The concept of ‘Industry 4.0’ signalises the rise of innovative manufacturing technologies, including industrial robots. Wider applicability of robotic automation and higher efficiency of production processes shift the profitability analysis of strategic relocation decisions. Despite the technological feasibility, diffusion of technology lowers the profitability threshold for robots. Consequently, competitive labour cost advantages, formerly motivating manufacturing firms to offshore production become less relevant. In fact, robots additionally gain importance in the case of shifted global economic realities, such as stricter environmental regulation on global trade and the convergence of the global wage gap. However, the heterogeneous levels of automation among manufacturing firms have not been taken into account when studying the macroeconomic phenomenon of reshoring. This study adds novelty by offering an agent-based perspective which has allowed insights on how the behaviour of firms, guided by simple economic rules on the micro-level, is dynamically influenced by their complex environment in regard to relocation, decision-making hypotheses. Testing various variables sensitive to initial conditions, increased environmental regulations targeting global trade and upward shifting wage levels in formerly offshore production locations have shown to be driving and inhibiting mechanisms of this socio-technical system. Therefore, the dynamic demonstrates a shift from predominantly cited economic reasoning for relocation strategies towards sustainability aspects, pressingly changing these realities on an environmental and social dimension. The popular debate is driven by increased environmental awareness and the proclaimed fear of robots killing jobs. In view of reshoring shaping the political agenda, interest in the phenomenon has recently been fuelled by the rise of populism and protectionism claiming to “bring jobs back home”.

Purpose: Over the last couple of decades, globalization has impacted market competition. This results in that companies heavily offshore to low-wage countries to enhance its competitiveness through lower costs. Offshoring constitutes relocation of manufacturing activities to other existing manufacturing sites in foreign countries. In recent years, low-wage countries have grown and developed. Studies show that low cost environments are increasing in cost, eliminating the benefits of offshoring. This phenomenon has sparked a new trend, ‘reshoring’- to bring back manufacturing to the home country, which has been acknowledged by both researchers and practitioners. The trend has become more distinct due to the increasing numbers of cases where companies that previously offshored manufacturing activities are returning them to the home country. The research done on reshoring focuses mainly on a “why” perspective, with drivers that cause reshoring and barriers that prevent them. However, research concerning the outcomes of what a company expected from reshoring and what they achieved afterwards is limited, especially in the high cost environment of Sweden. The purpose of this study is to explore the expected and achieved outcomes of the reshoring process through a multiple case study including four companies from Sweden that have reshored manufacturing back to Sweden. Method: The method used in this thesis was a systematic literature review to gain knowledge of the phenomenon. With the help of the systematic literature review an interview guide was created to assist in the data collection. This thesis used a multiple case study, the data was collected through semi-structured interviews and documents. The findings were analyzed within each case, cross-case, and in comparison to literature. Findings: To analyze the outcomes on the same premises, the researcher had to create a framework. All the outcomes from the literature were categorized based on firms’ operational and competitive capabilities namely cost, quality, delivery, flexibility, service, innovation, environment, culture, risk mitigation, reputation and trust, and government legislations. It was found that all the case companies had a successful reshoring process and all their expected outcomes were achieved. However, in comparison to the expected outcomes found in the literature, the companies expected less from reshoring. The companies were unaware of the full extent of reshoring, since their expectations were limited. The most expected outcome of reshoring, found in all the cases and in theory were: to decrease total cost, increase delivery speed, increase reputation and trust, and use the comfort of the home culture. A thorough analysis of achieved outcomes, in case and in literature, showed that all the case companies have achieved lower total cost, increased delivery speeds and higher reputation and trust. On comparing all the achieved outcomes in case and in literature it is evident that researchers have studied the process of reshoring from a why and theoretical perspective, aside from the effects after the reshoring, which this thesis has accomplished. A comparison between expected and achieved outcomes of all the case companies collectively, showed that they have achieved lower costs, higher quality, better service and higher reputation and trust, beyond what they expected. Implications: Reshoring back to Sweden would bring back more manufacturing jobs and encourage further local sourcing within the country. Strategical collaboration within the supply chain in the home country would make companies more responsive to customer demand. Geographically, the literature lacks case studies from Sweden, therefore, this thesis will contribute to theory by presenting successful reshoring case studies from Sweden

Background Globalization has forced textile firms to move their manufacturing to low-cost countries to reduce their prices. However, interest in local manufacturing has increased in recent years because of the trend in sustainability and changes in society’s ways of thinking, both of which can bring textile industry manufacturing back to high-cost countries. Purpose The purpose of this study is to formulate concepts and theories that can differentiate local manufacturers in high-cost countries from their competitors and identify the key competitive advantages that can lead to successful local production in high-cost countries. Methodology Two case studies were conducted of local textile manufacturers in Sweden in this study. Both companies’ value chain activities were examined to determine their competitive advantages. Empirical data were collected using semi-constructed interviews with key managers in both companies and were analysed using the thematic analysis method. Findings The textile industry in high-cost countries can create difference by considering competitive advantages, which are flexible and agile operations, development and innovation, sustainability, combining products and services, and uniqueness and differentiation. However, the competitive disadvantages of textile manufacturing in high-cost countries, which include scarcity of employees and high costs, should be considered as well.

