When you buy something, it’s tempting to think the brand on the box made it all. But the truth is most products are team projects, built by a network of companies called the supply chain.
Each company handles a different piece of the puzzle. Even a bottle of water might come from four or more businesses: one makes the bottle, another the cap, another the label, and someone else bottles the water.
Now picture something way more complex, like a motorcycle. Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson works with nearly 400 suppliers to build its bikes, plus even more for services like design and shipping.
A motorcycle isn’t just one company’s creation, and all of the companies involved offer potential career opportunities, not just in the factory, but throughout their business, including HR, accounting, marketing, engineering and much more.
Here’s a closer look at just some of the parts of a motorcycle that specialized companies might handle:
- Metal fabrication
Taking a piece of metal and turning it into something else is one of the most fundamental types of manufacturing. Metal fabrication covers a lot of different manufacturing techniques, including cutting, forming, welding and machining. It is also one of the most common manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin with more than 1,800 places of work and more than 73,300 people employed. - Metal treatment
Whether it is the chrome look of a Harley or specialized heat treating to harden metal, there are many companies in southeastern Wisconsin that focus on treating metal for specific applications. - Seat
Designing and making a comfortable and stylish seat requires a lot of work. It involves understanding of different materials plus expertise in cutting and sewing. Milwaukee-based Milsco is among the manufacturers of seats for recreational, turf care and heavy industrial markets. - Paint
The paint job on a motorcycle or car is one of the most visible pieces of the final product. Getting it right requires precision, attention to detail and an understanding of how exposure to the elements will change a finish over time. - Engine
The engine on a Harley-Davidson is one thing the company produces itself. Harley’s Pilgrim Road plant in Menomonee Falls focuses on powertrain production for the iconic motorcycle maker. - Wire and cable management
Even something seemingly as simple as making sure wires and cables stay in the right place calls for specialized manufacturing. HellermannTyton, which bases its North American operations in Milwaukee, makes specialized cable ties and other products for a variety of industries including automotive, medical equipment, solar, wind, defense and automation. - Headlights
A specialized part like a headlight often requires a specialized manufacturer. Germantown-based J.W. Speaker specializes in making headlights for vehicles in automotive, powersports, transportation, industrial and rail markets.
Connecting the supply chain
A supply chain is about more than the companies making different parts. Getting pieces from one factory to another and ultimately to a store or delivered to your doorstep requires lots of coordination and a variety of other companies. Here’s a look at some of the other parts of the supply chain:
Transportation
Whether it’s by boat, airplane, railroad or truck, moving parts and finished products around is big business. More than 42,000 people work in truck transportation in Wisconsin alone.
Warehousing and distribution
Some companies have their own warehouses while some rely on other businesses to store and distribute their products. In Kenosha County, Uline has been one of the fastest-growing employers for more than a decade. The company is among the largest distributors of shipping, industrial and packaging materials in North America.
Retail and e-commerce
This is the part of the process most people recognize. Whether it is seeing a product on a store shelf or available on Amazon, there are thousands of jobs that go into making it all go smoothly. From buyers to marketers, there are plenty of career opportunities.