Customer Spotlight: AMPG’s Seamless MRO Experience with Wildman

For more than 20 years, Steve has served as the Purchasing Manager at AMPG, a fastener manufacturer producing highly engineered components for demanding industries like aerospace.

With over 100,000 SKUs and a lean internal team, Steve shoulders the full responsibility for procurement: an enormous task that made the reliability of MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) support critical to the business.

“At AMPG, we manufacture specialty fasteners like nuts, bolts, washers, and similar components, but not the kind you’d find in big box stores,” Steve explained.

“These are precision-engineered for applications like aerospace, and we primarily sell through distributors like Fastenal, McMaster-Carr, and Grainger. With such a broad catalog and global sourcing, purchasing gets complex fast. Managing supply chains is a huge responsibility for AMPG.”

That complexity made previous MRO relationships difficult. Over the years, Steve tried several solutions, from managing MRO in-house to working with providers like Northern Tool and Fastenal.

Each option brought its own set of challenges: inconsistent stocking, high turnover, a lack of transparency, and a significant time burden on Steve’s already-full plate.

“We had issues where we literally ran out of gloves or toilet paper,” he recalled. “I or another team member would have to make emergency store runs. It was a distraction from our core focus of manufacturing.”

That changed when AMPG partnered with Wildman.

“What stood out to me right away was how aligned Wildman’s culture was with ours, friendly, consistent, trustworthy,” Steve said. “You took MRO off our plate entirely. Now, we don’t even have to think about it. No more stockouts, no more chaos. It just gets done.”

The relationship began with a thoughtful proposal and a deep understanding of AMPG’s pain points. Wildman set up a customized min/max stocking system, brought in dependable personnel, and established a proactive communication rhythm that impressed Steve from day one.

“You don’t wait for things to break,” he said. “Your team, people like Anthony and Dave, are in our building weekly. They come to me with solutions before problems arise. Whether it’s a supply chain disruption or a product change, they’re transparent and quick to respond.”

Steve also noted how Wildman meets the three golden pillars of strategic service: better, faster, and more cost-effective.

“I remember a business strategy class at the Kelley School of Business that said if you want to compete, you need to be better, faster, or cheaper, ideally two out of the three. Wildman hits all three. The service is top-tier, the responsiveness is unmatched, and your pricing is incredibly competitive. In a cost comparison, Wildman came in about 10% under our previous providers.”

Beyond product delivery, Wildman adds value through services like safety training.

“Wildman’s training programs are excellent and affordable. Compared to companies like Cintas, your price point is much better, and your team doesn’t charge us every time we ask a question. You’re a constant, approachable resource in our facility. Our guys can go to Anthony or Dave directly. It doesn’t feel transactional, it feels like family.”

Trust, Steve said, is the foundation of the partnership.

“With other vendors, we’ve had to be cautious, making sure to audit pricing, watch inventory levels, and question motives. With Wildman, we don’t have to micromanage anything. If your team adjusts stocking levels, I trust they did it with our best interests in mind.”

That trust, combined with operational excellence, has made Wildman more than a vendor; they’ve become a strategic advantage.“Wildman lets us focus on what we do best: manufacturing,” Steve said. “They handle the rest.”