EDS Grows from a Regional Supplier to a $130M Multi-Market Manufacturer

Identifying the Opportunity

When we began working with EDS more than 25 years ago, they were a minority-owned wire harness manufacturer operating from one plant in Mexico with headquarters in Nogales, Arizona. The company generated approximately $12 million in annual sales, primarily in the appliance market, with Maytag representing a significant share of the business. EDS had limited automotive presence, did not have the quality certifications required to compete in automotive, and had no plans to sell directly to OEMs.

Building the Strategy

We were retained to help EDS evaluate opportunities in the automotive market. EDS already had strong ownership, disciplined financial management, and proven manufacturing capabilities, but automotive presented unique challenges. We helped them understand what it would take to compete in the space, identify where they needed additional support, and build a plan for sustainable growth. What began as an exploration of automotive opportunities ultimately expanded far beyond the client’s original expectations.

Building the Infrastructure

To support growth, we built and continue to manage a turnkey Detroit-based automotive team so EDS could expand without building internal infrastructure in Michigan.

• Sales
• Business Development
• Engineering
• Program Management
• Design
• Advanced Purchasing

We also established a field support team in Mexico to support customer locations and operations.

Creating New Growth Opportunities

We did more than represent EDS—we created opportunities. We identified the battery cable market as a major growth area, found a joint venture partner and helped secure the business. That partnership became E&K, LLC and gave EDS the technology, credibility, and scale needed to enter larger OEM programs.

The Result

Today, EDS has grown into a $140 million manufacturer serving three markets:

• Automotive
• Appliance
• Commercial Vehicles

The company now operates five facilities across the U.S., Mexico, and El Salvador and supplies major OEMs including General Motors, Ford, Lucid, and Navistar. We continue to work with EDS under second-generation ownership, helping guide long-term growth and exceed original goals.

‍

‍