Making the Difference: Acceleration of the Optimization of your Manufacturing Footprint and Strategic Location Decision-Making

February 2026: A key priority for leading companies in 2026 is to accelerate the optimization of their manufacturing  footprint around the world. There are 4 main reasons for this:

• Geopolitical: The need to become and remain (more) resilient
• Customer: The need to balance customer-centricity and the pressure on the cost-to-serve
• Economy: The need to manage resource scarcity in many locations (labor, energy)
• Locational opportunities: The need to take advantage of 12 promising locational opportunities in EMEA, North America and Asia

As trusted consulting leader we are active in all regions of the world for manufacturing footprint optimization, end-to-end supply chain strategies and location & site selection in the North America, Europe and Asia. With teams in Europe (HQ in The Netherlands and office in Frankfurt);in the US in Atlanta, San Francisco and LA; and in Asia in Singapore, Shanghai, Taipei and Delhi we support companies across different industries such as industrial, high tech, semicon, life sciences, food, automotive and chemicals. 

In 2025 we conducted:

• 15+ (global) manufacturing footprint projects
• 40+ reshoring, decentralization and relocation business cases and location studies in North America | Europe | Asia
• 10+ feasibility studies trading off automated versus manual operations in current and new locations

Based on these recent experiences, we recently hosted a comprehensive webinar which will providing clear strategies for accelerating manufacturing footprint initiatives and taking well-based strategic location decisions. Both from a global footprint perspective and also insights into emerging manufacturing locations in North America, Europe and Asia. The webinar was presented by our experts based in and leading our teams in these regions.

Key elements of the webinar contents:

• What are the main drivers for manufacturing footprint and location strategies in the current global context, addressing geopolitics, economy, labor markets, energy, new manufacturing technologies?
• Practical directions regarding how to accelerate your company’s strategic initiatives to optimize its manufacturing footprint?
• Practical approach for how to make a fact-based decision on the optimal location for a manufacturing plant in a specific geography? How to trade off investing at current versus new locations? How to compare locations with each other in a thorough data driven process, taking into account all cost factors, quality of the business environment factors and risk factors?
• Which emerging manufacturing locations should you have on your radar in North America? Which in Europe? And which in Asia / India?

Presented by:

• Rene Buck, CEO, contact René at Rene.Buck@bciglobal.com
• Johan Beukema, Managing Partner & Global Head Location Strategies, contact Johan at Johan.Beukema@bciglobal.com