The Tricky Balance Between Competitive Sourcing and a Manageable Supply Chain

It’s critical to recognize the need for a balance between competitive sourcing and maintaining a manageable list of suppliers. Minimizing the number of suppliers in the chain helps streamline the logistics of a custom manufacturing job. Companies are often wary of sole-sourcing due to misperceptions about the cost-effectiveness of turn-key custom manufacturing.

The Pains and Risks of Striking a Balance
Many companies are forced to make sacrifices when determining how to manage complicated manufacturing jobs. They can either: 

• Live with the cost of poor quality often associated with “lowest-price” manufacturers, or 
• Limit the number of suppliers to those that deliver the highest quality and overall value

Any company will tell you they want the best manufacturing deals they can find. But shopping around for the absolute lowest prices can be time consuming—and spreading the work across too many suppliers can result in a convoluted, risk-prone supply chain.

OEMS, Systems Integrators, and Key Tiers also recognize that the leaner their operation, the better their output is likely to be. The principles of Six Sigma, Kaizen, or continuous improvement show that the simplest process is often the best for managing complex manufacturing jobs. This is just as true in the global supply chain as it is on the shop floor.

When companies consider not only the upfront cost, but the full lifecycle costs associated with a project, finding the best value is much more challenging. That’s when it’s often time to engage a turn-key solution provider such as Custom Manufacturing & Engineering Inc. (CME). 

How CME Helps Businesses Find a Balance
The solutions that CME provides for customers will help to balance the challenges of competitive sourcing while enhancing their lean supply chain. 

CME’s Certifications Have Your Job Covered
Many companies struggle to pare down the overwhelming number of all their suppliers because they have a fixed list of approved vendors with the proper certifications. CME is unique in that it sets itself apart with three quality and calibration certifications: ISO 9001, AS9100C, and ISO 17025 and CME is compliant with TS 16949 conformance. Additionally CME is compliant with ISO 16949 for its calibration services. We take pride in our Quality certifications as a demonstration of our expertise—and our commitment to delivering consistent value to customers. Our proven experience in aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, and other industries enables us to reduce cost and risk on even the most complex projects.

Competitive Pricing Meets High Quality
Under a single roof, CME’s turn-key services cover the design, development, manufacturing, and testing of even the most complex projects. When all aspects of the job are coordinated and executed by trained engineers accustomed to working together, it’s easier—and often more cost effective—to manufacture high-quality products. 

CME’s Experience Guarantees Quality and Eliminates Headaches
​CME’s 20+ years of experience in designing, engineering, testing, and calibrating—we can address your pain points solving your most complex challenges easily. We’re able to produce obscure, obsolete, or hard-to-find items to save time and money for our clients by bringing all of the work under one roof. CME combines competitive costs, outstanding quality, and great value—enabling clients to strike the perfect balance between competitive sourcing and manageability in the supply chain.

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