U.S. government approval of two trade deals this week has drawn favorable response from the electronics industry. Trade organizations applaud the USMCA agreement and characterize a “phase one” deal with China as a good first step. Here’s what the IPC said: “The electronics manufacturing industry welcomes the U.S.-China “phase one” trade deal being signed in…
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 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…
If your fulfillment team ships all next-day deliveries via overnight carrier services, you are almost certainly overpaying carriers and adding to your cost of distribution. This is especially true during the holidays when consumers’ love of buying electronics goes into hyperdrive. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, electronics remain a top holiday gifting…
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…
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…
Supplier realignment always causes stress in the electronics supply chain — but the past six weeks has moved the needle to “anxiety.” In early October, chip maker Texas Instruments announced it was dropping six of its distributors — including Avnet Inc., WPG and WT Microelectronics — by the end of 2020. Within the past week…
Consolidation in the electronics supply chain continued this week as global broadline distributor WPG Holdings Co. announced plans to acquire a 30 percent stake in rival WT Microelectronics Co. Ltd. for US$266.58 million. WT Micro conducts most of its business in Southeast Asia. The announcement came within a day of two key electronics suppliers –…