Do you know who you are doing business with?

A valid question these days when so much interaction is online only. In days-gone-by you knew your vendors, you had a long-time sales rep, you could call your service tech directly for help with a problem, you were friends with your suppliers, service providers and customers.

Much has changed and recently we are hearing about many long time OEM manufacturers, new machinery and tooling suppliers that have been “acquired”, “sold” or “consolidated”. “Yes” the tradename is still there. “Yes” the products are still there but something just seems different.

For example the replacement parts you have ordered for 50 years are now shipping from someplace different and maybe even from China or India. The press tooling supplier you ordered punches and dies from for 50 years has new protocols for ordering, the quality seems a bit “off” and now you can’t speak to anyone because all contact is via email only. The new machinery supplier you have purchased machines from for over 50 years all of a sudden has different designs, castings are now weldments, the grade of stainless parts is substandard and the quality is just not there anymore.

If you can relate to the above examples then you are seeing what is happening in US manufacturing. Over the last couple of years, representatives of Chinese and Indian companies are making outright offers to long-time U.S. machinery builders, suppliers and tooling houses. Customers have no clue that their long-time vendors are now foreign owned businesses trading off the once fine reputation of the company name and goodwill.

If something doesn’t seem right and do a little research. Your long-time vendors might not be who you think they are anymore.