Disputation Haihan Li

In recent years, firms have more frequently evaluated where they should pro-duce. After decades of offshoring, many companies are bringing their manu-facturing activities back home, to be closer to their target markets. This movement, commonly referred to as reshoring, reflects a changing global environment. The rising uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, as well as shifting strategic priorities have further strengthened manufacturing dynam-ics. Despite the body of research growing rapidly, existing knowledge re-mains fragmented and lacks a coherent understanding of reshoring decision-making. Understanding which factors firms should consider, how these fac-tors interrelate, and how their roles and priorities vary is essential for explain-ing reshoring decisions in dynamic business environments. This thesis aims to develop a contemporary, integrated, and theoretically grounded understanding of manufacturing reshoring decision-making content. It examines and presents the dynamics of reshoring. Guided by three research questions, the thesis identified key decision factors, examined their interrela-tionships, and analysed how their roles and relative priorities vary across decision-making stages, and time horizons. The thesis comprises three com-plementary studies presented in five appended papers. A systematic literature review establishes the conceptual foundation and refines the application of the Eclectic Paradigm (EP) in manufacturing location decision research. An in-terview study with industrial experts provides in-depth insight into what and how factors influence reshoring decision-making in practice. A structured expert-assessment survey then systematically examines the current roles and relative priorities of these factors, differences across decision-making stages, and expected future changes. Findings show that manufacturing reshoring decision-making is inherent-ly dynamic. Role dynamics demonstrate how the same factor may function as a driver, barrier, or enabler depending on the context. Stage dynamics distin-guish risk-led awareness from broader value-led formal assessment. Temporal dynamics show the relative priorities of factors may evolve over time. Cur-rent Nordic reshoring is efficiency-led but not efficiency-only, and future reshoring is expected to be associated with capability readiness. By linking decision factors with their influencing roles and structuring them through the EP, the thesis provides a coherent understanding of reshoring decision-making. Overall, this thesis advances understanding of manufacturing reshoring decision-making and provides a structured basis for analysing its dynamics and supporting manufacturing location decision-making in practice.

Keywords: manufacturing relocation, reshoring, decision-making, Deglobali-sation, decision criteria, influencing factors, driver, barrier, enabler