Industry experts polled in April were slightly more optimistic about electronic component demand, bookings and order cancellations than they were in March. Of roughly 20,000 global respondents to Technology Partners Consultants’ April survey, 29 percent expect a better Q2, versus 23 percent the prior month. “Based on our survey results and conversations with various supply…
Effective inventory management is necessary for any business, but it’s especially critical for electronics manufacturers and their supply chains. Increased efficiency can maximize profits and sales, lower operating costs and introduce better controls and management processes. “When you have control over your inventory, you’re able to provide better customer service,” said Johnny Marx, an account…
The fortunes of the electronics supply chain can change on a dime. Following two years of severe component shortages, demand is weakening, and inventories are too high, a March study found. One global distributor describes the environment as “normalizing” but cautions there’s still a lot of instability in the 2019 forecast. “Based on our survey…
A gauge of U.S. factory activity topped estimates in March, rebounding from a two-year low on strength in employment, new orders and manufacturing production. The Institute for Supply Management’s PMI reached 55.3 percent in March, a 1.1 percent increase from the prior month. Any number above 50 indicates manufacturing expansion. March made up for ground…
PC and server DRAM prices have plummeted by nearly 30 percent so far in the first quarter of 2019, according to DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce. This is a deeper plunge than the projected drop of 25 percent expected last month and is the sharpest tumble since 2011. At the same time, most contracts have transitioned…
In a mature market such as electronics distribution, start-ups are rare. Would-be distributors face an abundance of OEM and EMS customers demanding a unique value proposition from their channel partners. Sourceability has spent the last several years investing in a network of global distribution centers Singapore, Hong Kong, and Miami. The company doesn’t call itself an…
Both DRAM and NAND flash prices are expected to decline in the 10-percent range in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019. DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce, forecasts DRAM prices will drop by 10 percent or higher in Q1 while NAND flash prices will fall by nearly 10 percent. This is a steeper slide than last…
After a significant cool down last month, the U.S. manufacturing industry bounced back in November with growth in new orders, production and employment. Overall, U.S. production has been expanding for 27 consecutive months, although manufacturers tapped the brakes in October. The nation’s leading production index, the Institute for Supply Management’s PMI, increased 1.6 percentage points…
The causes, effects and implications of “The Great Component Shortage of 2018” have been thoroughly analyzed. The automotive and IoT industries have been driving unprecedented demand for smaller and more efficient passive electronics, which in turn has stretched lead times for these once- commoditized components to the breaking point. What hasn’t been discussed, however, is the equal…
Editor’s Note: Welcome to AspenCore’s Special Project on Tesla. This article, along with the articles listed at the bottom of the page, looks at Tesla’s manufacturing and supply chain woes and the long road to a Tesla Model 3. Electric vehicle (EV) start-up Tesla has disrupted the electronics supply chain, but not in the way the…