Procurement

Supply Chain Under Strain

Supply Chain Under Strain

Proficient Sourcing LLC provides OEM’s access to a network of outstanding manufacturing suppliers.  As almost all are midwestern, we offer an alternative to companies being subjected to supply chain difficulties with overseas suppliers. The January/February edition of Expansion Solutions magazine has an excellent summary article “A Supply Chain Under Strain”.  The article points out several key supply chain points. Everyone involved with foreign suppliers is aware of the potential for sea, air, rail, and road… Read More

China: Big Problems Lurk!

China: Big Problems Lurk!

  China has very big demographic problems. Is this situation meaningful for us folks interested in US manufacturing at present or soon? We shall see. All of a sudden, a large number of news sources are reporting a potential demographic crisis beginning in China. We wonder what this means for OEMs with Chinese manufacturing. The government has a very major issue dealing with these things and still maintaining a manufacturing powerhouse. Apparently, for the first… Read More

Pandemic Effects on the Economy

Pandemic Effects on the Economy

Recently we found “The Economic Disaster of the Pandemic Response”, a talk by Jeffrey Tucker from October 2022.  Mr. Tucker is a writer of some note, but evidently a strong conservative.  Whether or not his remarks are 100% accurate or not is beyond our ability to determine, but it makes a lot of sense.  We’re no fan of central planning, especially for the national economy, which created a number of problems in this case. The… Read More

The 4 Day Work Week

The 4 Day Work Week

Recently we heard a radio report that the government was considering 4 Day work week legislation.  No further details were reported, so we can only speculate that this is a move that might happen sometime in the future.  To whom, how and when unreported. The US economy consists of a wide variety of types of work, so just how such legislation would work seems very confusing.  Just some examples:  blue collar workers in a company… Read More

TARGET PRICE: Good idea or not?

TARGET PRICE: Good idea or not?

Last year we introduced a potential supplier to an equipment OEM.  The OEM has several fairly large machine parts they want to source to new machining sources.  The desired vendor will be capable of handling thousand pound steel parts, which require complex machining operations.  Not quite 5-axis, but their parts have very intricate details. This means a complex quoting procedure, and perhaps if the OEM would provide some sort of cost parameters it would help… Read More

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Proficient Sourcing finds sources for primarily OEM’s seeking suppliers for some manufacturing requirement.  To do this we feature a very large and diversified network of proven suppliers with a history of happy customers. But nearly all of these companies are looking for employees, a situation evidently pretty widespread these days.  What’s going on with employment and employees? According to current news, the economy is great/awful, and employment is problematic/great.  So what’s the real story?  Why are… Read More

Need Improvements to Your Supply Chain?

Need Improvements to Your Supply Chain?

We’re all about improving your supply chain.  Whether reshoring something or any of a myriad of possibilities, if you want excellent candidates for your outsourced manufacturing, we can probably help. Key areas of success have been large metal parts, such as machine bases, fabricated and molded plastics, domesticating ferrous (and large!) castings, tanks, pressure vessels, and even micro machined precision items.  We can also offer special ISO candidates for specific industries.  Here’s a partial listing of our… Read More

Do You Need Something Really BIG?

Do You Need Something Really BIG?

Our network of suppliers contains several companies that specialize in the very large, the heavy, the thick (as in plate) and not only metal, but also plastics and fiberglass. If you are an equipment or machinery builder, you might need equipment bases from plate or large parts machined. Perhaps you need steel plate work such as equipment foundations, mixing tanks or underground containers.   Our plate fabricators can roll ¾” plate to lengths up to 13’… Read More

What is a Good Supplier?

What is a Good Supplier?

Several procurement consultants’ websites and discussion groups list factors that define a good supplier. This is particularly relevant to Proficient Sourcing; we provide manufacturing supplier candidates to OEM buyers and are acutely aware of the need for excellent performance. On time delivery is always among the most valued factors. With new suppliers, the buyer has only the prospective suppliers’ history for evidence of excellent delivery performance. Our network has been built with companies have that… Read More

Supplier Visits: Important Clues About Prospective Suppliers

Supplier Visits: Important Clues About Prospective Suppliers

Several years ago a Business Leader Post article recommended visiting suppliers as often as feasibly possible.  The main reasons appear to be relationship building and the opportunity to discuss cost/scrap/quality and other production details that may be problematic. Proficient Sourcing’s business is finding excellent sources for your manufacturing needs (mostly metal and plastic machining/fab work).  To fully appreciate what a supplier can contribute to your business, a visit to the facility making your items can be… Read More