Sourcing Archives - Page 8 of 9

Will Electronic Component Distributors Disappear? (Part 1)

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 »

‘Ethical Sourcing’ The Next Electronic Industry Trend

What is ethical sourcing? Essentially, adoption of ethical sourcing reflects the respect to the people and our plant. Ethical sourcing gets rid of the outdated opinion of making profits by solely focusing on needs of end customers in terms of quality, price, delivery and service. Instead, it incorporates needs from more comprehensive stakeholders along the

‘Ethical Sourcing’ The Next Electronic Industry Trend Read More »

Predicting Supplier Failure

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 »

8 Supply Chain Design Rules for Engineers

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 »

The Ideal Purchasing Professional

Is there such a thing as an ideal purchasing professional and, if so, what traits do they possess? I believe there is such an ideal – I have met several of them. In my work with price and organizational benchmarking, I meet many procurement individuals from a variety of companies. I have been exposed to

The Ideal Purchasing Professional Read More »

Supply Chain Structure Should Not Baffle Electronics Design Engineers

Last month I made a presentation to the IEEE Consumer Electronics Group in San Jose, CA. I asked this group of engineers a very important question. It was important because of the implications that designer choices have on the supply chain. I started with my left hand holding the top of a slinky and my

Supply Chain Structure Should Not Baffle Electronics Design Engineers Read More »

The True Value of Contract Manufacturers

Readers who have followed my writing in blogs and whitepapers may find this blog out of character. Its premise is that the value delivered by EMS companies (contract manufacturers) is higher than the amount they charge for services. While my message is pay for value, it often comes across as too many are paying too

The True Value of Contract Manufacturers Read More »

Supply Chain Security & Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

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 »

What Engineers Must Know About the Supply Chain, Part 2

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 »

Sourcing

Will Electronic Component Distributors Disappear? (Part 1)

Predicting Supplier Failure

The Ideal Purchasing Professional

The True Value of Contract Manufacturers

Supply Chain Security & Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Products

About Us

Resources

Get in Touch

Products

Solutions

About Us

Resources