Summit CNC is on a mission to buy locally—whenever possible, we source our manufacturing materials from US suppliers, defying a long-held belief that offshore sourcing is the best way to reduce costs. 

In fact, offshoring is no longer the logical solution it once was. While opportunities to buy cheap stock from overseas do still exist, continued offshoring has more downsides than benefits. 

Why You Should Care Where Your Precision Machine Shop Gets Materials

Here are four reasons to work with a precision machine shop that sources materials here in the United States: 

1. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Considerations 

We believe that what’s good for people is ultimately good for business, and we try to reflect those values in our day-to-day operations. 

Environmental concerns

The environmental cost of a supply chain that stretches across the ocean is incredibly high. Global transportation alone is a significant contributor to carbon emissions. 

One way to reduce carbon emissions is to localize the supply chain and buy materials made here in the US. When you work with our precision machine shop, you know not only who’s manufacturing your parts but also where we sourced the materials.

Social issues

We sleep easier at night knowing our suppliers aren’t employing children under harsh working conditions or using forced labor, and our customers feel the same way. 

Beyond such obvious abuses, we recognize the value of providing well-paying jobs within our own communities. Localized manufacturing means more opportunities for highly skilled workers to earn a comfortable living—including those who avoided student debt by forgoing college.

Governance considerations

We continually strive for ethical excellence throughout our business. That involves maintaining transparent communication with our customers, establishing clear internal protocols for our team, and wisely applying our funds toward initiatives that benefit not only Summit CNC but also our people, our community, and the future of manufacturing.

2. Material Purity and Quality

When your materials are locally sourced, you benefit from the US’s stringent quality regulations. 

Materials shipped from overseas may not adhere to those standards, and precision machine shops have limited recourse when issues arise with an overseas supplier. With US-sourced materials, you’re guaranteed the quality control measures inherent to American suppliers. 

3. Supply Chain Self-sufficiency

Our localized supply chain enables us to offer consistently high-quality parts and short lead times with 97% on-time or early delivery. 

Some shops believe offshoring strengthens their services, but the risks associated with this practice are high. From shipping fees to currency fluctuations to geopolitical tensions to global health crises, a look at the big-picture reveals exactly how volatile offshoring can be. 

And who ultimately loses out to this unpredictability? You do.

We prioritize stateside material suppliers so that we can ensure reliably excellent products and services for you and your business.

4. Love Your Neighbor. Buy American-made.

We believe in doing work that makes the world a better place—and that work must begin right here at home. 

Localized manufacturing means jobs for your neighbors, uninterrupted supply chains, and a return to valuing skilled labor. Reshoring is a proven step toward healing and upholding the US economy. 

Leaving a Localized Legacy 

At Summit CNC, our core values call on us to build authentic customer relationships, manufacture top-quality parts with on-time delivery, and continuously innovate and improve our manufacturing processes. We honor those values by sourcing, spending, and selling locally as much as possible.

It’s time that we all demand locally sourced materials and US-based manufacturing. Together, we can strengthen our people, our communities, our country, and our world for generations to come. Request a quote, and join us on our mission.