Supply chain leaders across the globe are talking about the promise of blockchain, but there have been few demonstrations of suitable use cases. OEMs are already tiring of blockchain, according to market research firm Gartner. At its recent Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conferences 2019, the firm predicted that by 2023, 90 percent of blockchain-based supply…
The electronics industry has developed some of the most ground-breaking technologies in human history. Yet, the best minds in high-tech have been unable to overcome one of the industry’s most insidious challenges: counterfeit electronics. To some extent, technology advancements have only added to the problem: electronic components can now be cloned so well that they…
Editor’s Note: After perhaps a decade in research labs and drawing boards, 5G is on the verge of deployment. Indeed, early deployments of the technology are coming online now. You can tell because the marketers have sunk their teeth in and started promoting it. With 5G moving out of the lab, the team at Aspencore…
It is rare in the highly-competitive electronics distribution industry that companies quickly agree on anything that might make them a bit less unique. But 2D barcoding may be the exception. Distributors offer customized barcoding services to customers to differentiate themselves from the pack. But barcoding may be more of headache than a strategic edge. The…
The alphabet soup that is part of counterfeit-avoidance is difficult enough; poring through the available standards almost requires a scorecard. The ECIA has done some of the work for the industry in comparing the final rule from the Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DFARS), which added. section 252.246-7007 Contractor Counterfeit Electronic Part Detection and Avoidance System;…
Component returns aren’t a seasonal problem for the electronics supply chain. Every day, customers that have ordered too much product cancel orders or try to return un-used parts. Most distributors have processes and practices in place to accommodate product returns, and authorized distributors have the right to return a portion of their parts to their…
New technologies almost always have an advantage over their predecessors and engineers love to try out leading-edge products. But for purchasing, this dynamic creates a dilemma: suppliers often develop products or platforms that are unique to that vendor. OEMs and their manufacturing partners may end up with a single source for a product – a…
IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries® has released the F revisions of two of the industry’s most widely used standards, IPC J-STD-001, Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies, and IPC-A-610, Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies. The documents have been updated to include technical advances in solder on plastic surface mount (SMT) components, new criteria for…
IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries® announces that Teresa Rowe has joined the IPC staff as director of assembly and standards technology. Rowe will direct and manage the development of standards for electronics assembly materials and processes. Her additional responsibilities include supporting committee chairmen, developing working drafts, balloting standards, addressing comment resolution and overseeing the publication…