U.S. manufacturing activity cooled a bit in November as a resurgence in Covid-19 cases pressured factory employment and production levels. The Institute for Supply Management’s PMI declined by 1.8 percent — to 57.5 — from October’s level of 59.3. Although workforce limitations are being felt across the supply chain, the PMI remains above 50, indicating…
U.S. manufacturing activity cooled in September but remained well within expansion territory for the fourth straight month. The Institute for Supply Management’s PMI slipped to 55.4, or 0.6 percent, from 56 in August as the forward-looking new orders index declined. Any reading above 50 indicates growth. New orders decreased to 60.2 from a reading of…
The world-shaking event of the coronavirus pandemic has led to an economic downturn in many markets, on top of unpredictable supply and demand shifts. Due to these challenges, industrial supply chain operations are looking to trim the fat. Minimizing expenses in supply chain can be handled in a variety of ways. Currently, new technology solutions…
5G remains the electronics industry’s best hope to kickstart a global economy that’s been decimated by Covid-19. Although network rollout is far from uniform across the globe, supply analysts are beginning to form a picture of what the 5G supply chain will look like. As of March, 5G was live in 24 markets globally, according…
DRAM and NAND flash are expected to repeat as the two largest IC segments again in 2020 after holding the same positions in 2019, according to market research firm IC Insights. With expected sales growth of 3.2% this year, the DRAM market is forecast to reach nearly $64.6 billion, 15% greater than the NAND flash…
A “perfect storm” is brewing for consumer electronics marketplace Back Market. The items it specializes in – refurbished smartphones, PCs, tablets and their ilk – are in high demand as professionals and students work from home during the coronavirus pandemic. In many regions of the world, unemployment has skyrocketed, so consumers are increasingly budget-conscious. Finally,…
The complexity of global supply chains depends largely on what and how much you’re sourcing. With some materials — like paper — you’ll find a suitable supplier almost anywhere in the world. However, in the electronics industry, things are not so straightforward. Multiple commodities from multiple suppliers across various geographic locations mean global electronics supply…
A new front has opened in efforts to revive U.S. chip manufacturing as lawmakers propose billions of dollars in spending and tax incentives to promote technology innovation across the entire semiconductor ecosystem — from post-Moore’s Law basic research to advanced chip packaging. While the Trump Administration seeks to block China’s access to U.S. chip making…
Three electronics brands — Apple, FitBit and Tile—are among companies that plan to move some or all of their production out of China, according to Coresight Research. The trend isn’t new, but a recent survey found consumers are souring on Chinese-made goods. Among U.S. shoppers, 47.8 percent said American retailers should source fewer products from…
The onset of the coronavirus epidemic has accelerated the supply chain digital transformation that has languished on businesses’ “to-do” list for years. Covid-19 has exposed barriers to collaboration that most companies tolerate under normal circumstances. It’s fair to say the electronics supply chain currently aspires to “normal.” Even before Covid-19 hit, 92 percent of companies…