From a business standpoint, I can say this. WE are all held captive at one point or the other by other vendors or suppliers. Sometimes these are several levels deep. Since none of use do our own shipping, ie-actually transporting the orders ourselves, we are held captive by that industry as well. Like alot of you, Steve and I fought this battle early on. We had a choice, to shut up and wade through supplier issues until things hopefully improved, or make the time and financial investment to control our own parts by manufacturing our own. Yes, we are in a different field than the EFIS guys with the microchips ( I still have no idea how compressed silicone can be smarter than a 6 grader), but we faced the same type of issues.
Being faced with constant backorders and very long lead times from the vendor, we decided the best solution for us was to make our own hose ends. Big investment, both from a time and financial point of view. It took a while for the benefits to show, but its paid off. Shipping-at least outgoing shipments--is still slow but improving. USPS, UPS and FED EX are getting better, although I'm still shocked alittle by the shipping costs, especially the international shipments. WE cant do anything about that.
As for the electronics guys, none that I know of are making their own chips, or want to. But at the same time, their vendors are making them for alot of others, and with the slowdown in workable hours it was only a matter of time before things ground to a halt. Even if the orders went out, they may be on a container ship anchored off Long Beach, San Francisco, or Seattle, and not moving.
I guess the solution is the same thing thats been said for many years, bring the manufacturing back to the US. Just have to figure out how to afford it.
My .02 worth.
Tom