Manufacturing has faced a great deal of regulatory and legislative uncertainty this year, and many businesses are reevaluating their supply chains as a result. At Polyhistor International, we’re having more conversations with customers who are considering reshoring their precision machining with a U.S.-based partner.
But reshoring isn’t just a reaction to recent events. For decades, we’ve consistently had conversations with customers who want to bring some or all of their manufacturing back to a domestic partner, citing reasons from cost and logistics to communication and stability.
In this post, we share what we typically say in those conversations. Learn the benefits of reshoring, and find out why now may be the ideal time to bring your manufacturing back to an American partner.
Quality Control and Fast Problem Resolutions
We’ve previously shared the story of a partner we’ve supported with a 100% on-time and quality rating over the past year, but we didn’t mention how that relationship started. They initially contacted us after experiencing quality issues with an overseas supplier, and the distance made reworks inefficient and sometimes impossible.
That’s a common experience in our conversations. Quality control and fast response times are among the top reasons businesses choose to reshore. Partnering with a domestic manufacturer not only simplifies logistics; we believe that being close enough for customers to visit helps to strengthen accountability and communication, as well.
Collaborative Mindset to Enable Your Success
At Polyhistor, true partnership is one of our greatest strengths. We actively collaborate with our partners on design for manufacturing (DFM), reducing the costs of your parts and ensuring efficient production. Many overseas suppliers, in contrast, will simply manufacture to spec, even if those specs could cause issues.
That collaboration doesn’t end in the design stage, either. Domestic partners enable greater flexibility, helping you adjust quickly. In our complete prototype services, for instance, we can implement design changes and iterate fast. In contract manufacturing services, we can often handle order spikes or schedule changes more easily than offshore vendors.
Improved Economics and Total Cost
Many businesses are considering reshoring as they factor potential tariffs into their buying decisions. It’s certainly true that these may have a significant impact, but cost evaluations shouldn’t stop there. It’s important to try to include all hidden costs, even those that are hard to quantify.
Overseas production typically appears cheaper at first glance, but it’s important to consider potential costs associated with areas like freight and customs. In addition, it’s important to factor in the potential costs of waiting for unexpected inventory needs, as well as time lost to communication delays.
In addition, our product development services help customers get to market quickly, which can make a major difference in a product’s success.
Greater Supply Chain Stability
For many businesses, reshoring is a long-term investment in business continuity to ensure supply chain security ahead of any future disruptions.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed just how fragile global supply chains can be. Even as the industry has mostly recovered from that volatility, today’s uncertainty has reinforced the importance of finding a trusted American supplier.
Environmental Benefits
Sustainability is not the primary driver for most reshoring decisions our partners make, but it can be a meaningful added benefit. Reduced transportation distances decrease greenhouse gas emissions, which can help companies with sustainability initiatives meet their Scope 3 goals.
Considering Reshoring? Let’s Discuss
If you’re thinking about reshoring but have concerns about the transition, we can help. Every situation is unique, but we’ve guided partners through the process before. With open communication and clear planning, we can ensure a smooth transition and minimize disruption.
Ready for Your Next Project
This moment presents an excellent opportunity for businesses to reshore their manufacturing, but it’s important to remember that the decision should go beyond simple cost comparisons. Quality, communication, reliability, and partnership are critical benefits of an American manufacturing partner like Polyhistor.
Whether you need rapid prototyping services or high-volume production machining, we’re ready to help you in our Jacksonville machine shop. Request a quote today and see how reshoring your manufacturing can work to your advantage!