Increased component prices are inevitable when demand outstrips supply. But the electronics supply chain is being hammered on all sides – from materials to logistics — with rising costs. As one freight expert put it: “In 2020 and 2021, global logistics just can’t seem to catch a break.” For months, the Institute for Supply Management…
Sensors and actuators made with MEMS technology are forecast to grow by high double-digit percentages in the next several years after starting a recovery in 2H20, according to IC Insights. Sales of semiconductor sensors and actuators made with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology are expected to grow about 16 percent in 2021 to a record-high $15.9…
Two leading research firms measure “reshoring” differently, so their analysis rarely agrees. Conclusions for 2020 were no exception, but U.S. manufacturers say they’re committed to reducing their dependence on foreign supplies. The Reshoring Initiative’s index, which tracks jobs and foreign direct investment (FDI), reported a combined total of 160,649 new announcements for 2020. Reshoring exceeded…
There is no end in sight for global supply delays stemming from trade restrictions and transportation logjams. Demand continues to rise for U.S.-manufactured goods, but raw material and component disruptions are hindering production expansion. “Recent record-long lead times, wide-scale shortages of critical basic materials, rising commodities prices and difficulties in transporting products are continuing to…
Even in the most challenging of economies, electronics companies design new products. Component makers and distributors that assist OEMs with their designs stand to benefit from high margins or volume orders once an item reaches mass production. Catalog distributors that specialize in low-volume, high-mix design and engineering orders, such as Mouser Electronics, weather market volatility…
Editor’s note: This is the second part of a series examining the electronics industry’s response to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Going digital Electronics companies are adjusting their business strategies in the wake of the global Covid-19 pandemic. Hand in hand with a push for efficiency is a greater willingness to invest in and work toward…
While 2020 is behind us, the continuing global pandemic has taught a host of supply chain lessons, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of electronics suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers. In the turn of a calendar year, this traditional industry has gone from embracing the way it’s always been done to looking at new ways of…
Customer experience matters more than ever because today’s consumers expect greater responsiveness in their daily lives. A much-quoted study by experience management services firm Walker Information predicted that by the end of 2020, customer experience will have overtaken price and product as the key brand differentiator. This reality also is reflected in expectations in the…
The supply chain industry, for better or for worse, has been largely defined by its recent challenges and the ability of businesses to handle those challenges. From pandemic to vendor disruptions, managing a modern supply chain comes with its fair share of obstacles. Fortunately, however, strengthening your supply chain to withstand changes and challenges is…
Supply chain management is facing its own pandemic of outdated processes. As many as 85 percent of workers state that they could handle their duties more efficiently with enhanced workplace tech. Fortunately, this tech is available and already transforming supply chain management in the fight against Covid-19 challenges. From enhanced tracking and logistics capable from…