As technology evolves worldwide, foreign precision machine shops are becoming increasingly competitive with American shops. 

While it’s possible to source parts overseas for what may seem like better prices, it’s essential to consider the downsides to foreign labor, which tend to manifest in many different ways. 

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. We always respect our customers’ decisions about where they get their parts made, but we also want to ensure you have all the information to make the right choice. 

4 Benefits of Buying American-Manufactured Parts 

There are many reasons to buy American-made parts. Let’s take a look at a few of them: 

1. Adherence to market standards

Some foreign manufacturers may turn around good-quality parts, but they don’t all follow the same strict standards as US manufacturers. 

These standards are especially important for parts in highly regulated industries like aerospace and medical. At our precision machine shop, we adhere to Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines and are ISO 9001:2015 certified. Our customers always know that their parts are safe to use and will meet critical specifications.

Language barriers and varying cultural standards can also interfere with an overseas manufacturer’s ability to provide the parts you need. A foreign shop might misunderstand a callout in your drawing or determine that implied tolerances like concentricity aren’t a priority for them. 

When you work with a domestic manufacturer, you can expect them to speak the same language as you, both literally and figuratively. 

2. Efficiency and communication

If you’re looking to build a relationship with a precision machine shop, you’ll have significantly more success with a domestic supplier. 

The reasoning is simple: it’s much easier to communicate with people in your time zone who speak your language, especially if a problem arises and you need immediate assistance. A shop in the US is likely to be working at the same time as you, and in some cases, you may even be able to travel to each other’s locations. We frequently end up onsite with our customers, especially when we’re doing MRO work. 

3. Environmental, social, and governance considerations

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations are a big area of concern regarding foreign labor and global supply chains. 

There are 25 million people worldwide subjected to forced and exploitative labor, and foreign manufacturing contributes to that statistic. When you buy parts from precision machine shops in the US, you can trust that they follow child labor laws and OSHA standards for worker safety.

From an environmental standpoint, precision machine shops in the US must adhere to strict regulations and standards. Additionally, keeping manufacturing supply chains local helps reduce carbon pollution resulting from transportation.

4. Time, cost, and reliability

Customers often have prototypes manufactured overseas to save money, but outsourcing labor to developing countries isn’t the economical solution it once was. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the cost of foreign labor has increased significantly. Add in the hidden fees associated with shipping, insurance, tariffs, and currency exchanges, and the case for American manufacturing becomes even clearer. 

You’re also almost guaranteed a faster turnaround when you buy American because there’s less distance between you and your manufacturer and fewer shipping risks to anticipate. This speed and reliability are essential if you’re in a rapid prototyping phase, for example. 

If you’re interested in buying American parts and are in search of a precision machining partner, we hope you’ll consider Arbiser Machine. Request a quote to work with us!