Selecting the best country to locate off-shore manufacturing operations can be a difficult decision owing to the complexities involved in global supply chain operations. The various available options must be carefully evaluated if the desired outcomes are to be successfully achieved. With manufacturing costs in New Zealand on the rise, Kiwi must select a country that offers more competitive costs combined with an acceptable level of risk. Of the four most preferable countries (China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Slovakia), Mexico offers the best location. An important priority for the company as far as reducing its supply chain costs is concerned with locating its manufacturing operations in proximity to its major markets. While headquartered in New Zealand and with strong presence in Asia and Europe, Kiwi's major markets are in North America, which comprises 46% of its overall sales (Fawcett, 2014). Being in North America, Mexico is better compared to the other...
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