Sourcing Strategies

Sourcing Strategies

Searching for hard-to-find power devices?

Rochester Electronics explores the challenges of sourcing power and power management devices in an increasingly constrained semiconductor market, highlighting how long product lifecycles, safety certifications and extended lead times make redesigns impractical, and explaining how authorised, traceable end-of-life inventory enables customers to maintain proven designs without costly requalification. Power sourcing and power management devices are

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Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Management

How to future-proof your supply chain in 2026

In a recent webinar hosted by Procurement Pro and sponsored by Flip Electronics, I led a panel of senior industry leaders through an in‑depth discussion on how procurement teams can future‑proof their supply chains in 2026 and beyond. The panel brought together perspectives from technology providers, distributors, and supply chain specialists: Simon Thompson – VP

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Sourcing Strategies

The hidden financial consequences of your component choices

The components selected during design shape financial outcomes long after schematic freeze. Initial procurement numbers rarely capture the product’s real price. Technical decisions made early introduce hidden expenses. When lower-grade parts enter production, defects surface, warranty claims increase and reputational damage follows. The savings may show up now, yet remediation later often carries a far

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Sourcing Strategies

What teams need to know about mil/aero in EMEA

For much of the 1990s and early 2000s, the military and aerospace (mil/aero) sector was a subdued corner of the European semiconductor industry. Growth hovered around 2-3%, design cycles stretched seven to 10 years, and only a handful of companies focused on the space. There was a common perception that mil/aero was technically interesting but

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Sourcing Strategies

Sustaining legacy systems in a rapidly evolving market

When maintaining legacy systems, customers often ask: “Can you rebuild this?” At Rochester Electronics, the answer is almost always “Yes.” Our proven processes and deep technical expertise enable us to support long-lifecycle programmes and ensure component continuity. Rochester continuously invests in strategies that sustain legacy systems by managing the components, materials, and tooling used in

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Sourcing Strategies

Making informed sensor choices in complex electronic systems

Selecting the right sensor is a critical step in electronic system design, influencing accuracy, reliability, and long-term performance. As products become more connected and application-specific, engineers must consider more than basic specifications – factors such as operating environment, power consumption, integration constraints, and supply continuity now play a central role. With a wide range of

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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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