Document Type
Thesis
First Faculty Advisor
Teresa McCarthy
Second Faculty Advisor
Michael Gravier
Keywords
manufacturing; location decision; import strategy
Publisher
Bryant University
Rights Management
CC-BY-NC-ND; CC-BY; CC-BY-SA; CC-BY-ND; CC-BY-NC-SA; CC-BY-NC
Abstract
United States imports have grown in recent years due to various geographic sourcing strategies. Each company that chooses to participate in manufacturing whether in-house, offshore, or nearshore has contributed to the economic growth of the US. In recent years, internal and external factors have affected the results of international trade. Indicators have been identified, but they are historically indicators that have not adapted due to the frequent changes in supply chains. The measurement of indicators allows for identification of the most influential indicators that impact the trends within U.S. imports. Significant indicators are dependent on the country and its available resources, which this study highlights. The twenty countries analyzed in this study have a significant relationship will all measured indicators, affecting the forecasted U.S. imports rank for the NAICS 315 – Apparel & Accessories.
Comments
This analysis was conducted as part of an undergraduate honors thesis focused on evaluating international manufacturing location decisions in the apparel industry. The work was completed using Forecast Pro software to assess forecasting accuracy across 20 countries, and has not been previously published.