Our aim is to offer guidance on the ever-changing decision-making processes in the electronics sector and become the "go-to" guide for industry professionals looking to source top components.
A spotlight has been shone on all aspects of our supply chains lately, mainly due to recent disruptions due to world events. Cascading uncertainty can be disastrous for our supply chains, and procurement is not an exception. Accelerated by ongoing pressures, all aspects of the procurement function are evolving at breakneck speed, moving from yesterday’s
Where 5G is concerned, antennas can no longer be taken for granted. Directionality, latency, increased transmission rate, antenna size, higher frequencies, and shorter wavelengths are on the list of what’s unique regarding 5G antennas. In fact, antenna design relies on the form factors of end devices and the preferences of the OEM. So, what should
It was a little different back in 1997 when SARS hit. The tech industry’s reliance on critical products and components from China was, in comparison to today, minimal. Now, the COVID-19 virus is shuttering factories and shops in the Wuhan area and transportation is halting. Even as some are reopening, there is a very slow
Recently, we discussed the downsides to 5G in supply chains, but let’s now explore its potential positive impacts. Supply chains are experiencing a lot of technology-based changes over the past few years and the roll-out of 5G promises to deliver multiple benefits to an industry in waiting. Expectations are that robotics, drones and IoT usage
Imagine you’re designing custom measurement systems and never expect to build two of the same system, only to be asked by a client a year later for another system just like the one you built previously. Sounds great, right? But what if the team never put together a Bill of Materials (BOM) for that original
“Procurement is a professional skill set. However, we give department employees a day’s training and ask them to do professional work. That would be like getting rid of IT and asking people to run their own networks and servers.” Stan Jester That was the conclusion reached by a board member who recently insisted that a
When OEMs start to worry about being able to meet demand, they tend to start double ordering. If inventory is low and demand is rising, delivery times are increasing and parts are being allocated, double ordering may seem like the only safe bet for OEMs. When stock is low, some suppliers not only turn away
In 2008, one technology parts database listed 150 million electronic components. That same year, obsolescence product-discontinuation notices (PDNs) were issued for 1.4 million of those components by their manufacturers. Material and electronic device innovation has accelerated dramatically in the last decade, and the increase in parts obsolescence has kept pace. While end-of-life and lifetime buy
In a perfect world, manufacturers could choose their supply chain partners based exclusively on the lowest bidding price. But this may not yield the best products – or the best business partnerships. How should you evaluate RFPs and, more importantly, choose your suppliers? As artificial intelligence, big data and analytics, and machine learning change the
An RFQ, or Request for Quotation, is the process of asking for the price of exactly what you’re looking for. In other words, a vendor asks another business to provide a quote for specific services or products. The process is a very common operation carried out by purchasing and supply managers, though it can be