Cairns said Foxconn would likely create the need for more construction in the area, across many areas such as government — fire stations and departments of public works — housing, retail and schools.

And plants may have to be built to supply the materials such as precast concrete panels or asphalt that Foxconn would demand, Cairns added.

Meanwhile, he pointed out, other construction projects would also have to be done while Foxconn is being built.

Nearby supply base

The Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese manufacturing model indicates there would be new, related manufacturing not far from wherever Foxconn would locate, said Doug Fisher, Marquette University assistant professor and director of Marquette’s Center for Supply Chain Management. That model is to have the entire supply base near the manufacturing operation.

“They tend to align their supply base near those operations,” Fisher said. For example, where shoes are made, the Chinese model also has plants nearby to supply everything from the rubber to the grommets.

“It allows very efficient manufacturing,” he explained. “If there are hiccups, they can react very quickly. That brings the employment base in proximity to the manufacturer.”