Sourcing Strategies

Sourcing Strategies

What is electronic excess inventory?

In the electronics supply chain, few topics spark as much debate among buyers as excess inventory. For some, it represents a valuable source of affordable, readily available components; for others, it signals risk – raising questions about traceability, reliability, and long-term support. For procurement professionals navigating today’s uncertain market, understanding what excess inventory is and

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Industry Insights Sourcing Strategies

How does the copper shortage impact you?

Copper prices have climbed sharply through late 2025 and into 2026. Reports indicate prices above $13,000 per tonne, driven by supply constraints and market demand. Global copper demand grew 2.5% in the March quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter in 2024. The main growth contributors were China (up 3%), the US (up 7.4%),

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Sourcing Strategies

Is extended manufacturing the answer to obsolescence?

When equipment is engineered to outlast the parts that comprise it, proactive obsolescence strategies are essential to ensure production and replacement parts remain available even as component manufacturers move on to next-generation technologies, something they’re doing at a faster rate than ever to remain competitive as customer preferences shift. Original component manufacturers (OCMs) cease production

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Sourcing Strategies

“Your Design – Your Way” – Watts plots new path to customer design

“The rules of engagement have changed,” asserts Nigel Watts, Founder and Managing Director of Searching for Silicon. “There is less willingness of customers to engage face to face on site and, in addition, finding new innovative startups can be like finding a needle in a haystack. “In a ‘post COVID’ world customers are demanding that

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Sourcing Strategies

Supplier Spotlight: Avnet

Avnet is a company with more than 100 years of history. It was founded in New York City in 1921 by Charles Avnet, who began buying and selling surplus radio parts on Radio Row following the First World War. During the mid-twenties, as factory-made radios became common, Avnet shifted from retail to supplying parts to

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Sourcing Strategies

The physical layer components that determine data centre uptime

Did you know that a single distributor such as RS can supply everything needed to build and run a data centre? Data centres sit at the forefront of industry discussion as operators assess how to balance escalating AI-driven compute loads with practical constraints on power, cooling, and space. Organisations are looking at how rising bandwidth

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Sourcing Strategies

Tips and tricks for staying ahead of obsolescence

In a world where “everything’s got electronics in it these days,” as Paul Green, Sales Director for Northern Europe, Middle East & Africa at Rochester Electronics put it, the risk of component obsolescence has become a concern, not just a supply chain nuisance. A recent webinar, sponsored by Flip Electronics and hosted by Paige Hookway,

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Sourcing Strategies

Join our webinar and stay ahead of obsolescence

Procurement Pro is hosting a webinar titled Staying Ahead of Obsolescence: Designing with Fast-Moving Technology, which examines how accelerated technology cycles affect design choices and supply chain planning across the electronics sector. It will highlight how rapid shifts in component availability place increased pressure on engineers and procurement teams to maintain current designs while managing

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Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Management

Lessons for a resilient future as Nexperia inventory tightens

Rochester Electronics takes a close look at the recent tightening in semiconductor supply, outlining the challenges faced by manufacturers and the practical steps needed to build a more robust and reliable supply chain. Insights from recent inventory challenges The semiconductor industry underpins modern technology, powering everything from automotive systems to medical devices. Yet recent developments

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Sourcing Strategies

Global sourcing solutions for obsolete and hard-to-find components

Rhopoint Components can help designers and buyers’ source obsolete and hard-to-find components with confidence through its network of carefully selected global suppliers that can support legacy products and reverse engineering projects. Component shortages, long lead times, and product obsolescence can bring critical projects to a standstill. Rhopoint Sourcing specialise in global sourcing of obsolete and

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