2023 Headwinds to Manufacturing In-China/For-China

Webinar:

2023 Headwinds to Manufacturing In-China/For-China

Headwinds to Manufacturing In-China/For-China

About The Webinar

East West Associates Roundtable with Senior Executives


Who Should Watch?
Executives whose US-owned companies are committed to manufacturing in China and selling into in-China markets.

Why Should They Watch?
For ideas and guidance to help navigate new business restrictions and other headwinds to your In-China/For China manufacturing operations.


The Past: How Things Were, in China/for China

For decades, manufacturing in China for the China market was a happy time. US multinational companies (MNC) took their tried-and-true designs there to address a huge untapped China demand. There were relatively few local competitors. The cost of labor in China was a fraction of anywhere else. The Chinese government provided a friendly regulatory environment and offered attractive incentives.

Then tailwinds became headwinds.

Today: Where We Are Now, in China/for China

Chinese competitors have emerged. US market share in China has eroded. Labor costs have ballooned. Nationalism is on the rise in both US and China. Political tensions and tariffs. New Business Park limitations. Buy-China attitudes, unpredictable laws and new environmental regs make it tougher and tougher for US-owned companies in China.

But there you are, in China, for the China market. What do you do now?

Our seasoned executives have real-life manufacturing experience in China and addressed four scenarios during the webinar.
Are you experiencing one, some, or all of these scenarios?

  1. Manufacturing operations in China Business Parks are facing growing pressures, including limitations on expanding manufacturing capabilities, and increased environmental restrictions.
  2. The Chinese government is imposing an array of“no-fly list” restrictions on imports of sensitive products or components or raw materials you need to manufacture in China.
  3. Implications of “Made in China 2025” indicate you might need to stay below the radar to survive there.
  4. You might be concerned that your operations in China could be under-performing.

Our speakers also answered audience questions, such as:

    • Are there industrial parks or developing regions within China where we might find lower manufacturing costs and/or growing market potential?
    • What opportunities are emerging in the western regions of China? Is it easier to do business there?
    • China has recently spoken about welcoming foreign investment again. What can we realistically expect?
    • Should we re-evaluate our ownership model and move to a minority position (< 50%) to address Chinese concerns? How do we deal with cash flow, profit repatriation, corruption, IP/TS concerns?
    • Should we consider a move to a SE Asia regional headquarters? Like in Singapore or Hong Kong or even South Korea?
    • How do we deal with declining operational performance? How can we monitor & motivate & compensate ex-pats and local staff, given new circumstances in China for US citizens and US-owned operations?
    • Can you share a real-life example of how a certain In-China, For-China company is re-shaping its operations to reflect a changing China?
Headwinds to Manufacturing In-China/For-China

Speakers

Mark Plum | Director, East West Associates
  • Former President of Briggs & Stratton Asia (NYSE: BGG)
  • VP Sales & Marketing, American Standard Thailand & American Standard China
Dan McLeod | Director, East West Associates
  • Former Director Asia Pacific Operations- Ashland Specialty Ingredients
  • General Manager-Eaton Corporation (SE Asia)
  • Director of Asia Pacific Manufacturing and Supply Chain-Hercules
Headwinds to Manufacturing In-China/For-China

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Hiring the Right Senior Executives & Conducting Individual Due Diligence and Integrity Training

Webinar:

Hiring the Right Senior Executives & Conducting Individual Due Diligence and Integrity Training

Hiring the Right Senior Executives

About The Webinar

Human Resource Success in Post-Covid China

Human Resources (HR) management has always been very important in China.  However, with Covid travel restrictions just now lifting for western executives to travel to China, companies are reminded that success in China is heavily dependent on having the right personnel and ensuring the China operation has the right ethical corporate culture.

As western executives are gradually returning, companies are evaluating the quality of their executives in China who are currently managing their operations.  During Covid, many US executives did not make significant HR decisions because travel restrictions prevented them from interviewing candidates and the increased difficulty of identifying and qualifying candidates.

