Since 1930, Cornell Forge has provided customers across various industries with top-quality forgings made in the USA at our Chicago manufacturing facility. Our family-owned business offers a range of in-house services, including design assistance and optimization, tooling fabrication, metal forging, and metallurgical consulting. We guarantee quality parts and timely delivery, regardless of the part’s complexity.
From short lead times and globally competitive prices to quality control and product traceability, learn what makes Cornell Forge a recognized leader in the forging industry.
Disadvantages of Offshoring
While outsourcing forgings seems like an easy way to save manufacturing costs, it’s important to look at the big picture before choosing offshoring over domestic forging services. When outsourcing, it can be hard to verify the skill, experience, or quality control processes the forging company offers. Even if you find a manufacturer capable of meeting your forging requirements, the total delivered cost for offshore forgings is most often 20-30% more than domestic forgings.
Other possible risks of offshoring include:
- Longer lead times. From differing production schedules to longer shipping times, receiving your parts can take longer when relying on offshore manufacturers for your forging needs. These longer lead times can cause a delay in your own operations.
- Part inconsistency. Offshore manufacturers may change forges during your project without prior notice, leading to inconsistency across parts produced.
- Increased exposure to tariffs. Forged products sourced outside of the U.S. can be subject to import taxes.
- Potential theft of proprietary designs and information. Sharing designs or proprietary information internationally can increase the risk of someone trying to reverse-engineer or copy your product designs.
- Varying shipping costs and reliability. Tariffs and other factors can cause international shipping costs to fluctuate, leading to possible shipping delays. There is also the risk of stockouts to consider when assessing the reliability of offshore manufacturing.
- Limited control over production timelines. Working across multiple time zones can unnecessarily complicate the ordering process. Further, with the distance and additional design requirements, companies providing forging services in other countries may require you to order more inventory than you actually need.
- Communication challenges. It can be difficult to efficiently discuss design details, quality expectations, and production and timeline requirements with offshore manufacturers. Any miscommunication can result in production delays, errors, or wasted material.
- Time zone differences. It can be difficult to communicate efficiently across multiple time zones, especially when it comes to last-minute production changes or quality control issues.
Advantages of Partnering With a “Made in the USA” Manufacturer
By opting for a domestic partner like Cornell Forge, you can lock in your capacity needs and have peace of mind knowing your forging project is in the right hands. You can also enjoy immediate and long-term advantages with us, including:
- Improved quality control. Partnering with U.S.-based manufacturers provides customers with peace of mind. Cornell Forge uses stringent quality control processes to ensure that their products meet or exceed necessary quality standards. We do this without compromising production schedules or delivery deadlines.
- Enhanced efficiency. U.S.-based manufacturers often have the flexibility and adaptability to change production timelines to align with changing market trends and suit customers’ unique needs. At Cornell Forge, we invest in state-of-the-art technologies to help refine production processes and reduce lead times, resulting in faster order turnaround while maintaining a high quality standard.
- Reduced shipping costs. Since international shipping is more expensive than domestic shipping, companies partnering with a U.S. manufacturer often save money on shipping costs. Customers can also worry less about the pricey recalls or compliance issues associated with offshoring manufacturing.
- Supporting local growth opportunities. Onshore manufacturing creates local jobs and helps stimulate economic growth. At Cornell Forge, our team is committed to fostering growth within our communities to earn the goodwill and loyalty of customers who appreciate the attention to detail and superior products we provide.
Choose Cornell Forge for Enhanced U.S. Manufacturing Capabilities
Cornell Forge has over 90 years of forging experience and an exceptional track record of delivering products that meet precise specifications. We utilize this cross-industry expertise and our advanced capabilities to provide in-house forging services that help reduce costs, minimize waste, and eliminate costly production steps. We also maintain our ISO 9001:2015 certification to guarantee quality results in line with the highest standards.
As a USA manufacturer, Cornell Forge delivers customized forging solutions to meet the requirements of your application. Contact us to learn more about our forging capabilities, or request a quote today to get started on your next project.