How Lytica became a unique analytics company: Part 19 The introduction of semi-autonomous vehicle demand coupled with the already growing smart phone requirements for passive components – particularly MLCC capacitors – has created significant shortage problems for EMS and OEM companies in the last year. This has caused a surge in prices for those lucky […]
Shortages: Three Extreme Mitigation Approaches Read More »
 Is risk a synonym for uncertainty? The thesaurus in Microsoft Word suggests that it is and a Google search confirms it however, when thinking about managing supply chains, there are a different set of actions for risk than those taken to address uncertainty. The primary supply chain actions to reduce risk involve alternate sourcing, inventory
Risk and Uncertainty Read More »
In October, I attended the i2030 National Manufacturing Summit in Ottawa Canada, co-hosted by industry groups the CME (Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters) and the CMC (Canadian Manufacturing Coalition). The agenda was geared towards manufacturers and, considering our customers worldwide are comprised of OEM, EMS providers and ODMs, it was certainly topical and relevant to Lytica. Many
“We supply the science – you supply the art” Read More »
Undoubtedly, electronic component distributors have contributed to the tremendous development of the electronic manufacturing industry for a long time. Being the middleman between electronic component manufacturers and buyers of components, distributors provide value to both parties, allowing them to maintain and grow their business. The diagram below demonstrates the role of component distributors in a
Will Electronic Component Distributors Disappear? (Part 1) Read More »
The problem of identifying suppliers with a high risk of failure is becoming more serious as talks of interest rate hikes and free trade agreement dissolution become more common. While this blog considers suppliers in an electronics supply chain, the risks and mitigations described apply more broadly. Most companies have strategies and indicators for dealing
Predicting Supplier Failure Read More »
In this article, I summarize some points from a lecture that I gave at Hong Kong University in 2014; it drew on a blog I wrote in 2013. I repeat some of the ideas from that blog here because I believe they are critically important for world-class companies. I was focused on supply base design,
8 Supply Chain Design Rules for Engineers Read More »
My perspective on supply chain comes with a strong semiconductor technology bias, a partiality for supply management and an appreciation of operations with the processes that surround it. Coming from the semiconductor and telecommunications industries, I have seen the need for innovation, quality and cost management. Being an engineer, I like data; having worked in
Poor Data Clouds Supply Chain Visibility Read More »
Security of supply is one of the most critical priorities of any supply chain; cost and compliance are the other top ones. Given how critical security of supply is, I am often surprised by how inadequate many due diligence programs are at getting to the heart of risk or ensuring that adequate agility exists to
Supply Chain Security & Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Read More »
In part 1, I talked about the influence design engineers can exert on procurement and the supply chain. This is often a negative influence that comes without proper education or information. What do I want top designers to know about supply chain design? Leverage Leverage is a critical factor in negotiations. Without it, you take
What Engineers Must Know About the Supply Chain, Part 2 Read More »
Accenture and others have reported that company stock prices can dropanywhere from 7.5 to 12 percent following severe supply chain disruptions. PriceWaterhouseCoopers estimates this drop at 9 percent and says that, for two-thirds of those companies, stock performance will still lag competitors a year after the disruption. If this is the case, why do we
What Engineers Must Know About the Supply Chain, Part 1 Read More »
