Lean Enterprise Institute – The Lean Post

Leanshoring: Winning with Customers by Bringing the Business Closer

Global supply‑chain shocks and tariff volatility are prompting U.S. firms to reconsider offshoring. Jim Womack’s "leanshoring" model combines lean manufacturing with reshoring, demanding a full‑cost analysis that accounts for risk, intellectual property and skill loss. GE Appliances illustrates the approach, having invested $6.5 billion since 2017 to bring production home while embedding lean principles across product development, supply chain and customer engagement. The company’s success hinges on continuous innovation, co‑creation hubs like FirstBuild, and a micro‑enterprise structure that speeds decision‑making.