Reshoring Medical Device Manufacturing: What MedTech Innovators Should Know
Thinking About Reshoring Your Medical Device Manufacturing? Here’s What to Know.
At Simbex, we’re seeing more and more medtech innovators explore reshoring—bringing manufacturing back to the U.S.—and for good reason. It can lead to faster development, stronger quality control, and a more resilient supply chain.
But here’s the reality: reshoring isn’t a flip-the-switch decision. It’s an investment, and like all capital investments, it requires careful planning and honest assumptions.
Start with ROI
Reshoring often means retooling, redesigning, re-sourcing, and rebuilding your supply chain. That’s time and money. The upside? You may reduce inventory costs, improve lead times, increase quality, or better align production with automation. Quantify both costs and benefits in a clear ROI model, and compare reshoring alongside other capital projects before greenlighting the move.
Test Your Assumptions
It’s easy to assume that reshoring will raise costs—but that’s not always true. Domestic vendors might offer better automation potential, smarter design input, and shorter fulfillment cycles. Don’t forget hidden savings like inventory carry costs, which can be significant for small and mid-size companies.
Design Comes First
A product designed for low-cost offshore labor may not be ideal for domestic automation. Before talking to U.S. vendors, get your product engineering in order. Redesigns are almost always part of reshoring—and skipping this step could double your COGS.
Plan for Obsolescence and Alternate Sourcing
Redesign isn’t just about manufacturability—it’s also your opportunity to address component obsolescence and build resilience into your BOM. As supply chains continue to shift, parts become unavailable, lead times spike, or manufacturers sunset SKUs. Reshoring is the perfect time to vet alternative components, simplify your design, and ensure that your device isn’t tied to vulnerable or single-source parts suppliers. A proactive redesign can future-proof your device and give you more leverage with domestic CMs.
Rethink Vendor Fit
Vendor selection isn’t just about price—it’s about partnership. Look for CMs whose quality systems align with your needs, who see you as a priority, and who share your values and communication style.
Move Gradually
Never pull the plug on your existing supply chain until the new one is proven in the field. Consider keeping legacy vendors online for a portion of production as a hedge against disruption—cheap insurance for high-stakes devices.
Reshoring can unlock incredible value, but it’s not one-size-fits-all. At Simbex, we help medtech companies assess, design, and execute with clarity and control—whether your supply chain is global, domestic, or somewhere in between.
Design smart. Build resilient. Move with confidence.
