The scope of Industry 4.0 is so broad that in order to succeed, electronics manufacturers must concentrate on areas of expertise rather than master all new technologies. Otherwise, the industry could be mired in a sea of connected industrial processes. At the same time, this complexity opens doors for atypical partnerships that can enhance new…
The U.S. manufacturing index in December fell to its lowest point in a decade as new orders, production and employment again declined. Reports of a phase-one trade deal between the U.S and China had no immediate impact on the PMI, which dropped 0.9 percent last month to 47.2. This is the fifth straight month of…
Although conflict minerals disclosure is no longer enforced in the United States, a recent lawsuit may reignite the debate over the sourcing of materials widely used in electronics. Families of children killed or injured while mining for cobalt in the Congo have filed a lawsuit against the world’s largest tech companies, including Google and Apple,…
The electronics supply chain, in one year, saw a level of disruption that once took decades to achieve. The 1990s were known for frenetic M&A activity in the channel; 2019 will be marked by breakups. In one fell swoop, a major chipmaker dropped six of its channel partners. Global distributors decided to form their own…
The electronics industry is enjoying a short-term reprieve from new U.S. tariffs as the Trump administration delayed the imposition of 15 percent duties on $156 billion worth of Chinese goods, including smart phones, computers and other consumer electronics. While the move may boost holiday-related consumer sales, the 25 percent tariffs on a separate $250 billion…
U.S. manufacturers are surprisingly upbeat about their prospects in 2020, anticipating growth in revenue, profitability, imports and exports. The outlook isn’t so positive for employment and capital expenditures, which will remain flat or decline next year, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s semiannual forecast. Manufacturers expect revenue will grow 4.8 percent next year –…
WPG Holdings Co.’s bid to acquire a 30 percent stake in rival distributor WT Microelectronics Co. is meeting resistance from WT Micro executives and workers. During a late November media briefing in Taiwan, WT Micro vowed to resist the takeover. WT Microelectronics will never relinquish control of the company’s operations but will safeguard the interests…
The U.S. manufacturing index contracted for the fourth straight month in November — just as the Trump administration resurrected steel and aluminum tariffs on Argentina and Brazil. Global trade issues, according to the Institute for Supply Management, remain the top cross-industry concern for America’s manufacturers as the year ends. The ISM’s PMI dropped by 0.2…
Non-profit advocacy group Women in Electronics (WE) was formed in 2017 to empower women through networking opportunities; develop them through a virtual leadership program; and celebrate their successes along the way. The organization recently wrapped up its third annual leadership conference and now has 300 members. Jackie Mattox, founder and president of WE and national…
The U.S. Department of Commerce has again extended the temporary general license (TGL) allowing U.S. tech companies – such as Intel, Micron, Qualcomm and Xilinx — to sell components to Chinese networking giant Huawei Technologies. This is the third such extension since the U.S. government, citing security concerns, added Huawei to its “Entity List” in…