Rethink Reshoring

Tell us about Modiv and what you do to support manufacturing in America. What kinds of clients use your services? (companies that don’t want to invest in real estate, companies in transition, etc?)

Does this include other industrial properties such as trucking terminals and warehouses? How do these properties differ from one another?

Let’s talk about the language of real estate. What is a long-term net lease? What is a REIT?

Where are most of your properties located? Why the heartland?

What industries are most active now? Automotive? Plastics? Semiconductors?

There is a lot of buzz about a coming “manufacturing supercycle” because of the billions of dollars being pumped into the economy through the Inflation Reduction Act, the Chips and Science Act, and the Infrastructure Act – and from Americans’ preference for products made in America. Is this translating into an upturn in demand in industrial real estate?

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Counterfeits are a problem all year long, but especially during the holidays. How big of a problem are counterfeits worldwide? In the US? 1 in 20 products sold on website are counterfeit.

Who are the counterfeiters and where are they located?

What are the most common products that are counterfeited? Are some counterfeits dangerous?

How do you tell if something is counterfeit?

What can we do about counterfeits? Who is liable for selling counterfeits? Amazon? eBay? The distribution center?

How is all this related to reshoring?

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Many companies are rethinking their global supply chains now…why is this happening?

What are the risks that have been identified that were not noticed before? (sole source suppliers, production disruptions, logistics disruptions, geopolitics, rare earth threats, etc)

What about reshoring and nearshoring – has the momentum picked up?

How have global labor rates changed and what is the reaction to this?

Cross-border commerce with Mexico has increased – what is behind this trend?

Truck driver shortages and other worker shortages seem to be slowing the pace of growth in the economy. How will this be resolved?

What about technology? How is AI and Data Science being used now?

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Tell us about your background and how RK Logistics was started. What is the company's focus today and what primary industries do you serve? What do you see as the key attributes that differentiate RK from other 3PLs?

Describe a Foreign Trade Zone and what the benefits are for a customer. Are more companies taking advantage of FTZs as an alternative to ordinary warehousing?

What kinds of systems and technology are at work in RK warehouses now? Does this technology improve efficiency?

What are some of your biggest challenges (employee retention, availability of space, other changes in Silicon Valley??)

Do you have plans for expansion or other changes in the near future?

With the federal government's CHIPS act and the Infrastructure Investment Act, those landmark legislative initiatives are providing major funds for US semiconductor manufacturing and the electrification of the US economy. What does that mean for 3PLs and how do they need to prepare, particularly with respect to supporting EV manufacturing?

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What is different about government procurement from procurement in the private sector?

You are responsible for spending taxpayer money – our money - how do you assure you and your staff are getting the best value for the taxpayer dollar?

What innovations in processes and technology are you implementing? What are the expected outcomes?

Do you contract with freight carriers, logistics services, or warehouse operators? If so, what are your experiences with these service providers?

I know that you have some stories to tell about the pandemic and PPE supplies. Can you tell us what happened?

What recommendations do you have for young people interested in joining a government agency?

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Explain what UAMMI is and how it came about. Why is this organization in Utah? (aerospace development, military, etc)

Tell us about composites, I understand they are not metal – they are petroleum products as strong as metals. Are they all 3D printed? What are the particular uses of these materials?

UAMMI is also an administrator of public funds – public/private partnership aerospace and defense, outdoor sports, and medical products – how do you coordinate with these partners?

What kinds of support do you offer to manufacturers? Do you have events?

I know that you also partner with CONNEX – please explain what services are offered by CONNEX

What about workforce development? Partnerships with Utah universities?

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While many companies are reshoring, many others are nearshoring to Mexico. How does a company make the decision to reshore or nearshore production?

There are several commercial border crossings between the US and Mexico. Why is Laredo so important? What are the statistics about goods in cross-border trade?

I know that you spent some time in Laredo two weeks ago. Why were you there and what did you see?

Are there restrictions on trucks moving across the border in either direction? What are the operations like?

How is all this growth related to reshoring/nearshoring?

What about immigration? How does that affect the movement of goods across the border?

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How did you get interested in this particular border crossing as an investment opportunity?

These border crossings with Mexico are seeing expanded cross-border trade and significant growth in traffic at commercial crossing points such as Laredo and Brownsville. Is this also the case in Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras?

What are the industrial sectors growing the most in Eagle Pass that are driving the need for more commercial truck lanes as well as rail crossings?

I understand there was a rail embargo last week because customs officers who were usually assigned to clear freight, were reassigned to process immigrants. Will the new technology at Puerto Verde relieve these kinds of processing bottlenecks?

Will the Infrastructure Bill help with funding of this project

What is the current status of the project and what can we do to help?

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Where did the term "manufacturing supercycle": come from? Why has there been underinvestment in manufacturing in America for 30 years?

The three big spending bills are injecting bilions of dollars into the economy - Inflation Reduction Act, Chips and Sciences Act, Infrastructure Act

This injection of money will have an enormous affect on manufacturing, transportation, employment, and the overall economy - what can we expect?

What industries are likely to benefit the most? What are the Biden Administration's top priorities for supply chains?

How does the auto worker's strike fit into this coming manufacturing supercycle?

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Tell us about the Supply Chain program at USD. We have seen a significant rise in supply chain curricula at universities all around the world over the past few years. Why do you think this is happening? 

What are the key components of what you are teaching now in the Logistics classes? 

I know you have done research into the use of AI in logistics. Can you tell us about how AI is used or planned to be used? 

At the Reshoring Institute our clients are very interested in both reshoring and nearshoring to Mexico. How has the logistics industry been affected by these trends? 

What is the best way to prepare students and ourselves for the future of logistics?

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