Buyers
are used to working under constantly changing conditions -- prices vary,
deliveries are delayed or a product is out of stock. Then there are natural
disasters such as the typhoon in the Philippines that disrupt more than the
supply chain. Our thoughts are with the victims of yet another catastrophic
weather event.
One of the ways buyers can be
better prepared for the unexpected are online tools offered by a variety of
vendors. For example, on the EPS home page is the Component Cost Estimator
provided by Lytica. Lytica's founder, Ken Bradley, blogs for EPS and you can
read his pointers on strategic purchasing in our featured blog
section.
Distributors also provide tools
for customers for a number of reasons. A certain level of technical support can
be provided online 24/7. Online buying is quick and doesn't require a
conversation with a salesperson. And, of course, the channel hopes to sell more
products. To date, however, these tools have been divided into two camps:
engineering or purchasing. Global distributor Arrow Electronics Inc. has brought
the two functions together with its new Arrow.com site. Users can easily access
and share data from a design; purchase a bill of material and then track orders.
Arrow gives EPS an exclusive look a its offering in Arrow Tool Links Purchasing and
Engineering.
EPS Contributing Editor Douglas
Alexander knows a thing or two about sourcing; he's also an enthusiastic user of
technology. RFID has long been thought of as a solution to many challenges in
the supply chain: primarily keeping track of products and managing massive
amounts of inventory. Douglas is a believer in RFID and you can read why in
the RFID 'Kill Switch' is Here
and Why RFID is a Purchasing Dream
Tool.
As usual, you'll also find news
and in-depth analysis of your supply chain partners in our features section; hot products from EPS
Executive Editor Gina Roos; and new features on our site including slide shows.
As always, EPS aims to provide the information that helps you do your job
better. Let us know how we're doing at editor@epsnewsonline.com.
Barbara Jorgensen
EPS Managing Editor
barbara.jorgensen@epsnewsonline.com |
 |
 |
|
Digi-Key in China? Yes.
Soon, Too
Digi-Key Corp. is expanding
operations globally and plans in the near future to establish its first office
in China in furtherance of an internationalization program that will see the
electronics components distributor putting "boots on the ground" in key
European, Middle East and Asian locations, according to company executives. Link
Avnet to Broaden Online Support
Services
Avnet is moving to transition
more of its engineering and supply chain services and functions online as part
of a strategic effort to reach more customers, broaden offerings, improve
engagement with suppliers, OEMs and other partners, as well as further
streamline operating costs. Link
Electronics
Outlook 2014: Low-Growth & Uncertainty
The electronics
market is sliding into low growth or even negative growth territory with many of
the industry's bellwether manufacturers rolling out fourth quarter revenue
guidance that have largely fallen short of analysts' consensus estimate. And
while almost nobody is trotting out the dreaded "downturn" word yet, concerns
are building up in the industry over signs end-of-year sales could be sluggish
in addition to the poor visibility into medium and long-term demand at end
markets. Link
DNA
Marking Roils Anti-Counterfeit Camp
No matter what the supply chain has done to thwart
counterfeit components, bogus parts continue to creep into the channel. The
latest effort to stop counterfeiting - by marking components with a unique
identifier made out of plant DNA - is not being embraced by all members of the
supply chain, including some of its biggest players. Link
Distribution: Some Policies
No Longer Work
Ever
since the Internet became a factor in the electronics supply chain, companies
have been trying to figure out the best use for the web. Distributors in
particular had a stake in the process because the Internet was supposedly poised
to eliminate the need for a supply chain "middleman. Link
Best Negoiation Tool: Market Intelligence
The purchasing process is not supposed to be adversarial
but too often negotiations between buyers and sellers can turn out to be more
like a boxing match where one or both parties emerge with bloodied noses.
Link
Why RFID is a Purchasing Dream Tool
Having just attended the RFID Live 2013
conference in San Francisco, I was reminded of the myriad applications for RFID
in tracking assets, monitoring systems and transmitting key data to and from
sensing and recording devices. Link |
|
 |
|
Schuck
to Head Arrow Global Components Group
Arrow
Electronics Inc. said Eric Schuck will take over as president of its global
components business effective January 1, 2014. Schuck will replace Peter Kong
who is scheduled to retire from the company on March 31, next year, according to
a statement released by the company. Link |
ON Semi, DHL Expand
Logistics Capabilites in Japan
Electronics companies are
increasingly partnering with logistics providers to improve delivery services
and assist in supply chain management. ON
Semiconductor this week announced it has opened a new global
distribution hub located in Narita, Japan, in partnership with DHL. The Japan
Global Distribution Center is more than ten times bigger than the old facility,
ON said in a release, and enables upgraded world-class supply chain services to
customers along with logistic networks in Singapore, Shanghai and
Manila. Link |
Shutdown Has Little Impact
on Manufacturing
The recent shutdown by the U.S. government
did not appear to have an effect on domestic manufacturing activity, according
to the nation's supply executives. A leading indicator of economic growth,
the Institute for Supply
Management's Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI), increased for
the fifth straight month to reach 56.4 percent. A PMI reading above 50 percent
indicates that the manufacturing economy is expanding; below 50 percent
indicates that it is contracting. Link |
Mentor
Graphics Unveils Supply Chain Tools
Mentor
Graphics Corp. has launched two supply chain tools, targeting enterprise
resource planning (ERP) and materials costs reduction in electronics
manufacturing. Materials accuracy is a critical factor in PCB assembly operation
because materials make up the bulk of manufacturing costs, said the
company. Link |
UPS
Partners With Manufacturing Group
Freight
services and logistics provider UPS has formed a partnership with The
Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT). UPS will now be recognized as an
official "Global Logistics Provider to IMTS and AMT." AMT members and exhibitors
at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) will benefit by
harnessing the power of UPS's infrastructure to enhance manufacturing technology
trade around the globe. Link |
|
| |
|
Copyright © 2013. All Rights
Reserved.
|
 Sign Up for All of Our
Free Email
Newsletters | | | |
