Site selection will have some immediate and some long-lasting effects on a supply chain. The landscape for trade and logistics is a dynamic one, being redefined constantly by e-commerce, regulatory changes, global trade and the digital aspects of trade. In this rapidly evolving world, companies must be willing to constantly reevaluate their processes and make the necessary changes to remain profitable. They must be informed and willing to "ruthlessly minimize costs and maximize profits," according Patrick Sedlak, principal, Sedlak Management Consultants Inc. From a financial perspective, few decisions a company makes are as crucial and as final as its site selection. "Eighty percent of a supply chain's life cycle costs are locked in at startup," says Tim Feemster, managing principal, Foremost Quality Logistics. Against dais backdrop, the Logistics Development Forum hosted supply chain experts and economic development directors to explore the ramifications of site location decisions in the context of extended supply chains. Two of the most consequential factors in selecting a site are where a company sources and who and where that company serves. There is close interplay between where a company sources and the geography of the markets it serves. For example, sourcing from China typically dictates using a West Coast port for North American service. Using a West Coast port in turn influences how the rest of the supply chain network is designed to serve customers and end users of the goods and products being imported.
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