How to Find Capable North American Suppliers in Just a Few Weeks

As the threat of U.S. tariffs are quickly becoming a reality, North American manufacturers are seeking local suppliers to reduce reliance on overseas sourcing, particularly from China. 

While some focus on U.S.-based suppliers, others are continuing to expand their Mexican supply base. 

We’ve helped manufacturers in diverse industries identify capable suppliers in just 4-5 weeks. Recent projects have sourced suppliers for everything from automotive sensors to heavy weldments. 

But why is it so challenging for companies to find North American suppliers on their own? And what methods actually work? 

Why Companies Struggle to Find Capable Suppliers? 

Finding suppliers should be a core function of procurement teams, but many organizations struggle with sourcing in North America for three key reasons: 

• Limited Supply Base Knowledge – Years of prioritizing low-cost country sourcing has left many procurement teams unfamiliar with North American suppliers. 
• Lack of a Defined Process – Without a structured method to consolidate stakeholder needs, teams waste time vetting the wrong suppliers. 
• Busy Suppliers – Many North American suppliers are already operating at full capacity, making them slow to respond to RFQs from new contacts. 

The good news is that by using the right tools, companies can accelerate the supplier identification process and find good-fit partners quickly. 

Three Tools for Quickly Identifying Capable Suppliers 

1. Leverage Your Network of Industry Experts 

Web searches and AI chatbots may provide supplier names, but they often return overly broad or irrelevant results. The fastest way to identify strong candidates is through industry connections. 

• Internal Team Members – Colleagues with prior experience at companies using similar suppliers can be invaluable sources. 
• Former Colleagues & LinkedIn Connections – Reaching out to past coworkers and industry contacts can yield supplier recommendations. 
• Independent Experts (“Single Shingle” Consultants) – These niche specialists, often retired industry veterans, have deep knowledge of specific commodities and can quickly identify potential suppliers. 

For example, an auto supplier setting up its first North American plant needed suppliers for a complex 3-layer painting process.

By tapping into APD’s network, 15 potential suppliers were identified in just two weeks, with five proving to have the necessary capabilities and capacity. 

2. Define an Ideal Supplier Profile 

A well-structured Ideal Supplier Profile ensures alignment among stakeholders and helps filter out unqualified suppliers early in the process. 

This ideal profile captures: 

• The 15-20 attributes most critical for the supplier category. 
• The ideal criteria for each attribute. 
• The minimum acceptable criteria for each attribute. 

This method streamlines decision-making. In one case, a manufacturer sourcing turned parts suppliers in Mexico used this approach to evaluate 27 suppliers. Ultimately, 15 met the criteria for one or more business segments. 

3. Use a Mini-Business Case to Engage Suppliers 

One of the biggest challenges in supplier identification is getting busy North American suppliers to respond. To increase engagement, a mini-business case should be presented upfront. 

This business case should highlight: 

• The manufacturer’s background and industry reputation. 
• Key customers and growth plans. 
• The long-term partnership potential. 

Suppliers are bombarded with RFQs, many from companies simply looking to fill a short-term gap. A well-crafted business case signals a serious, long-term opportunity and increases response rates. 

Want to learn more about accelerating the supplier identification process?

Download the “Find a Short List of Capable North American Suppliers in Just 4-5 Weeks” Guide