Wal-Mart unveils ‘JUMP’ portal to support U.S. manufacturing agenda

Wal-Mart Stores on Wednesday (July 8) unveiled its “Jobs in U.S. Manufacturing Portal” (JUMP) website that will provide updates on the retailer’s effort to reshore manufacturing and allow suppliers to upload product ideas.

Cindi Marsiglio, Walmart U.S. vice president, said JUMP is much like a 24/7 open call for suppliers and potential suppliers. The announcement was made at the second and final day of the retailer’s U.S Manufacturing Summit held in Bentonville. It’s the third year for the summit, with the first summit held in Orlando and the 2014 summit held in Denver.

The portal is free but requires registration. There a step-by-step process outlined on the portal site for suppliers seeking to upload a new product for evaluation. The portal also encourages suppliers that meet certain diversity guidelines to specify those and to register on the retailer’s supplier diversity portal.

This new two-way line of electronic communication provide suppliers an avenue to submit documentation such as made in USA certifications as well as other product information and success stories which can be re-shared. 

Marsiglio said JUMP will also be a place where suppliers may learn more about the U.S. manufacturing industry. There are external links available from JUMP that provide additional information on issues like funding, reshoring support as well as state and federal incentives programs.

She said a question often asked is how well the retailer is doing with the initiative. The new portal will be one way interested parties can keep track.

JUMP already includes info on some of the progress the retailer has made in its 10-year initiative to grow U.S. manufacturing jobs by investing $250 billion in American-made products. That initiative was launched in 2013 by then Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon.

Wal-Mart said it has analyzed 1,300 categories for the economic viability of products made in the U.S. It also prioritized its work plan to ramp up efforts across 71 categories. To date, Wal-Mart says it has 150 unique projects approved which range in value from $1 million to $370 million across 42 departments. Marsiglio said JUMP also will provide a link to ThomasNet.com, which is used by suppliers and manufacturers to help them locate capacity and component materials across the supply chain.

Mike Zinser, of Boston Consulting Group, told suppliers at Tuesday’s Open Call (July 7)
that the ThomasNet.com portal is a work in progress. He said there are still big gaps in some of the support ecosystems required for on-shoring manufacturing jobs but as more people register and use the portal its effectiveness will improve.

Marsiglio also said Wal-Mart would fund its next round of innovation grants to research institutions, manufacturers and cities involved in reviving the U.S. textile industry. Textiles are one of the more challenging industries to bring onshore, but Wal-Mart said it’s making small improvements in that sector.

Andy Barron, vice president of merchandising, said it’s been a long time coming but in the past two years Walmart buyers have worked to find sheets made in the U.S. from American grown cotton. Ellison of New York was making a higher end sheet in the 300 and 400-thread count varieties. He said later this summer Wal-Mart stores will unveil a 200-thread count U.S. sheet product in time for back-to-college sales which is being made by Ellison. 

Michelle Gloecker, executive vice president of U.S. manufacturing at Walmart, said the sheets are a major accomplishment and a right step in the onshoring direction in which the retailer is hoping to take textile manufacturing in the next few years. Gloeckler said apparel is a challenge, but it’s not impossible as the retailer has begun sourcing ladies sweaters – and Gloeckler was wearing one of the sweaters – from a small sewing operation in Brooklyn, N.Y.

“We can do better in pets and babies (categories), and even though Wal-Mart makes eyewear in the U.S., all of the frames are imported which is a huge opportunity for a frame supplier,” she said.

In its three optical labs the retailer turns out 2.5 million pair glasses annually for Wal-Mart customers and Sam’s Club members.