To ensure success, companies must identify the right potential candidates and take the necessary preventative risk management steps of conducting individual due diligence to ensure the candidate’s character, ethics, and management style do not alienate customers, other corporate employees or vendors.

Additionally, these senior executives will shape the company’s corporate operating culture, which significantly impacts the company’s business reputation and employee morale.  Based on EWA’s many years of running China-based manufacturing operations, most employees are aware of existing theft, kickbacks and bribery occurring at the company.  Unless these illegal actions are shut down quickly, they infect the business like a cancer.  Instances of theft and corruption include payments from vendors, kickbacks from customers, selection of family-related vendors, etc.

HR success in China is no longer just hiring the right executives  – in the current environment, companies need to implement risk management practices of Individual Due Diligence and Integrity Training to minimize the risk of hiring the wrong senior executives.

The webinar addresses topics such as:

Executive Searches for Senior Executives

    • How has Covid affected the ability to identify and qualify senior management candidates in China?
    • What are the current challenges US companies face hiring senior level Chinese executives?
    • Has the geopolitical tension between the US and China affected Chinese executives’ interest in working for US companies?

Individual Due Diligence of Senior Executive Candidates

    • How Individual Due Diligence is different from a normal “Background Check”?
    • Which positions require this level of Due Diligence on the candidates?
    • Are there positions which do not require this level of Due Diligence?
    • What are the key risk factors to rejecting a candidate?

Integrity Awareness Training

    • For those companies who have not experienced any unethical behavior at their China operations, why should they consider Integrity Training?
    • How does Integrity Training improve the company’s position if a terminated employee files a claim with the Labor Bureau?
    • How does this training impact ALL the employees – both blue collar and white collar?
    • How does this Awareness training deputize all employees to report unethical behavior?
Hiring the Right Senior Executives

Speakers

Vicky Shao | Director, East West Associates- China
  • Vice President of Human Resources, Flexco Conveying Equipment Manufacturing Company
  • Human Resource Manager, Lombard Risk International Ltd.
  • Executive Department Human Resources & Administration, Nitto Denko Corp.
Jay Hoenig | Director, East West Associates
  • Chief Operating Officer Asia Pacific, Hill & Associates Group
  • Asia Pacific Vice President & General Manager, Bechtel Corporation
  • Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai
Hiring the Right Senior Executives

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Hiring the Right Senior Executives

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How to Approach China Alternatives: Mexico, Southeast Asia & Central Eastern Europe

Webinar:

How to Approach China Alternatives: Mexico, Southeast Asia & Central Eastern Europe

How to Approach China Alternatives

About The Webinar

Your Global Supply Chain & Manufacturing Footprint Strategy

East West Associates Manufacturing and Supply Chain Roundtable with Senior Executives

Manufacturing for export and sourcing in China is becoming more difficult due to increasing labor costs, high production expenses, volatile tariffs, political tensions, as well as challenging and changing rules & regulations.

Attractive alternatives exist for relocating China supply chain & operations including Mexico, Southeast Asia, and Central/Eastern Europe.

But how do you create a coherent strategy for your global footprint?

Developing a global footprint strategy requires analyzing your goals, markets, manufacturing operations, and supply chain network. It includes identifying new manufacturing and supply venues that could maintain quality, increase efficiencies, decrease duplication, control costs, and reduce risk.

We provided 3 real-life examples of US companies diversifying their supply chain & manufacturing to Mexico, Poland and Thailand.

The webinar discussion focused on why corporate executives selected these 3 countries.

