Every industry is a supply chain.
OEM at the top, then Tier 1 to Tier 5. Find where you sit: you usually sell one tier up, and the OEM often specifies your part. SiteSonar reads both on every lead.
Find your industry and your tier
Each cell opens that industry's ladder with your tier selected.
One definition across every industry
Names vary by industry (automotive uses Tier 1, 2 and 3 most strictly), but the shape is the same.
| Tier | What they do | Sells to | Typical SiteSonar customer |
|---|---|---|---|
| OEM Brand | Designs and sells the end product. Usually the specifier. | End customers | Rarely a SiteSonar customer; often the specifier in your leads |
| Tier 1 Systems | Builds systems, modules or finished assemblies for the OEM. | OEMs | Contract manufacturers, system suppliers |
| Tier 2 Components | Makes components and sub-assemblies for Tier 1. | Tier 1 | Component and product makers |
| Tier 3 Parts & processes | Makes parts or performs a process: molding, machining, stamping, coating, plating. | Tier 2 and Tier 1 | Job shops and process specialists |
| Tier 4 Materials | Converts and supplies materials: compounds, alloys, bar stock, film, chemistry. | Tier 3 and Tier 2 | Material and consumables suppliers |
| Tier 5 Raw materials | Produces raw materials: mills, refineries, petrochemicals. | Tier 4 | Rarely; distributors sometimes |
Medical devices
OEMs, contract manufacturers and startups building regulated devices
Single-use medical devices → Disposable housings See buyer paths → IndustryAerospace & defense
Primes, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, MRO and UAV makers
Aircraft systems → Fittings and manifolds See buyer paths → IndustryAutomotive & EV
Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, EV makers and charging companies
Automotive interiors → Trim bezels See buyer paths → IndustryElectronics & semiconductors
Electronics OEMs, semiconductor equipment makers and IoT hardware
Bench test instruments → Plastic instrument housings See buyer paths → IndustryIndustrial equipment & robotics
Machinery, robotics, food processing and automation OEMs
Collaborative robots → End-effector brackets See buyer paths → IndustryConsumer products & packaging
Brand owners, packaging suppliers and appliance makers
Bottled spirits → Plastic closure See buyer paths → IndustryOther B2B markets
Energy, construction, labs, agriculture and any market where buyers research first
Regional utility → Substation upgrades See buyer paths →Why company names alone don't tell you who will buy
Industry codes don't name parts
"Beverage manufacturer" tells you nothing. "Bottles with decorated plastic caps" tells you everything.
The buyer isn't always the maker
Brand owners specify; their suppliers order. You need to reach both.
Purchases come after quiet research
Buyers read for weeks before they ask. The signal tells you when to step in.