Stryver Manufacturing Inc. (Dayton, OH) designs and builds automated fixtures, custom production machines, material handling equipment and automated weld systems. Its success depends on the company's ability to find dependable, low-cost custom components with consistent lead times. The company tries to lower costs and development times by using standard, off-the-shelf components whenever possible. This approach, however, can only be taken so far.
"There are limitations because you can only use so many standard components before you compromise your designs," says Stryver project manager Ron Karka.