The webinar addressed key questions such as:

    • What questions should executives be asking to determine whether to diversify their supply chain & manufacturing?
    • What metrics does a company use to determine what is the best country and site location?
    • What are the costs involved in diversifying supply chain & manufacturing?
    • What are the unique challenges in Mexico, Southeast Asia & Poland?
    • What type of industry sectors are diversifying into these 3 markets?
    • What problems can we anticipate if we close our operations in China?
How to Approach China Alternatives

Speakers

Mark Plum | Director, East West Associates
  • Former President of Briggs & Stratton Asia (NYSE: BGG)
  • VP Sales & Marketing, American Standard Thailand & American Standard China
Dan McLeod | Director, East West Associates
  • Former Director Asia Pacific Operations-Ashland Specialty Ingredients (NYSE: ASH)
  • General Manager-Eaton Corporation (Philippines)
  • Director of Asia Pacific Manufacturing and Supply Chain-Hercules
Relocating or Expanding Operations & Supply Chain From China to Vietnam and Thailand

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Relocating or Expanding Operations & Supply Chain From China to Vietnam and Thailand

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Closure, Near-Shoring, Relocation and Consolidation of Export-Oriented China Operations and Supply Chains

Webinar:

Closure, Near Shoring, Relocation & Consolidation of Export Oriented China Operations & Supply Chain

Closure, Near Shoring, Relocation & Consolidation of Export Oriented China Operations & Supply Chain

About The Webinar

East West Associates Manufacturing and Supply Chain Roundtable with Senior Executives

Many C-level executives are streamlining their China-based manufacturing operations or moving operations out of China.

Why? Because assessments of the viability of exporting out of China have exposed a number of negative factors:

    • Long lead-time to US & European customers
    • Increasing production costs
    • Challenging regulatory environment in China
    • Continuing issues with Covid infections within China
    • Tariffs & geopolitical tensions between China and the US

Closing, consolidating, or relocating China operations stresses a company’s ability to serve its customers, and its global strategy, supplier relationships, and brand reputation in China and around the world.

But if carried out with expert insight, thorough planning, and a strong project team, taking the proper actions will have a positive, long-term impact on global operations and financial results.

This webinar featured seasoned speakers with real-life experience in China plant closures, improvements, consolidations, relocations and sourcing within China and in other countries.

Closure, Near Shoring, Relocation & Consolidation of Export Oriented China Operations & Supply Chain

Speakers

Warren Wisnewski | Eastman Kodak Company
  • Former Vice President of Operations, Asia Pacific Region, Eastman Kodak Company
Dan McLeod | Director, East West Associates
  • Director, East West Associates
Closure, Near Shoring, Relocation & Consolidation of Export Oriented China Operations & Supply Chain

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Closure, Near Shoring, Relocation & Consolidation of Export Oriented China Operations & Supply Chain

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Relocating or Expanding Operations & Supply Chains From China to Mexico

Webinar:

Relocating or Expanding Operations & Supply Chain From China to Mexico

Relocating or Expanding Operations & Supply Chain From China to Mexico

About The Webinar

Find out why C-level executives are now migrating from China to Mexico to improve the reliability of their supply chains.

U.S. manufacturers are motivated to act due to economic and geopolitical challenges in China:  COVID lockdowns; China/Taiwan/U.S. tensions; constantly rising Chinese labor costs; higher logistical costs; unreliable transport to customers; volatile U.S./China tariffs; and an increasingly bureaucratic and regulatory environment in China.

Why are companies moving operations to Mexico?

    • For a reliable, timely and stable flow of products and components nearer to customers and assemblers in the U.S. and North America.
    • To assure an available supply of local raw material and components.
    • For access to competitive and qualified labor.
    • To establish manufacturing & supply sources where it’s easy for U.S.-based management to visit and oversee them to control costs and maintain quality.
    • To operate under the USMCA, avoiding the expense, volatility and hassle of China/U.S. tariffs.
Relocating or Expanding Operations & Supply Chain From China to Mexico

SPEAKERS

Stefan Lachner | East West Associates
  • Former VP Production and Logistics Planning, Robert Bosch GmbH (Mexico)
  • Manager Operations and Engineering, Leoni AG (Mexico)
  • Business Unit & Key Account Manager, Continental Teves Automotive (Mexico)
Dan McLeod | Director, East West Associates
  • Director, East West Associates
Relocating or Expanding Operations & Supply Chain From China to Mexico

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Relocating or Expanding Operations & Supply Chain From China to Mexico

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