Big Changes at Canto USA

	Canto USA can now produce components on-demand and scale up or down their production depending on their specific needs, the company says.

2020 saw a lot of changes for every company in the entertainment industry, and Canto USA was no exception. The government tariffs on key components in the company's supply chain as well as the coronavirus pandemic have given rise for Canto USA to change the way they manufacture their products. The company realizes in 2019 that the tariff challenges along with their supplier and contract manufactures needed to change and change quickly.

In the past, Canto USA has relied on outside contractors and manufacturers for key components for many of their products. Unfortunately, many suppliers did not forecast the impact that the tariffs would do when they went into effect, resulting in the disruption of the company's supply chain and delivery schedules. The pandemic has also caused further disruptions that no one could have imagined. Due to this, lead times on Canto USA's products in production were at risk of being extended as shipping from their suppliers went from 90 days to anywhere between 120-180 days. Taking this as a chance to secure their own manufacturing process, the company wanted to expand and bring all their essential components in-house.

The company worked with ASM, Heller Industries, and PillarHouse, to name a few, to begin their own electronic driver setup. Through these companies, Canto USA purchased a driver board printing machine, pick & place machine, and selective soldering equipment. After lengthy setup, testing, and training, the company was completing boards by August and the first official runs of drivers for equipment in early September. Canto USA can now produce components on-demand and scale up or down their production depending on their specific needs, the company says. They've also secured direct access to component vendors allowing them to by-pass normal supply chain suppliers to ensure that they always have available stock.

"This has been a big change for us here at Canto USA," says John Luhrs, general manager. "Now we have the ability to control all aspects of our manufacturing process. This is going to improve our production, increase quality control, and decrease lead times allowing us to pass these efficiencies along to our customers."