Tips to simplify designs
Another round of tariffs just dropped. And once again, its supply chain teams left cleaning up the mess.
Quotes are blown up. Suppliers you counted on? Suddenly overpriced. Timelines are drifting, again. But not everyone’s in scramble mode. Some teams planned for this. They’re not panicking — they’re adjusting.
We spoke with experts across the field to gather the sharpest insights on what actually works in moments like these.
These are personal perspectives, not legal or trade advice — but they’re full of real-world ideas you can apply right now. Here are the four key takeaways that stood out.
Daniel V
Lead Engineer
"My favorite manufacturing platform"
Jiga is the best way to get the parts you need, when you need them.
1. Great supply chains expect disruption
The teams that stay calm during tariff waves aren’t lucky. They’re prepared.
They’ve modeled scenarios. Flagged exposed suppliers. Built options in advance. They’ve run simulations for what might happen — not just what they hope will happen.
As Dyci Manns Sfregola puts it: “We knew something would be coming for over a year now. The best of us have been scenario planning and running simulations for months. It’s just a matter of executing on one of the options now.”
She also reminds us that teams who follow global headlines closely weren’t caught off guard — and the real differentiator is having a system to adjust quickly when those headlines turn into real shifts.
Takeaway: Plan like change is inevitable — because it is. Preparation beats panic every time.
Dyci Manns Sfregola
Founder and CEO at New Gen Architects
This might be underwhelming, but it’s honestly just another day in the life.
For starters, tariffs change all the time, and so do a lot of other things that affect supply strategy and network design. Part of being great at this job is keeping up with the headlines, and we knew something would be coming for over a year now.
The best of us have been scenario planning and running simulations for months.
It’s just a matter of executing on one of the options now and keeping in mind that all of this could very well change with the next administration as well.
So, for me, just another day honestly
2. Geography still drives the strategy
Tariffs may tweak short-term pricing, but they don’t erase deep infrastructure advantages. Some regions simply have more developed ecosystems and talent pools — and that doesn’t change overnight.
Brogan Miller points out that “the Asian manufacturing infrastructure is far superior to what we have here in the US,” and notes that any domestic production growth will likely be limited to very specific niches.
He also adds that countries like Malaysia are well positioned due to decades of foreign direct investment and experienced talent. Meanwhile, other countries trying to pivot quickly — like Vietnam — aren’t immune to new tariffs either.
Takeaway: Don’t confuse price signals with structural shifts. Follow capability, not noise.
Brogan Miller
Founder, Principal Engineer at E2E
Excluding Malaysia, I’d love to see someone spin these tariffs as a win.
Despite the tariffs, the Asian manufacturing infrastructure is far superior to what we have here in the US, so only some niche product categories will experience domestic production growth. And they may have grown even without these tariffs.
Vietnam recently reduced tariffs on US imports to try to ease any US imposed tariffs, but that did them little good – so every other country take note. They were also industrializing towards a more powerful manufacturing base, but this tariff may have killed that endeavor.
China will hurt, but they will figure it out – they always do. They are the ones driving this exodus train.
Malaysian manufacturers are sitting pretty right now. They took one of the lowest hits AND they have been the recipient of manufacturing FDI since at least the 70s. They have the history, the good engineers, and facilities to take advantage of the situation.
Start packing your bag for Penang. But don’t be surprised if Trump hits Malaysia as you’re getting off the plane.
3. This is your moment to rethink — not just react
It’s tempting to focus only on putting out fires. But this is also a chance to build something better.
Nathan Cunningham called it a “huge shockwave in the supply chain.” And while painful in the short term, he sees it as the right time to ask bigger questions: Is our strategy built to last? What needs to change?
His advice is clear: use this moment to invest in long-term improvements — whether that’s domestic capacity, automation, or a more agile sourcing process.
Takeaway: Use disruption as leverage. Invest in flexibility, automation, and domestic capacity while you have the attention.
Nathan Cunningham
Founder at QuickBuild
This is a huge shockwave in the supply chain.
Short term this is going to be painful for everyone.
But companies need to take this time to reconsider their long term strategy.
Investing in automation and local capacity is going to be the best path forward for long term success.
4. Optimize what you can control
Even when tariffs hit hard, there are still levers you can pull.
Philip, a supply chain manager at Jiga, shared two simple but effective tips:
Tip 1 – Communicate the challenges with your manufacturer. You’d be surprised by the number of solutions they might offer (price optimization, logistics optimization).
Tip 2 – If there is an option to deliver parts to a different step of the supply chain that might reduce import tariffs, now is the time — even if this shifts the assembly or integration steps a bit.
Takeaway: Talk to suppliers early — they may help with pricing or logistics. And explore delivery shifts internally to reduce tariff exposure.
Philip Tabachnik
Supply Chain Manager at Jiga.io
Tip 1 – Communicate the challenges with your manufacturer.
You’d be surprised by the number of solutions they might offer (price optimization, logistics optimization).
Tip 2 – If there is an option to deliver parts to a different step of the supply chain that might reduce import tariffs, now is the time — even if this shifts the assembly or integration steps a bit.
Javier L
Principal Systems R&D Mechanical Engineer
"Game changing in the online manufacturing space"
Jiga is the best way to get the parts you need, when you need them.
What you can do now
Put the takeaways into action:
- If you haven’t modeled cost exposure, now’s the time. Start with your most tariff-sensitive SKUs.
- Don’t abandon overseas suppliers blindly — assess which regions still offer strategic value.
- Open the conversation with engineering now about flexible specs or fallback parts.
- Think beyond cost: What part of your supply chain needs to be more resilient long-term?
- Talk to your manufacturer — they may have unexpected solutions like price or logistics optimization.
- Consider alternative delivery points that could reduce tariff impact, even if it means shifting assembly or integration steps slightly.
Each move should support your ability to stay ahead, not just stay afloat.
The smartest teams aren’t just reacting. They’re turning uncertainty into strategy.
