OTIF, Reshoring, and Why It Matters to Marlin Steel Customers

OTIF, Reshoring, and Why It Matters to Marlin Steel Customers

In today’s manufacturing environment, reliability matters just as much as price. Supply chains are tighter, lead times are scrutinized, and customers can’t afford surprises. That’s where OTIF (On Time, In Full) comes in, and it’s also why reshoring has become such a powerful advantage for manufacturers and their customers alike.

At Marlin Steel, OTIF isn’t just a metric; it’s the outcome of intentional reshoring, deep engineering expertise, and tightly controlled U.S.-based production.

What OTIF Really Means for Customers

OTIF (On Time, In Full) measures whether a supplier delivers:

• The entire order
• At the promised time

Miss either one, and the delivery fails.

For customers, OTIF translates directly into:

• Fewer production delays
• Lower safety stock requirements
• Less expediting and emergency freight
• More predictable planning and costs

In short: high OTIF = lower operational risk.

Why Reshoring Improves OTIF

Offshore production often introduces variables customers can’t control, such as long transit times, customs delays, port congestion, and geopolitical risk. Even when overseas pricing looks attractive on paper, missed or partial deliveries can quickly erase those savings.

Reshoring production back to the United States changes the equation:

• Shorter and more reliable lead times
• Fewer handoffs across the supply chain
• Faster response to design changes or demand shifts
• Tighter quality and process control

All of these directly support stronger OTIF performance.

Marlin Steel’s Reshoring Advantage

Marlin Steel has reshored multiple production lines from overseas, spanning industries such as:

• Medical devices
• Food processing
• Aerospace
• High-volume commodity components, including pail handles

By applying advanced automation, engineering-led design, and disciplined quality control, Marlin has shown that reshoring can work, even for products traditionally sourced offshore.

This reshoring strategy is not theoretical. In September, Marlin Steel was awarded the 2025 National Metalworking Reshoring Award at FABTECH, one of the industry’s largest trade shows with more than 65,000 attendees. The award recognizes companies that successfully bring metalworking operations back to the United States while improving performance for customers.

According to the official award citation, Marlin earned this recognition by repeatedly demonstrating that automation, engineering, quality, and delivery can enable reshoring, even for high-volume, commoditized products.

Real Customer Impact: Faster, More Reliable Delivery

One reshoring example involved a U.S.-based customer that previously sourced custom wire racks from Mexico. Production of 1,500 racks was moved to Marlin’s U.S. operations, with fabrication completed in Indiana and final powder coating in Michigan.

For the customer, reshoring delivered clear benefits:

• Faster turnaround times
• Simplified logistics
• More consistent product quality
• Reduced supply chain risk

Instead of waiting weeks for international shipments, the customer gained a responsive, domestic partner capable of delivering on time and in full.

Engineering-Driven Reshoring That Improves OTIF

A team of seven degreed engineers across Marlin’s Maryland, Indiana, and Massachusetts locations plays a critical role in reshoring success. Their work enables:

• Faster prototyping and design validation
• Improved manufacturability and automation
• Tighter tolerances and repeatability
• Faster response to customer changes

This engineering-first approach directly improves OTIF by reducing scrap, rework, and production variability.

Proven Results Across Industries

Marlin’s reshoring efforts have produced measurable improvements for customers:

• Medical device wash baskets reduced reject rates from ~5% to under 0.05%
• Food processing racks achieved enhanced sanitation and traceability
• Aerospace tooling met tighter tolerance and consistency requirements

These results show that reshoring isn’t just about geography; it’s about performance.

Why This Matters Now

Industry data reinforces Marlin’s approach. The 2025 Reshoring Initiative Survey identified key enablers of successful reshoring:

• Skilled workforce training
• Close collaboration between engineering teams and customers
• Fast, dependable delivery

Marlin embodies all three, which is why reshored revenue is expected to double, or even triple, in 2026 as more customers prioritize reliability over distance.

What Customers Gain with Marlin Steel

For Marlin customers, OTIF and reshoring mean:

• Predictable lead times
• Full shipments without backorders
• Lower total cost of ownership
• Reduced supply chain risk
• Confidence in a long-term manufacturing partner

Reshoring increases control.

OTIF proves that control.

At Marlin Steel, reshoring isn’t a slogan, it’s how customers get the right product, delivered exactly when they need it, every time. Contact us today!

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