Sonic Manufacturing knows the many challenges you face in managing the increasingly globalized electronics supply chain:

Sourcing materials from around this planet has added complexity & risk, while international logistics has added costs & delays to the procurement process itself. Systems integration between trading partners is often lacking; leading to outdated data, mistimed transactions and poorly executed decisions. Current market conditions are often unfavorable to the OEM— including diminished component inventories, extended lead times, reduced factory capacities, rising commodity prices, a declining dollar and increased supplier consolidation.

These market forces have tested the EMS industry; and more clearly than ever segregated those who must rely on stable & repetitive products (forecasted, predictable) from those who are responsive & adaptive to the market itself (dynamic, demand-driven).

Interestingly, Sonic has found that by paying attention to the details that make us excel at demand-driven manufacturing our efficiencies have increased on stable & repetitive products. We are cost competitive in both markets; delivering exceedingly rapidly to your requirements while holding service levels high and liability exposure low.

What have we done that makes the Sonic supply chain different? Please read the topic areas below to find out.

Turnkey Solutions

Have you been frustrated with long lead times, slow responsiveness and high E&O billings? Periodically dealt with people that sidestep accountability and results by blaming the forecast (customer)? Does your manufacturing partner pay more attention to performing to their metrics, or yours? Are your “experts in supply chain management” not doing as well as you did managing it? Or does your current supplier really rock but you need additional capacity and will hold us to a high performance bar? Check out this section for what makes Sonic different. more

Materials Management

Sonic Manufacturing assembles thousands of products each week from tens of thousands of part numbers. We currently transform over one million components per week into finished assemblies! The inventory is accurate, transactions are timely, the receiving dock is cleared and MRB is small. Planning data is kept clean & accurate by a variety of highly automated systems and processes. Check out the services we offer, or propose a new model that meets your needs! more

International Procurement Office

All customers and brand owners are rightfully concerned about component quality and traceability; especially considering the prevalence of counterfeiting and “refurbs” in the industry. Sonic shares these concerns and therefore prefers franchise distribution and factory-direct procurement. Our International Procurement Office enables us to buy from these same sources worldwide when component availability is “out of region” (Americas). World-wide franchise and direct procurement keeps our responsiveness high and our exposure to riskier sources low. more

Outbound Logistics

When it comes to shipping; Sonic Manufacturing delivers! (Literally) If you are in the Bay Area our fleet of trucks will be there when you need us. Domestic or International, Industrial or Consumer, OEM, CEM or 3PL; we support your business model. Special packaging, directed carriers and kanban deliveries are all supported. more

Reverse Logistics & Depot Repair

When considering the total delivered cost of a product, reverse logistics to an offshore manufacturer is a frequently underestimated item. Are you really going to return it on a boat? Air freight? Include a permanent scrap or cost factor that erodes margins? Throw it away instead of dealing with the logistics? Sonic provides local support for the U.S. market; frequently on products that were built elsewhere. We are happy to discuss the needs of your business; not just the products awarded to Sonic. more

Strategic Partners

Sonic Manufacturing takes partnership seriously. With our software providers, we co-develop new products & features and provide feedback through beta site testing. For component suppliers, we provide them with a single point of contact at Sonic and an un-manipulated feed from our MRP & customer forecast share. We also minimize the re-quoting and movement of our business in order to preserve our ongoing pipeline and bonded inventory availability. Most of Sonics’ procurement processes are open book to our partners; including won/lost business, supplier rankings and performance reviews. In exchange for this high level of commitment, we require a high degree of responsiveness at a competitive price. more

Supplier Portal

This link will take you to the login page for our ecommerce system. Sonic has developed ERP-to-ERP direct material ecommerce systems that are responsive to both recurring production and quick-turn non-repetitive manufacturing. This is a rarity in contract manufacturing. Direct material ecommerce is typically implemented selectively on highly repetitive production, and is usually built on antiquated 1970’s EDI messaging. Sonic has transcended these limitations and is building true fly-by-wire responsiveness. more