Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL), one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing solution providers in the world, today introduced the T3 Policy Readiness Assessment service to help companies better understand and respond to potential changes in global trade, tax and tariff policies. Fueled by Jabil’s Intelligent Digital Supply Chain (IDSC), the service integrates optimization algorithms and simulations with meaningful, data-driven insights for improving manufacturing agility while lowering cost and risk.

“The ability to quickly analyze, assess and execute optimal manufacturing operations locally or globally is crucial to staying competitive and relevant in the digital economy,” said Don Hnatyshin, SVP, chief supply chain & procurement officer at Jabil. “Our new T3 Policy Readiness Assessment service is meeting an urgent need for rapid feedback based on real-world data so customers can make well-informed decisions during times of geo-political uncertainty.”

According to the World Trade Organization, approximately 300 active regional trade agreements are currently in place globally1. Even minor modifications to these pacts can impact manufacturing and supply chain decisions, including potential revisions to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the possible implementation of import tariffs on specific products and broader changes to bilateral trade agreements between the U.S. and other nations. Jabil’s enhanced supply chain network optimization service proactively anticipates and helps answer questions facing companies today, including:

  • How will changing tariffs impact our manufacturing footprint decisions?
  • How would a Border Adjustment Tax (BAT) affect profits?
  • Will tariff changes impact manufacturing in the U.S.?
  • Does manufacturing closer to the U.S. make more sense for our business?

Actionable, Fact-Based Assessments In As Little As Six Weeks

Each T3 Policy Readiness Assessment delivers benchmarking data on costs and risks associated with manufacturing in different geographies, leveraging Jabil’s vast domain expertise, predictive analytics, deterministic modeling and network optimization tools. Complementary global tariff and tax policy, administration and modeling provide broader perspective to identify policy change probabilities and their impact.

Additionally, organizations receive manufacturing and distribution footprint impact assessments based on fluctuations in trade agreement policies. Each evaluation offers insights on domestic manufacturing strategies, enabling U.S. companies to quickly determine the viability of moving manufacturing closer to end-markets to better accommodate American customer demand. Equally important, the assessment measures supply chain risks, especially if moving a supply base from Asia to the United States creates single-source suppliers.

In Gartner’s 2017 “Supply Chain Brief: U.S. Businesses Consider Supply Chain Ramifications of Policy Changes as New Administration Takes Office,” the firm stated that “companies in all industries should begin to evaluate scenarios for possible changes to their global supply networks so they are prepared to act if policies are defined. Consider the trade-offs for design choices, such as sourcing partner or location changes, trade and tariff changes and manufacturing labor costs, in light of the overall strategy.”2

Jabil’s T3 Policy Readiness Assessment service is available immediately, with findings and recommendations deliverable in as little as six weeks, ensuring customers can transform supply chain and manufacturing operations with exceptional speed and agility.

Supporting Resources

  • For more information on Jabil’s managed services, including the T3 Policy Readiness Assessment, go to www.jabil.com/idsc

About Jabil

Jabil is a product solutions company providing comprehensive electronics design, production and product management services to global electronics and technology companies. Offering complete product supply chain management from facilities in 28 countries, Jabil provides comprehensive, individualized-focused solutions to customers in a broad range of industries. Jabil common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol, "JBL.” Further information is available on Jabil's website: jabil.com.

1 “Facts and Figures,” World Trade Organization, 2017

2 Gartner, “Supply Chain Brief: U.S. Businesses Consider Supply Chain Ramifications of Policy Changes as new Administration Takes Office,” Kamala Raman, William McNeil, John Johnson, Miguel Cossio, January 20, 2017, ID: G00324398