In recent years, reshoring metal fabrication — bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. — has evolved from a buzzword to a serious strategy. For OEMs facing long lead times, quality concerns, and rising overseas shipping costs, reshoring your metal fabrication may no longer be a “nice to have”—it might be the competitive edge you need.
At Accurate Metal Fabricating, we’ve helped OEMs successfully transition their metal parts production from overseas suppliers to our 140,000-square-foot facility in Cicero, IL. If you're considering reshoring, here's how to know when the time is right—and how to do it without disrupting your supply chain.
Is It Time to Reshore? 5 Signs to Watch
1. Long, Unpredictable Lead Times
If your overseas partners can’t guarantee delivery windows—or consistently miss them—your projects may suffer downstream delays.
2. Quality Control Issues
Inconsistent material quality, missed tolerances, or unexpected defects can erode trust and result in rework or scrap costs.
3. Increased Shipping & Tariffs
Freight rates, port delays, and tariffs add hidden costs to what may seem like a cheaper overseas quote.
4. Communication Gaps
Language barriers and time zone lags make it harder to resolve issues quickly or make real-time design changes.
5. Need for Speed
When your customers expect rapid prototyping, quick turns, or just-in-time manufacturing, reshoring improves responsiveness.
Benefits of U.S.-Based Metal Fabrication
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Faster Lead Times — Domestic production dramatically reduces shipping delays and customs holdups.
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Improved Quality Control — Easier oversight and ISO 9001:2015-certified processes.
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More Agile Design Changes — Faster collaboration between engineers, buyers, and fabricators.
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Reduced Inventory Risk — With faster replenishment, you can lean out inventory and increase turns.
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Easier Accountability — One point of contact. One time zone. No midnight Zooms.
How to Reshore Metal Fabrication—Successfully
Reshoring isn't just about switching vendors. It requires planning, communication, and the right partner. Here's how to make it work:
1. Identify Your Highest-Risk Parts
Start with parts that currently have:
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High defect rates
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Long overseas lead times
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Frequent design revisions
2. Review Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
Your new fabricator may recommend adjustments to reduce costs, expedite production, or enhance quality.
At Accurate, we offer free design-for-manufacturability reviews as part of the quoting process.
3. Run a Trial Production Batch
Start with a pilot run to compare part performance, timing, and total landed cost.
4. Establish Realistic Timelines
Build in time for first articles, material sourcing (if different alloys are used), and finishing.
5. Work with a Partner Who Gets It
Reshoring isn't just logistics—it's people, process, and partnership. Choose a fabricator with proven experience helping OEMs transition from offshore to U.S.-based production.
🤝 How Accurate Metal Fabricating Supports Reshoring
We’ve helped OEMs in power generation, data centers, and retail display industries successfully bring their fabrication work stateside. Here's how we make it seamless:
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Collaborative quoting and engineering support
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Perforated Metal from our sister company, Accurate Perforating
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Prototyping for high-volume scalability
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Reliable lead times and consistent quality
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Midwest-based for fast shipping across North America
“We moved our enclosure production from China to Accurate, and they hit the ground running. Fewer defects, faster turns, and no communication issues.”
— Supply Chain Manager, OEM Client
Thinking About Reshoring?
Let’s talk about how we can reduce lead times, improve quality, and support your team here at home.