

Purpose

This study aims to explore the factors influencing companies’ decisions to bring manufacturing operations back to their home countries and to examine how these factors exert their influence.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative approach, conducting 16 in-depth interviews with managers involved in reshoring projects. The Eclectic Paradigm is used as theoretical framework.

Findings

A total of 69 influencing factors were identified, comprising 3% resource-seeking, 10% market-seeking, 41% efficiency-seeking and 17% strategic asset-seeking factors. Additionally, 29% of the factors were classified as hybrid-seeking. These factors were further categorised as drivers, barriers or enablers, providing a comprehensive understanding of their complex roles. Ten distinctive factors, such as customisation strategy and Information Technology (IT), emerged that were not previously reported in the literature, while seven factors cited in existing studies, including energy costs and knowledge transfer, were absent.

Research limitations/implications

This study offers a nuanced perspective on the multifaceted nature of reshoring decisions. The comprehensive framework developed in this paper provides valuable insights for manufacturers and policymakers. It contributes to the literature by identifying previously unreported factors and challenging established understandings. Future research could apply alternative or multi-theoretical approaches, and examine the relative significance of each factor, how this evolves over time and how it differs between reshoring and offshoring, thus developing a more comprehensive understanding of relocation decisions.

Originality/value

This study is one of the few to apply the Eclectic Paradigm to the analysis of reshoring, bridging gaps between influencing factors and underlying decision processes.

Purpose: This study explores how manufacturing companies develop and implement a proactive approach to initiating the manufacturing relocation process.

Design/methodology/approach: The study uses a case study research strategy, with data collected through semi-structured interviews with company managers. The analysis is based on established concepts in the literature related to proactivity, strategic decision-making, and manufacturing relocation.

Findings: Preliminary findings show that decision-makers gain awareness of one or more driving factors for relocation that, through evaluations, trigger a proactive response to a relocation decision. Motivations for a proactive approach include protectionism, risk awareness, and reducing ambiguity. This proactive approach often develops over time among decision-makers.

Research limitations/implications: The research suggests that manufacturing companies can take a proactive approach to relocation decisions from various perspectives. Establishing such an approach can enhance resilience and help companies maintain a competitive edge. However, the generalizability of the findings is limited by the sample size. Future research could examine how proactive decision-making influences relocation decisions.

Practical implications: The anticipated contribution for practitioners is a deeper understanding of how to incorporate a proactive approach into manufacturing relocation decision-making, thereby promoting resilience. Shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach enables decision-makers to respond more quickly to changes in the external environment and to internal performance.

Original/value: In general, understanding of proactive approaches to manufacturing relocation decision-making is limited. Thus, this study addresses an important and timely topic.

The three Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, and Sweden) have long enjoyed economic success in manufacturing and innovation. All of these countries have small domestic markets and depend on international trade. Before the Global Financial Crisis (GFC; 2008–2009), Finland and Sweden set the standards, but since the GFC, Denmark has performed particularly well, while Sweden has had a mediocre performance. Growth is evident not only in revenues but also in profits and asset amounts. This growth has been consistent across many companies and has followed a linear pattern. Finland has generally performed worse than the other two countries, with issues mostly associated with lower revenue and profit growth, and changes in assets. Finland lacks companies with consistent growth. A key difference from Denmark is the smaller presence of the healthcare sector. The present analysis indicated that consistent growth is required to achieve the desired results using the current measures.

In the recent years there has been an increased interest towards relocating manufacturing back to Europe. Consequently, it becomes important to develop evaluation models of manufacturing location. We use secondary data to establish model for European Union 27 (EU-27) countries. Findings reveal in pairwise model comparison, that larger European countries seem to be the best locations in general (France, Germany, Italy, and Spain), however, few smaller countries perform high as well (like Ireland, Sweden, Luxemburg and Finland). In general, small member countries have the lowest performance. Typically, these are weak in population and severance pay terms. Lower-performing countries often also miss the larger role of medical and pharmaceutical industry within exports. Results were compared to classical rank-based evaluation. We did find some differences, and it could be said that larger countries lost their higher status, but Ireland and Sweden were still in highest ranks.

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the manufacturing reshoring decision-making content from an Eclectic Paradigm perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a six-step systematic literature review on factors influencing manufacturing reshoring decision-making. The review is based on 100 peer-reviewed journal papers discussing reshoring decision-making contents published from 2009 to 2022.

Findings

In total, 80 decision factors were extracted and then categorized into resource-seeking (8%), market-seeking (11%), efficiency-seeking (41%) and strategic asset-seeking (16%) advantages. Additionally, 24% of these were identified as hybrid, which means that they were classified into multiple categories. Some decision factors were further identified as reshoring influencing factors (i.e. drivers, enablers and barriers).

Research limitations/implications

Scholars need to consider what other theories can be used or developed to identify and evaluate the decision factors (determinants) of manufacturing reshoring as well as how currently adopted theory can be further advanced to create clearer and comprehensive theoretical frameworks.

Practical implications

This research underscores the importance of developing clearer and more comprehensive theoretical frameworks. For practitioners, understanding the multifaceted nature of decision factors could enhance strategic decision-making regarding reshoring initiatives.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the value and practicality of the Eclectic Paradigm in categorizing factors in manufacturing reshoring decision-making content and presents in-depth theoretical classifications. In addition, it bridges the gap between decision factors and influencing factors in the decision-making content research realm.Keywords

Sweden is one of the success stories of international trade in rapidly changing and challenged global markets experienced in recent decades. In this research work, we analyze trade change of 2010-2023 period. When it comes to imports, the role of Russia, United Kingdom (UK) and Denmark has declined, while the role of the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland show increase. For exports, a diminishing role of UK and Russia could be detected, while the role of the Unites States, Poland and China has increased. Our interpretation is that these trade changes are due to global macro-level political changes. Both Brexit (2016 onwards) and Russian invasion of Ukraine (2014 onwards) are having long-term effects. Before both UK and Russia held high importance; however, in the recent years, especially exports to USA have played an important role, and is providing growth and surplus. Despite declining importance, UK trade has remained in surplus, and could be characterized as a slower-moving market.

International trade has experienced since Global Financial Crisis (GFC) numerous uncertainties and risks. There are some countries that have successfully navigated in this challenging environment, like Sweden. In this research, we analyze the changes in trade between 2010–2023. For imports, the role of Russia, United Kingdom (UK) and Denmark has declined, while the importance of the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland show increase. For exports, a diminishing role of UK and Russia could be detected, while the role of the USA, Poland, Germany and China has increased. Our interpretation is that these trade changes are due to global geopolitical, i.e. macro-level shifts. Both Brexit (2016 onwards) and Russian invasion of Ukraine (2014 onwards) show long-term trade effects. Prior both UK and Russia held high importance; however, in the recent years, especially exports to USA have played more important role, and it is providing growth and surplus. Despite the export growth to Poland, Germany, and China, the trade to these countries remains to show trade deficit. We also analyze the impact of trade changes on maritime trade. Although, the overall handling at sea ports has declined, but container based trade demonstrates clear growth. Direct container connections to UK and Russia have declined substantially in the observation period as Chinese show significant increase.