The Associated Press's Dee Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher report that some U.S. auto assembly plants have run into problems lately getting the parts they need. 

Apparently some assembly plants depend on "just in time" sourcing.  The problem with that method?  Deliveries from overseas suppliers have sometimes proven unreliable:

An earthquake last March knocked out many Japanese parts makers, resulting in factory shutdowns and model shortages around the world. And last month, an explosion at a German chemical plant cut off supplies of a resin essential in car fuel lines. Without those parts, assembly lines could slow or grind to a halt within weeks, causing shortages of cars on dealer lots later this year.

Here's a simple alternative: Why not source from U.S. suppliers?

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