Page 20


www.us- tech.com


The Advantages of Choosing a U.S.-Based Manufacturer


By Michael Harlow, Vice President, Kodiak Assembly Solutions C


hoosing a manufacturer re- quires both strategic thinking and an aptitude for business.


While many companies would choose saving on the cost of parts and labor to maximize profit, there are many aspects that must be weighed over cost.


Decades ago, the decision to


move manufacturing from U.S. soil to overseas or across-the-border ter- ritories, such as China and Mexico, was a sound decision in the minds of those who wanted to save money on production and materials. Now, that decision has become


less desirable among manufacturers. Today, companies often run a risk of gambling their money by investing in a foreign manufacturer. Products that are made cheaply often result in being too flawed to sell. Also, commu- nication and travel when living over- seas is much more difficult than com- munication with a manufacturer that is a few hours away at most. Despite the potential cost sav-


ings in labor and materials found overseas, there are advantages that weigh more heavily than cost when it comes to choosing a manufacturer in the United States.


Convenience and on-time deliv- ery. When a customer has a special- ized product and cares about reliabil- ity, on-time delivery and order turn-


around, the company should be in- vesting in manufacturer that oper- ates in the United States.


on a cheaply made product. With many foreign manufacturers comes the risk of receiving products too


High manufacturer quality and labor standards. When it comes to manufacturing in the United States versus choosing a manufacturer lo- cated overseas, there is no doubt that the U.S. holds higher quality and la- bor standards than manufacturers in many other countries. Manufacturers in the U.S. are


required to abide by strict labor laws and maintain high-quality work en- vironments for employees. It is hard to argue against choosing a manufac- turer when considering the stan- dards that must be kept by compa- nies based at home. In many countries, manufactur-


ing companies overwork and under- pay their employees. Poor working conditions negatively affect workers, which results cyclically in poor qual- ity products. Choosing a manufacturer based


Choosing a U.S.-based manufacturer provides


quality assurance and greater IP protection than manufacturing cheaply overseas.


When a company is selling spe-


cialized products to its customer base, it cannot take the chance of sending flawed products. This is like throwing money into the wind, be- cause in the long run, an OEM will likely end up spending more money


flawed to sell or not up to par on quality. Also, products made overseas


must be shipped back to the United States and can take weeks to arrive. If there are any delays, those weeks can turn into months.


in the U.S. is best for businesses al- ready located in the country. A busi- ness that chooses U.S. manufactur- ing is investing in the labor market and economy of the U.S., supplying residents with permanent jobs and making a positive contribution to the economy.


Domestic manufacturers main- tain strict intellectual property rights protections. There are many foreign manufacturers that ignore


Continued on page 22


August, 2019


MODEL 802 TABLE TOP HOT/COLD TEST HANDLER


• Optional-55°C to +155°C minimum working range.


• Handles all device types, 1.6mm x 1.6mm –60mm x 60mm.


• Near zero changeover kits. • Base price starts at under $31,500.


www.exatron.com 1-800-EXA-TRON 1-408-629-7600


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88