Study: 1 in 3 suppliers can't meet demand.

Byline: Jesse Snyder

As automakers ramp up production, a third of North American suppliers say they don't have capacity to meet their customers' requirements.

Of the 100 parts makers surveyed by consultancy A.T. Kearney this year, 37 percent say their ability to make parts is below their customers' capacity planning volumes -- what they are obligated to be able to supply if the automaker raises output beyond initial forecasts. Within that group, a third are more than 20 percent below requirements.

"Because they significantly reduced capacity" during the downturn, said Daniel Cheng, head of Kearney's automotive practice, "the question is how many didn't make the …