Expansion Management

Walmart Helping Suppliers Return to US

Aug. 20, 2015

The new program provides direct, personal access to 35 manufacturing trade associations, companies, banks, U.S. Commerce Department offices and other groups. Each group has assigned dedicated resources to help companies develop and implement plans to produce or source more domestically produced goods.

Adrienne Selko

Walmart has enlisted the Reshoring Initiative to be part of a company program that helps suppliers manufacture more products in the U.S.

Walmart has committed to increase its U.S. purchases by $50 billion annually by January 2023.

“We estimate the company’s increased purchases will add 300,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs,” said Harry Moser president of the Reshoring Initiative.

The program launch was coordinated with Walmart's Open Call and U.S. Manufacturing Summit in Bentonville, Arkansas, which was attended by the U.S. Commerce Secretary, two governors and current and prospective suppliers.

The Reshoring Support page on Walmart’s JUMP (Jobs in U.S. Manufacturing Portal) site links to the Reshoring Initiative’sResources for Retail Suppliers page, which contains resources to facilitate and accelerate supplier efforts. Issues from product selection, to cost reduction, managing the transition to reshoring and financing are included for large, small, foreign and domestic companies. The resources offer guidance to help manufacturers select products and succeed in profitably producing or sourcing products in the United States.

“When Walmart committed to buy an additional $250 billion over 10 years in products that support American jobs, we knew we could also play an important role as facilitator and accelerator,” said Cindi Marsiglio, vice president of U.S. manufacturing at Walmart. “We created Walmart-Jump.com to help companies find resources on manufacturing in the U.S. The Reshoring Initiative’s support page is a great addition to that resource library.”

Harry Moser noted, “Based on published articles accessible in our Library, the Reshoring Initiative concludes that Walmart has supported at least 43 suppliers to add 4,579 or more U.S. manufacturing jobs so far, and is currently the largest force driving reshoring. The Reshoring Initiative is delighted to provide these resources to accelerate this effort. We call on other retailers to get on board.”

The Reshoring Initiative seeks to expand the scope and impact of the Resources for Retail Suppliers page by incorporating expertise from additional sources and adding more participating retailers.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.