Manufacturing backshoring: a systematic literature review

The purpose of this research is to review and analyze in a systematic manner the current research published in peer-reviewed international scientific journals on the backshoring of manufacturing. We identify 20 articles published from 2009 to early 2016. We classify and discuss the literature according to publication year, research methodology, industry type, and firm size. Using content analysis, we identify 25 factors that are relevant for backshoring decision-making and categorize them into seven clusters that influence the decision to move manufacturing back. These clusters are: cost, quality, time and flexibility, access to skills and knowledge, risks, market, and other factors. Further, we provide a research agenda for further research on the phenomenon of moving manufacturing back.