supply chain management Archives - Proficient Sourcing

Custom Manufacturing Sourcing Services: How to Find the Right Supplier Faster and With Less Risk

Charlie Harte — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 17:54:51 +0000

Finding the right manufacturing supplier can be one of the most important decisions a company makes. A good supplier can help you control costs, meet deadlines, improve product quality, and scale production smoothly. A poor supplier can create delays, quality problems, communication issues, and expensive rework. That is why many companies turn to custom manufacturing sourcing…

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Proficient Sourcing vs. In-House Sourcing: Cost Impact

Charlie Harte — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:33:21 +0000

When it comes to reducing manufacturing procurement costs, many companies face a crucial decision: handle sourcing internally or work with an external partner. Both paths aim for cost-efficiency, but the route you choose can significantly affect timelines, risk, and overall value. In this comparison, we break down the true cost impact of using a manufacturing…

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How to Vet Manufacturing Suppliers Like a Pro

Charlie Harte — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 08:35:00 +0000

Finding the right manufacturing supplier can make or break a business. Whether you’re launching a new product, expanding production, or dealing with quality issues from your current vendor, knowing how to vet manufacturing suppliers is essential. A poorly chosen supplier can result in delays, quality defects, and wasted money—but a reliable one can become a true strategic…

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Need Improvements to Your Supply Chain – FAST?

Charlie Harte — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 09:00:22 +0000

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…

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Future of the Supply Chain. Good for the US?

Charlie Harte — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 20:41:02 +0000

Proficient Sourcing LLC exists to help OEM’s find excellent manufacturing suppliers. We found a forecast of what the future might hold that’s both chilling and encouraging. Check out this source and keep us in mind if it’s at all accurate. “[After WWII] the Americans had …become THE determining factor in issues European and Asian…industrial and…

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TARGET PRICE: Good idea or not?

Charlie Harte — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 04:21:37 +0000

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.…

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Need Improvements to Your Supply Chain?

Charlie Harte — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 23:47:10 +0000

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Supply Chain Problems: Just the Beginning?

Charlie Harte — Fri, 06 May 2022 22:59:20 +0000

The past year has witnessed all manner of economic disruptions due to supply chain problems. We have seen how these problems have interrupted and delayed manufacturing supply systems, and possibly given reshoring efforts an unexpected boost. Manufacturing over the past 50 years or so has required ever more sophisticated and complex use of new minerals…

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Procurement Practices Contributing to Supplier Performance Problems? Can it be True?

Charlie Harte — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 03:15:24 +0000

Do any of these apply to you and your company and it’s procurement practices? OEMs are trying to become more flexible in order to respond more rapidly to market conditionsand opportunities. They are relying more heavily on their suppliers to perform manufacturing operations formerly done in-house. At the same time they are trying to reduce…

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Reshoring Prototyping and Other Manufacturing Operations

Charlie Harte — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 19:02:42 +0000

An article from the Empire Group with this title appeared in January. The central thought is that former decisions to outsource certain functions, such as prototyping and “other manufacturing operations” are good candidates for reshoring consideration. Proficient Sourcing LLC is a business that provides excellent performing candidates for OEMs’ outsourcing needs, so we could not…

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