Columns: November 2024

For most people, when there’s a purchasing decision to be made, the more choices available, the better. In my house, however, choices must be carefully curtailed.

Traditional, one-man leadership has been replaced by something that works better at AFS Corporate Member PIAD Precision Casting Corp., a non-ferrous foundry 38 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

Does this scenario sound familiar? After years of procuring numerous commodities during your purchasing career, you’ve been assigned to be the casting buyer for your organization.

In this column we’re going to take a look at how manufacturers are closing the cost-gap with automation and reshoring profitably while improving operational excellence.