A manufacturing company specializing in industrial assembly tools faced a pressing challenge. Their current supplier of small-diameter, lower-volume planet gears had begun extending lead times significantly. Additionally, the supplier had implemented successive price increases, forcing the company to absorb higher costs or over-order to maintain inventory levels. This situation created operational inefficiencies, strained cash flow, and introduced risks of holding excess inventory in a fluctuating market. The customer needed a reliable supplier that could deliver quality gears on a tighter schedule without compromising affordability.