Texas Instruments pares vendor list. (Texas Instruments Inc.)

High-tech firm closes some distribution sites, plans to keep only 50 of its 527 transport service providers.

Back in spring 1993, the semiconductor division of Texas Instruments, Inc., shed six of its seven freight forwarders, opting to give all its business to Intertrans Corp.

Wanting to expand on that success, Texas Instruments has decided to consolidate its transportation and logistics activities on a company-wide basis.

But it will be a much bigger task than the one the semiconductor division faced.

Texas Instruments employs 527 carriers, forwarders, customs broken and related service providers among the more than 40 countries where the company …