The Dangers of Relying on a Single Supplier

We are in manufacturing. Like many suppliers we contract several other manufacturers to make things that allow us to bring our products to market. 

Well I allowed this to bite me in the ass. This key supplier has just randomly decided to just stop doing business with us when I was sitting in their office holding a check for our next order. No warning, no recourse, just nah man going to have to go somewhere else from now on. 

This is my own fault. This same douche rocket did this to us a few years ago so I knew it was a possibility of him doing it again. So now I have to jump through hoops of switching suppliers at the last minute. 

So, lesson from the trenches is always have a primary supplier, a secondary active supplier, and a backup supplier on every mission critical part that you require. Even if you make the part yourself because machines do break and market surges do happen. 

also, dont do business with people who stab you in the back or use their supplier lock to extort more money from you. 

lesson learned...again. maybe I will remember it this time around.