In my last column, we saw how Sherrill Manufacturing re-established the flatware industry in the U.S. by reshoring production.

In my last column, we discussed how a shift in consumer behavior and the adoption of new technology are transforming the traditional supply chain. We learned that some manufacturers are making the complex move to cut out the middleman and ship their products direct to consumers (D2C) for increased profits and greater control over brand, price and customer data.

For years, manufacturers have depended on the middleman to distribute goods and get merchandise in front of customers.