During the last two decades, many companies have reshored their manufacturing operations to the home country, reversing previous offshoring decisions. Reshoring is a strategic decision for manufacturing companies because it is costly, complex, dynamic; thus, it is an important topic for research. Nevertheless, there is a research gap in how the reshoring decision-making process is modeled. Therefore, the overall purpose of this research is to increase the understanding of the reshoring decision-making process. The purpose is fulfilled through two research questions: (1) what is the state-of-the-art of reshoring decision-making process? and (2) how the reshoring decision-making process can be explored using a system dynamics model? The research design includes a literature review, modeling, and an expert interview.  The findings indicate that the state-of-the-art of reshoring decision-making process comprises the drivers, barriers, and other factors are variables that motivate or hinder reshoring decision-making. However, their behavior varies over time and context. Environment and sustainability topics are not completely neglected in the decision-making process. Nevertheless, they are not a priority in reshoring decisions. The developed system dynamics model identifies relationships between the variables of reshoring decisions and how one variable can have a cause-and-effect relationship with another. During modeling of the reshoring decision-making, the complexity considerably increases as more variables are considered in the model. The developed system dynamics model provides a holistic view of the variables, their relationships, dynamics, and the overall complexity of the reshoring decision-making process.  The research has implications for researchers because it increases the understanding of reshoring decision-making concerning the variables involved and relationships among them. Furthermore, this research contributes to the overall topic of reshoring by addressing modeling aspects. The research has implications for practitioners because it contributes to increasing the practitioners’ visualization of the decision-making, which can be used to communicate with various stakeholders. In order to advance this highly relevant field, it is recommended to quantify relationships among the variables that the developed system dynamic model can be simulated.

Purpose – The purpose with this study is to investigate which factors that needs to be considered for sourcing decisions to ensure an optimal long-term decision, and which of these factors that can be quantified in a product costing model. To fulfill this purpose two research questions have been proposed: Which factors needs to be considered for a sourcing decision? Which of these factors that needs to be considered can be quantified in a product costing model? Method – A case study was conducted to fulfill the purpose of this study. The case study produced empirical data through interviews and document studies. The empirical data was interpreted and analyzed on the basis of the theoretical framework, created through literature studies. This process produced the result of this study. Findings – Factors to be considered for a sourcing decision have been identified and categorized in four over-arching categories: unit cost, logistical factors, capability factors and risk factors. These factors have been quantified in a product costing model. A preparatory decision model was created to further integrate some risk factors that could not be quantified. Implications – Both the make or buy decision and the manufacturing location decision have been considered in the product costing model presented in this study. The product costing model visualize and take into account hidden costs, rarely considered in sourcing decisions. This further enables optimal long-term sourcing decisions. Limitations – Risk factors remain difficult to quantify. This makes it difficult to determine the cost of risk factors, and as a result of that, to include them in a product costing model. Companies with similar conditions suites the model since the case study was conducted at only one company. Whether the product costing model is true for business in other contexts remain uncertain. / Syfte – Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilka faktorer som bör beaktas vid ett försörjningsbeslut för att säkerställa ett långsiktigt korrekt beslut och vilka av dessa som kan kvantifieras i en kalkylmodell. För att uppfylla syftet har följande två frågeställningar formulerats: Vilka faktorer bör beaktas vid ett försörjningsbeslut? Vilka av dessa faktorer som bör beaktas kan kvantifieras i en kalkylmodell? Metod – För att uppfylla studiens syfte genomfördes en fallstudie. Med hjälp av intervjuer och dokumentstudier har fallstudien genererat empirisk data. Utifrån det teoretiska ramverket, som skapats genom litteraturstudier, har data tolkats och analyserats. Detta har gett upphov till studiens resultat. Resultat – Faktorer som bör beaktas vid ett försörjningsbeslut har identifierats och kategoriserats i fyra övergripande kategorier: enhetskostnad, logistikfaktorer, kapabilitetsfaktorer och riskfaktorer. Dessa faktorer har kvantifierats i en kalkylmodell. För vissa riskfaktorer som är svåra att kvantifiera har en förberedande beslutsmodell skapats. Implikationer – Kalkylmodellen som presenteras i denna studie beaktar både tillverka/köp-beslutet och lokaliseringsbeslutet. Kalkylmodellen tar hänsyn till dolda kostnader som sällan beaktas vid dessa typer av beslut. Detta möjliggör ett långsiktigt korrekt försörjningsbeslut. Begränsningar – Riskfaktorer är fortsatt svåra att kvantifiera och därmed kostnadsbestämma. Detta gör det svårt att inkludera dem i en kalkylmodel. Då fallstudien genomfördes på endast ett fallföretag är kalkylmodellen lämpad för företag med liknande förutsättningar. Det är därför svårt att säga hur väl kalkylmodellen stämmer för företag i andra kontexter.

