“This part here I could buy cheaper in China,” Rich Carone, CEO of Korvis Automation Inc., says referring to a steel component used in one of Korvis’ products. But – and the “but” is all important – Carone goes on to note that to work with China on short-run manufacturing requires months of advance planning and then still leaves open the question of whether he’ll receive products that meet his exacting specifications.

“It’s just never been clear to me how I can control quality overseas,” Carone says.