Supply chain disruption and uncertainty is increasingly seeing businesses plug production interruptions with additive manufacturing technologies
The need to shorten supply chains in the face of ongoing global uncertainty and disruption is a pressing issue for many organisations , especially for multinational manufacturing companies that have come to rely on cheap labour in South East Asia .
China , in particular , continues to be hobbled by an economic downturn , power shortages and ongoing lockdowns resulting from its zerotolerance approach to COVID-19 . China ’ s days as the world ’ s manufacturing engine room seem to be numbered , as businesses seek to relocate manufacturing to other nations in Asia , such as Vietnam , or nearshore or reshore it closer to home .
WRITTEN BY : SEAN ASHCROFT
112 January 2023