De globala målen i Agenda 2030 påverkar alla. Företag anstränger sig för att ta itu med de ekonomiska, miljömässiga och sociala dimensionerna av hållbarhet. Reshoring har på senare tid alltmer uppmärksammats som strategi av både företag och forskare. Studien syftar till att undersöka varför svenska företag har genomfört reshoring. Studien har också för avsikt att undersöka om, och isåfall hur, hållbarhet har varit en drivkraft till reshoring. Teorier som berör offshoring, reshoring, drivkrafter, ekonomisk, miljömässig, - och social hållbarhet behandlas. Data har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med tre respondenter från olika företag. Som sekundärdata har de undersökta företagens hållbarhetsrapporter och årsredovisningar använts. Resultatet visar att företagen genomfört reshoring på grund av faktorer som kostnadsminimering, kapacitet, risk, ledtidsminimering, produktutveckling och flexibilitet. Vidare visar studien att hållbarhet kan vara en drivkraft till ett beslut om reshoring.

Genom en rad globala kriser har de senaste åren tydliggjort hur en ökad global osäkerhet,inramad genom VUCA-teorin (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity), harpåverkat företags riskhanteringsstrategier för lagerhantering och lokaliseringsbeslut. Studienundersöker Just in Time, Just in Case, reshoring- och regionaliseringsstrategier som svar påglobala kriser likt COVID-19, Suezkanalsblockaden samt Ryssland-Ukraina-konflikten.Händelserna har tydliggjort de globala leveranskedjornas sårbarhet, vilket medfört enomvärdering av supply chain management med ett ökat fokus på robusthet mot externaförändringar. Riskminimerande strategier likt omlokalisering av leverantörer och ökadlagerhållning kan dock medföra ökade kostnader. Studien ämnar därmed att undersöka omkriserna i närtid har haft en påverkan på företags strategier gällande risktagande samt vilkatrender som kan urskiljas mellan geografiska beslut och lagerhållningsstrategier. Studien harundersökt forskningsområdet genom kvalitativ forskning där datainsamling genomförtsgenom bland annat intervjuer med personer med insyn och ansvar inom sex globala företagsleveranskedjor. Resultatet visar på ett förhållande mellan stora säkerhetslager, Just in case,samt möjlighet att förlägga leverantörer med lång geografisk distans, offshoring. Motsatvishar även ett förhållande funnits mellan riskhanteringsstrategin med närliggande leverantörer,reshoring/regionalisering och möjlighet att tillämpa små lagernivåer, Just in time. Studien hardärmed bidragit med insikter om hur företags riskhanteringsstrategier förändrats till följd avomvärldsosäkerhet, samt hur de geografiska och lagerhållningsmässiga strategiernaprioriteras av globala företag.

Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, has been attracting attention from practitioners as well as academicians with its continuous evolution from being used primarily for prototyping to now end-product production. Despite this technology's current and future potential, few studies indicate that AM has not been extensively used across all industries. This dissertation addresses knowledge gaps by providing theoretical and empirical support for adopting AM through three essays that study the role of AM in restructuring supply chains. Essay 1 provides systematic support for AM implementation by developing a typology derived from technology-specific potentials and challenges to adopting AM. This study uses an exploratory research approach to collect and analyze data from semi-structured interviews of practitioners with deep knowledge of AM and supply chains from diverse industries. In Essay 2, our results show that AM adoption positively influences supply chain responsiveness and, in turn, reshoring decisions. Essay 3 compares different supply chain configurations based on traditional and AM. We developed a hybrid simulation model combining discrete event simulation and agent-based simulation and compared the performance in terms of wait time and costs. Our results indicate that under certain conditions, the centralized configuration delivers spare parts faster than the distributed configuration, contrary to previous literature findings. However, a hybrid configuration (a combination of centralized and decentralized) provides a better response (reduced wait time) than the traditional, centralized, and decentralized configurations. Collectively, the three essays provide academicians and practitioners with a more comprehensive understanding of how AM creates value for supply chains.