By practicing foresight and preparing for the inevitable hiccup, manufacturers can go a long way toward ensuring that a shortage of microchips doesn't cause their facilities to lay dormant. 

Businesses in the U.S., Canada, and even South America have been bringing their supply chains closer to the consumer — that is, nearshoring — and Mexico has been the beneficiary. 

Mexico is becoming an increasingly popular destination for near-shoring among American businesses, but there are many pitfal.