Strategic Supply Chain Optimization: How a Global Ag Equipment Leader Saved Big on Wire Harnesses

Discover how LAPP Tannehill helped a leading ag equipment manufacturer consolidate 17 legacy heat shrink lines into a single Dunbar product family, delivering massive YoY cost savings and zero supply chain downtime.

In the fast-paced agriculture and heavy equipment manufacturing industry, supply chain agility and component cost control directly dictate operational success. For over three decades, Raven (a CNH Industrial company)—a global leader in autonomous farming and precision equipment based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota—has relied on ruggedized wire harnesses designed to survive extreme environmental stress, heavy vibration, and drastic temperature fluctuations.

When legacy vendor constraints threatened to slow down production and inflate material costs, Raven turned to their longtime distribution partner, LAPP Tannehill, to optimize their bill of materials (BOM) without compromising engineering integrity.

The Solution: Strategic Product Consolidation & Spec-to-Spec Crossover

To address these pain points, LAPP Tannehill conducted a thorough BOM audit of Raven’s wire harness protection components. The audit revealed an opportunity: 17 separate legacy heat shrink tubing items could be streamlined.

Leveraging deep, direct relationships with leading component manufacturers, LAPP Tannehill engineered a complete spec-to-spec crossover, consolidating all 17 legacy lines into high-performance Dunbar heat shrink tubing.

"By leveraging our vast manufacturer ecosystem, we can break legacy bottlenecks, cross-reference parts to exact technical equivalents, and deliver massive bottom-line relief without sacrificing engineering integrity."  — Betty Kirklin, District Sales Manager, LAPP Tannehill

Rigorous Engineering Validation

A component swap is only as good as its reliability in the field. Raven’s in-house engineering team subjected the proposed Dunbar heat shrink tubing to rigorous, independent testing. The solutions passed every performance benchmark, validating that the replacement matched or exceeded the precise physical, thermal, and regulatory requirements of the original specs—allowing for a seamless drop-in replacement with zero redesign required.

Key Sourcing Strategies Defined

Spec-to-Spec Cross: An alternative component from a different manufacturer that meets or exceeds the precise technical, physical, and regulatory dimensions of an existing part, enabling a seamless replacement without system redesign.

Price-Optimized Sourcing: A procurement approach focused on auditing legacy bills of materials to identify identical or superior components from alternative manufacturers, bypassing brand premiums and restrictive minimum orders.

Proven Results: Significant YoY Savings & Zero Production Downtime

The transition from legacy items to Dunbar heat shrink solutions delivered immediate, quantifiable value to Raven CNH’s procurement and manufacturing teams:

Substantial Year-Over-Year Cost Savings: Consolidating 17 legacy items into cost-effective Dunbar equivalents drove massive financial relief across high-volume production lines.

Eliminated Supply Chain Downtime: Bypassing legacy lead times established a predictable component pipeline, protecting assembly lines against material shortages and costly delays.

Maintained Engineering Integrity: Rigorous testing ensured zero compromise on harness protection, maintaining high quality standards for autonomous field environments.

Transform Your Wire & Cable Supply Chain

Legacy vendor habits don't have to dictate your profit margins or production timelines. Whether you need to resolve component lead times, consolidate complex BOMs, or identify exact spec-to-spec crossovers, LAPP Tannehill’s consultative engineering team is ready to help.

Phone: 800.633.6339

Email: sales@lapptannehill.com