Sourcing & Metals Insights

Articles on industrial sourcing, steel and aluminum markets, supplier strategy and cost reduction for OEM manufacturers.

How Outsourced Procurement Improves the Bottom Line Across Your Entire Portfolio
October 2, 2026

How Outsourced Procurement Improves the Bottom Line Across Your Entire Portfolio

Every portfolio company is buying the same materials on its own, at its own price, with a stretched purchasing team. Here's how one procurement partner across the portfolio turns that into margin.

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Multi-Operation Sheet Metal Parts: How to Buy One Finished Part Instead of Managing Five Shops
September 29, 2026

Multi-Operation Sheet Metal Parts: How to Buy One Finished Part Instead of Managing Five Shops

On the print it's one part. To your supply base it's five jobs, five schedules, and five quality systems. Here's where multi-operation sheet metal parts go wrong, and how to buy them as one finished part.

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Excess Prime & Secondary Steel: How OEMs Buy Steel for Less
September 21, 2026

Excess Prime & Secondary Steel: How OEMs Buy Steel for Less

What excess prime and secondary steel are, how they differ, where the savings come from, and how OEM buyers can use them safely in production.

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What Custom Aluminum Extrusions Really Cost for Production Parts
September 16, 2026

What Custom Aluminum Extrusions Really Cost for Production Parts

Your extrusion quote looked great. Then the cutting, punching, finishing, and freight showed up on four other invoices. Here's how to price the whole part.

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Is Your Fabricator's Capacity Still Yours? What OEM Buyers Should Watch in 2026
September 10, 2026

Is Your Fabricator's Capacity Still Yours? What OEM Buyers Should Watch in 2026

Your fabricator's lead times are slipping and no price index explains why. Five signals OEM production buyers should check on their own supply base.

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Section 232 in 2026: Why Your Supplier's Price Went Up, and Whether It Should Have
September 2, 2026

Section 232 in 2026: Why Your Supplier's Price Went Up, and Whether It Should Have

Section 232 duties now apply to the full customs value of imported parts, not just the metal content. If metal was less than half your part's value, your cost went up even though the rate was cut in half. Here's what changed and what to check.

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How to Reduce Aluminum Extrusion Costs Without Sacrificing Quality
August 4, 2026

How to Reduce Aluminum Extrusion Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

Practical ways OEM buyers can lower the cost of finished extruded parts, from die design and hole-making to release planning and buying leverage, without lowering quality

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