The challenges related to semiconductor and other component shortages will be with us for a considerable time, according to more than a dozen manufacturing executives. We asked these decision-makers and their partners about current issues; the impact of shortages; how long the scarcity will last and how they are protecting themselves from counterfeit goods. We…
Editor’s note: Europe’s manufacturing industry – as in other regions – was hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. As of July, the IPC trade association said Europe would return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021. “Our expectations for growth in Europe have increased over the last month,” IPC reported. “We now expect GDP…
Editor’s note: Europe was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. As of July, the IPC trade association said Europe would return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021. “Our expectations for growth in Europe have increased over the last month,” IPC reported. “We now expect GDP to expand by 4.7 percent in 2021, up…
KMC Systems Inc. isn’t just surviving the Covid-19 pandemic — it’s thriving. The medical equipment it manufactures is, of course, in critical demand. But the proximity of KMC’s suppliers – 90 percent are within 200 miles of the Merrimack, NH, electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider — enables it to fulfill surging orders. The supply chain’s…
The next president of the United States will be decided in November and the choice will impact the electronics industry and its supply chain. Decisions coming from the White House on topics ranging from tariffs and trade wars to corporate taxation will continue to change the face of U.S. manufacturing. Scoop Communications collected feedback from…
Previous articles have introduced the idea of LLC markets, their issues in the current electronic ecosystem, and their importance relative to future mega-trends such as AI/IOT. The fundamental issue is the intense churn of the supply chain generated by the consumer dominated semiconductor marketplace for LLC markets such as aerospace and defense. Interesting economic models…
Lynn Torrel, Flex’s chief supply chain and procurement officer, was three months on the job when a deadly viral outbreak locked down Wuhan, China. The global electronics manufacturer knew its employees, operations and supply chain faced an unprecedented challenge. “In mid-January we were hearing about the outbreak in Asia, and through talking with our suppliers,…
Previous articles have discussed a segmentation of the electronics market called Long Life Cycle(LLC) Products. LLC products are those whose useful life is longer than five years. In a subsequent article, the current state of the electronics ecosystem, and the connection of the LLC market to the AI/IOT mega-trends were also discussed. Overall, LLC customers…
The article “Let’s define a new electronics market: Long Lifecycle (LLC) Markets” introduced the existence of a market segment consuming electronics content which needs to be viable over five years. Vertical markets such as aerospace and defense, industrial, and medical are examples of LLC. This requirement conflicts with the traditional consumer market and since the…
In 2019, the worldwide contract manufacturing (CM) services market increased nominally — by 2.5 percent in total revenue — resulting in combined EMS and ODM revenue of over $555 billion, an expansion of $13 billion from the previous year, according to New Venture Research. The Worldwide Electronics Manufacturing Services Market – 2020 Edition reports revenue…