From global to regional: SKF's blueprint for resilient manufacturing

In conversation with Karl-Robin Landholm of SKF, discussing how the company is redesigning its manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem to remain resilient, competitive and future-ready.

- 

In an era defined by geopolitical shifts, supply chain recalibrations, and an ever-increasing demand for sustainability, manufacturing leaders are compelled to fundamentally rethink their operational strategies. Karl-Robin Joakim Landholm, Senior Vice President, Commercial and Operations Development at SKF, offers a compelling insight into how the global engineering giant is adapting to these profound changes. In a recent conversation with Manufacturing Today, Landholm detailed SKF's proactive approach to building a resilient, integrated, and forward-looking manufacturing and distribution ecosystem. Global trade pathways are undergoing structural shifts driven by geopolitics and supply chain reconfiguration.

How is SKF redesigning its operational architecture to remain resilient while protecting margins and service levels?

Over the past five to seven years, the global operating environment has changed significantly.

The pandemic triggered the first major disruption, followed by geopolitical tensions, supply chain constraints, and more recently, trade tariffs. This has created a consistently shifting landscape where volatility has become the norm rather than the exception.

In response, SKF initiated a structural shift in 2022 through what we call a "region for region" strategy. This involves transitioning from globally centralised supply chains to more regionalised ones. Manufacturing capacity, which was earlier concentrated largely in Europe, is now being redistributed across key regions. India has been a major beneficiary of this transition, where we have significantly increased localisation levels and continue to invest further.

This shift is not purely about de-risking. It is equally about competitiveness. Being closer to customers improves responsiveness, reduces lead times, and enhances flexibility. In today’s industrial markets, agility is increasingly becoming a critical competitive differentiator.