An already-tight electronics supply chain will get squeezed even more thanks to the negative effects of Hurricane Harvey. Even as a second hurricane was bearing down on the U.S., domestic manufacturers were preparing for prices and deliveries to be significantly impacted over the next three months. Hurricane Harvey struck a significant blow to the Houston,…
The U.S. manufacturing industry accelerated its growth rate in August as the nation’s leading indicator, the Institute for Supply Management’s PMI, increased by 2.5 percent from July’s level to reach 58.8 percent. New orders, production, employment, backlog and exports also increased in August, setting the stage for continued growth in September. “August is usually a…
The Avnet Inc. that just closed fiscal 2017 is significantly different from the Avnet of a year ago. Following a rollercoaster ride of M&A, executive turnover and internal-systems challenges, Avnet ended Q4 with sales up 16.1 percent year-over-year. Driven by organic growth of 8.4 percent, Avnet’s Q4 revenue reached of $4.6 billion from $3.9 billion…
In the electronics supply chain, component date codes are ubiquitous. Similar in concept to the “use or sell by” date on perishable super-market items, date codes are an indicator that a part may be too old to perform to spec. Electronic components do have a shelf-life. Metals in components can corrode. Moisture and electro-static discharge…
It’s been awhile since global distributors have touted their component fulfillment services in lieu of design. However, with some component lead times extending into Q1 2018, OEMs would be “a little more comfortable” with more inventory, said one channel executive. “Customers are largely getting what they want,” Mike Long, CEO of global distributor Arrow Electronics…
Electronic component suppliers have been complaining for years about eroding prices. With many types components currently in short supply, prices have finally begun to tick up. But are any of these price hikes sustainable? Typically, the answer is “no.” A continual stream of better-smaller-faster components exerts downward price pressure on older-generation products. However, one research…
The pace of growth in the U.S. manufacturing industry moderated a bit in July as new orders and production scaled back from June levels. Nevertheless, the U.S. manufacturing sector continues to expand: the nation’s leading factory index, the Institute for Supply Management’s PMI, registered 56.3 percent in July, a decrease of 1.5 percentage points from…
Electronics businesses that believe the so-called “conflict minerals” provision of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act no longer applies to them should think again. Although SEC Acting Chairman Michael Piwowar recommended in April that the Securities & Exchange Commission not enforce the provision — which requires companies to disclose the origin of tungsten, tin, tantalum and gold…
Like many manufacturers, Columbia Tech and Cogmedix, providers of design-through-production manufacturing and worldwide fulfillment services for both the non-medical and medical markets, run a tight supply chain. The two subsidiaries of the Coghlin Companies, headquartered in Westborough, MA, source from a global roster of suppliers to manage costs and maximize selection and flexibility. Both companies…
For its first 28 years in business, TTI Inc. was not an acquisitive company. But starting in 1999, TTI has methodically been adding to its family of specialty distributors. The interconnect, passives and electromechanical component (IP&E) specialist dipped its toes into semiconductors with the 1999 acquisition of Mouser Electronics and is now adding to that…