In this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere welcomes Phillip Gulley, co-founder of Cofactr, a company that helps critical industries like aerospace, defense, and MedTech manage the tangled web of modern supply chains.
Gulley shares how he stumbled into the world of trade and logistics by building hardware, only to discover that real success required managing compliance, tariffs, duty drawback, and end-to-end traceability. From sourcing secure electronics to preventing multimillion-dollar delivery penalties, Phillip walks through why electronics are the most supply chain-sensitive products on the planet and how Cofactr is using AI-powered tools to reduce risk without sacrificing security or IP.
🔍 Key Topics Covered:
- Why most electronic components in critical systems still rely on Chinese infrastructure
- How "design for supply chain" is the next frontier after "design for manufacturing"
- Why duty drawback is so underutilized and how companies can reclaim tariff dollars
- How to think about risk, vendor traceability, and tiered supplier transparency
- The hidden fragility in “just-in-time” production and how to build a more resilient logistics strategy
- Real-world reactions from medtech and aerospace manufacturers navigating tariffs, shortages, and compliance pressures
- The truth about nearshoring in Mexico, why it's stalled, and what the future holds for North American trade
🧠 Phillip also shares his top book recommendations:
- Finite and Infinite Games by James Carse
- Rules of Play by Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman
- Radical Candor by Kim Scott
📌 If you’re an industrial investor, logistics exec, or commercial real estate developer trying to understand the real-world impacts of trade policy, manufacturing risk, and process change, this is a must-listen.
👤 Connect with Phillip Gulley:
Website: https://cofactr.com
Email: phil@cofactr.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipgulley
Learn More About Van Vlissingen and Co.
🎧 Subscribe for more episodes with real operators shaping the world of trade, logistics, and commercial real estate.
#SupplyChain #Logistics #TradePolicy #ElectronicsManufacturing #RealFindsPodcast #GordonLamphere #Cofactr #CommercialRealEstate #AIinManufacturing #DutyDrawback #RiskMitigation #Nearshoring #IndustrialRealEstate #Procurement
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