Rapid Reshoring
Quickly Identify Capable Suppliers to Support North American Manufacturing
Rapid Reshoring is APD’s proven process to help manufacturers quickly identify capable suppliers. Often used for regionalization initiatives to nearshore the supply base to the U.S., Mexico, or Canada.
Leveraging our experienced purchasing professionals in both the U.S. and Mexico, clients ranging from agriculture equipment producers to automotive suppliers to electrical component manufacturers have identified capable and cost competitive suppliers to support their North American manufacturing operations.
Supplier vetting includes multi-round interviews with potential suppliers against an Ideal Supplier Profile developed with the client for their specific needs, for example supplier manufacturing locations, open capacity, manufacturing capabilities, materials used, lead times, and ability to communicate in English. This proven process supports client cost reduction efforts, strategic sourcing, and global sourcing strategies.
Typically, 5-7 suppliers are vetted per commodity, although this is flexible depending on client needs.
Examples of industries and commodities served since 2023 include:
- Aluminum castings for a brake system supplier
- Aluminum die castings for an audio equipment manufacturer
- Aluminum extrusions for a light truck aftermarket supplier
- Coatings for an automotive supplier
- Copper tubes for a heat exchanger manufacturer
- Fabrications for a commercial truck manufacturer
- Forgings for an industrial equipment manufacturer
- Heavy weldments for an agriculture equipment producer
- Injection moldings for an industrial sensors manufacturer
- Insert moldings for an automotive supplier
- Machined parts for a motorcycle supplier
- Metal hardware for a residential shower door supplier
- Stampings for an automotive supplier
- Turned parts for an aviation supplier
Recent Client Success Stories
$2B Brake System Manufacturer
A supplier to automotive and commercial vehicle OEMs needed to nearshore metal parts to reduce shipping costs associated with importing from Asian suppliers and increase North American content for USMCA requirements. They engaged APD to assist with identifying capable suppliers for low volume/high mix aluminum castings, stampings, and forgings.
- For aluminum castings, APD identified 7 suppliers that matched with 22 specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
- For stampings, APD identified 7 suppliers that matched with 19 specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
- For forgings, APD identified 4 suppliers that matched with 19 specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
Following the supplier identification and vetting steps, the client engaged APD to conduct site visits to 6 aluminum casting suppliers. Based on the findings, APD was able to recommend 4 suppliers as best qualified for the client’s current and future production needs.
$500M Construction and Agriculture Machinery Manufacturer
The North American division of a European-headquartered company was awarded business to supply a high-volume product to an agricultural machinery OEM. They had to establish a new supply base due to the volumes and were targeting Mexico to achieve cost targets. Rather than hiring a buyer in Mexico to support these efforts, they engaged APD to assist with target commodities including weldments, plastic injection parts, and wire harnesses:
- For weldments, APD identified 6 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity. APD conducted a multi-round RFQ with three suppliers selected by the client.
- For injection molded parts, APD identified 6 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity. APD conducted a multi-round RFQ with 6 suppliers selected by the client.
- For wire harnesses, APD identified 7 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity. APD conducted a multi-round RFQ with 5 suppliers selected by the client.
$400M Automotive Supplier
A supplier of electro-mechanical control systems was introducing numerous new products and needed to identify suppliers for several newly awarded programs. They targeted Mexico due to challenges with their Asian suppliers and the need to increase North American content for USMCA requirements. They engaged APD to assist with identifying supplier for thermoplastics, turned parts, insert moldings, and DC motors:
- For thermoplastics, APD identified 4 suppliers that matched with 17 specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity. APD conducted an RFQ and identified two that were competitive on costs.
- For turned parts, APD identified 3 suppliers that matched with 15 specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity. APD conducted an RFQ and identified two that were competitive on costs.
- For insert moldings, APD identified 3 suppliers that matched with 15 specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
- For DC motors, APD identified 3 suppliers that matched with 14 specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
$2B Building Materials Manufacturer
A manufacturer of architectural hardware and bathroom shower components needed to nearshore a variety of parts to reduce shipping and tariff costs associated with importing from Asian suppliers. They engaged APD to assist with identifying supplier for six commodities:
- For aluminum tubular parts, APD identified 4 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
- For stainless steel fabricated or cast parts, APD identified 2 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
- For brass tubular parts, APD identified 3 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
- For brass cast parts, APD identified 5 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
- For EPDM gaskets, APD identified 3 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
- For aluminum extrusions, APD identified 8 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
$21B Electrical and Industrial Power Management Company
A global manufacturer wanted to increase its access to Mexican turned parts suppliers for three divisions. They engaged APD to identify and vet potential suppliers in order to have 15 total turned parts suppliers that could support at least one division:
- For the automotive division, APD identified 11 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
- For the aerospace division, APD identified 2 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.
- For the electrical division, APD identified 7 suppliers that matched with specific attributes for an Ideal Supplier including production capabilities and available capacity.