Choosing Made in America: Benefits of Working with an Aluminum Forging Company in the USA
“Made in America” is a consistent sign of quality that many consumers look for in their everyday lives. While the considerations of the average consumer do not translate directly to the decisions made at the level of corporate manufacturing, there are still numerous advantages to choosing forging die manufacturers based in America.
For the metal and aluminum forging industry, this article will outline some of the many benefits that come from sourcing your parts in the U.S.A.
Table of Contents
1. The Benefits of Reshoring
Today, many companies are choosing to leave foreign manufacturing partners and return to operations based in the United States – a process known as reshoring.
Reshoring metal forging offers significant advantages. By bringing forging operations back to domestic soil, you’ll benefit from improved quality control and adherence to stringent U.S.A. manufacturing standards. Domestic production facilities also improve communication, reduce lead times, and streamline technical support.
Additionally, reshoring reduces reliance on long, complex supply chains vulnerable to global disruptions, such as tariffs, shipping delays, and geopolitical issues. It further strengthens local industries by creating jobs and supporting American manufacturing infrastructure. Choosing to partner with Made in the U.S.A. forging die manufacturers like Anchor Harvey offers many advantages that prove reshoring is a worthwhile investment.
2. “Made in America” Means Quality
It is commonly believed that products made in America are of a higher quality and greater reliability than those made in other nations. For the metal forging industry, the reliability and quality of American-made products are particularly noticeable.
Metal forging companies in the U.S.A. are held to a higher standard at nearly all points in the production process that contribute to the ultimate quality of forged products. These expectations for American firms as well as the deep history of metalworking and manufacturing in the U.S.A., means that American forging companies reliably provide better products.
3. Better Communication
Companies that frequently communicate across time zones and with foreign firms or foreign offices will know all too well the difficulties of clear and consistent communication. Cultural differences can lead to miscommunication of expectations, language barriers can add burdensome translation requirements, and time-zone differences can sometimes make scheduling a meeting or even getting quick answers to simple questions nearly impossible.
Forging die manufacturers can be severely hampered by the delays or mistakes that may result; with forged metal products, such mistakes may incur huge costs or dangerous accidents. Choosing metal and aluminum forging companies in the U.S.A. minimizes these communication difficulties, eliminating a simple but pernicious barrier to quality in an industry that demands high standards.
4. Improved Technical Assistance
Technical assistance is critical when sourcing forged metal products at nearly every step in the production process. Design benefits from a consistent conversation between part designers and forge engineers; assistance in choosing or designing the perfect alloy and determining the types of treatment and testing procedures that will be necessary all contribute to the performance of the final product.
Once production is completed, better technical assistance can aid with any reworking or replacement of parts that might be necessary. Sourcing products from aluminum forging companies in the U.S.A. means better technical assistance with stronger consistency.
5. Faster, Less Expensive Shipping
Shipping is expensive and time-consuming, and that is especially true for international shipping. Large shipments of forged metal components are incredibly heavy and may require large amounts of space on ships, and these incur burdensome costs; those costs are multiplied for shipping via air cargo.
Additionally, shipping via overseas routes can take many weeks to months for a single shipment to travel from the manufacturer’s shop to the customer’s site due to travel time and passing through customs. Sourcing components from forging companies in the U.S.A. minimizes costs and lead times, which means shorter timelines and more options for customers.
6. Supply Chain Stability
Recent events such as the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of global supply chains as production slowed around the world. Over-reliance on foreign manufacturing crippled American manufacturers as foreign governments issued restrictions, some minor and some extremely strict.
Today, more companies understand the benefits of a domestic supply chain that minimizes reliance on foreign firms that are subject to the priorities of foreign governments. Shorter supply chains give customers more transparency into the operations of their suppliers, allowing for more consistent project planning and overall greater reliability.
7. Support the US Economy
While not all products made in foreign countries are inferior to American-made products, American manufacturing is known for being, on average, of high quality. Buying American products means that customers support American businesses. This contributes to the growth of the American economy, fosters independence in America’s manufacturing sector, and strengthens America against the priorities and actions of foreign governments. It also secures the future of American workers.
American forging die manufacturers are subject to greater workplace safety rules, stricter oversight to curb corruption, and rigorous environmental standards. In addition, manufacturers who sell to security-conscious clients like the defense industry may also be required to source their metal parts from metal forging companies in the U.S.A.
8. Offshore vs. Domestic Forging
To easily compare and contrast the benefits of domestic forging versus forging overseas, we’ve created a simple chart to illustrate the key differences:
| Offshore Forging | Domestic Forging | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Often inconsistent due to variations in standards and materials used. | Typically high-quality, adhering to stringent U.S. standards and regulations. |
| Communication | Can face challenges due to time zones, language barriers, and cultural differences. | Easy and direct communication, with faster responses and better alignment. |
| Technical Assistance | May provide limited support, often requiring remote solutions or extensive delays. | Immediate access to expertise and on-site technical support if needed. |
| Transportation | Longer lead times, higher risks of delays, and costly international freight charges. | Shorter delivery times, lower transportation costs, and reduced risk of damage. |
| Supply Chain | More vulnerable to disruptions such as tariffs, geopolitical issues, and delays. | Stable and predictable, with easier coordination and lower dependency on imports. |
| Economic Impact | Supports foreign economies, potentially at the cost of local job losses. | Boosts the local economy, creating jobs, and supporting American manufacturing. |
9. Anchor Harvey is Proud to be an American Company
Anchor Harvey is one of the top-tier aluminum forging companies in the U.S.A., forging high-quality components for performance industries like motorsports, specialty automotive and aerospace. Anchor Harvey is reliable, provides quality technical assistance to customers, manages a complex but efficient supply network of American contractors, and runs most of its processes in-house.
Anchor Harvey’s numerous industry association memberships and multiple industry certifications including AS9100, ISO-9001, CQI-9, and ITAR, make them one of the premier forging die manufacturers in America.
Contact Anchor Harvey today to start your American-made forging journey.
