Supply Chain by the Numbers
   
 

- May 29, 2014 -
   
  Supply Chain by the Numbers for Week of May 29, 2014
   
 

Apparel Production Returning to Brooklyn; Streak at Number 1 on the Gartner Top 25 Supply Chains Continues; Regional Winners of US Manufacturing Development Program Announced; eFulfillment Service Adds 10th US Market
   
 
 
 

25%

Growth in apparel industry manufacturing jobs in Brooklyn, NY between 2003 and 2012, according to a just released report from the borough's comptroller's office. Though total jobs in apparel manufacturing was not huge in absolute terms - 3580 - it was the fastest growing manufacturing segment and now accounts for 18% of manufacturing jobs in Brooklyn. We recently also reported on how Los Angeles apparel maker Karen Kane has reshored about 80% of its production from China in recent years, saying costs in China have risen, quality has deteriorated, and that domestic manufacturing provides greater supply chain agility. If apparel can be profitably made in the US, almost anything should be competitive here.
 
 

 
 
 
 

10

Number of US metro markets that home delivery start-up Instacart now serves, after opening service in Austin, TX last week, addding to existing service in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Jose, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Instacart uses relatively low cost personal shoppers who drive their own cars to pick up merchandise at local stores and deliver them to local consumers or businesses - similar in a sense to eBay "valets" with its eBay now service. Delivery costs vary based on how rapidly (say within 1 hour) a consumer wants his or her order delivered. The eFulfillment wars continue on.
 
 
 
4

Number of consecutive years that Apple has topped Gartner's list of the top 25 supply chains, after receiving that honor again last week. In fact, the top four all remained the same, and in addition to Apple include McDonald's, Amazon.com, and Unilever. As always, the numerical ranking includes a combination of financial metrics (e.g., revenue growth, inventory turns), rankings from industry professionals, and Gartner's own analyst rankings. As we note in our full coverage, the process and methodology are not perfect - but it's the best we've got to date. See Gartner Releases Top 25 Supply Chain List for 2014
 
 
 
 
 

12

Number of regions in the country that will be targeted for manufacturing development in partnership with the Federal government, and which were announced this week from 70 total applications. Those regions are: South Kansas, Southwest Alabama, Southern California, Northwest Georgia, the Chicago metro region, the Greater Portland region in Maine, Southeastern Michigan, the New York Finger Lakes area, Southwestern Ohio, the Tennessee Valley, Washington Puget Sound and Milwaukee. Under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership, these areas will receive support from multiple Federal agencies, and have the potential to tap into $1.3 billion in available development funds.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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