At the EDS Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, Paige Hookway sat down with Steven Fisher, CEO of PEI‑Genesis, to discuss the state of the connector industry, shifting customer behaviour, and how his company is preparing for the next phase of growth.
A strong market and a confident mood
Fisher describes the first half of 2026 as a period of broad‑based strength for the electronics ecosystem. From his vantage point, “all the sectors are firing on all cylinders,” particularly the semiconductor and connector markets. His view is that if companies are unable to prosper in the current environment, they are unlikely ever to do so – an indication of just how favourable he believes the conditions to be.
For PEI‑Genesis specifically, the past year has been “wonderful,” marked by growth, positive structural changes, and the opening of new facilities. These investments are aimed at making the business more effective and better positioned to serve customers globally.
Navigating geopolitics and supply chain constraints
Despite the upbeat tone, Fisher is clear that the industry is still wrestling with geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs, and ongoing supply chain challenges.
The company’s response has been to expand and rebalance its global footprint:
- In North America, a new facility in Philadelphia adds capacity and helps address labour‑availability challenges at the main plant in South Bend
- In Europe, Brexit prompted the addition of a facility in the Czech Republic, complementing the existing UK operation and improving service to continental customers
- In Asia, PEI‑Genesis is deepening its presence in China and has recently opened a new facility in Pune, India
These moves are designed to align the company more closely with both suppliers and customers, improving resilience and responsiveness in a volatile environment.
Changing customer behaviour: inventory is king
Supply constraints have significantly altered how customers buy. According to Fisher, “people can’t get the product fast enough,” which has led to two major shifts:
- Acceleration of orders and emphasis on inventory: customers want to pull in deliveries as quickly as possible, and Fisher says that “inventory finally is king.” PEI‑Genesis’s model – built around a 48‑hour cycle time when inventory is available – has positioned it well in this environment
- More planning and longer‑term commitments: rather than double‑ or triple‑ordering, customers are engaging in more thoughtful planning, including multi‑year contracts and long‑term agreements to secure product availability. For PEI‑Genesis, such multi‑year arrangements were not historically common, making this a notable evolution in its commercial relationships
On the technology side, demand is particularly strong for harsh‑environment connectors, especially for military and aviation applications. Fisher also notes growing interest in high‑speed and lightweight solutions. Interestingly, customers are simultaneously purchasing the latest connector technologies and maintaining very old legacy solutions, underscoring the longevity and complexity of many systems in the field.
Balancing military strength with industrial growth
While the military sector remains a core and robust market for PEI‑Genesis, Fisher is strategic about balancing the portfolio. He cites the adage that “the time to fix your roof is when the sun is shining,” explaining that the company is actively investing in its industrial business even as military demand remains strong.
Building out the industrial segment over the next three to five years is a key objective, intended to diversify the company’s revenue base and reduce exposure to any single vertical.
Embracing AI and modernising infrastructure
AI is a prominent theme across the EDS Summit, and Fisher confirms that PEI‑Genesis intends to incorporate AI tools into its operations and customer‑facing platforms.
He sees AI as a way to:
- Streamline purchasing
- Act as a partner and consultant on complex questions
- Support better, faster decision‑making across the business
To fully unlock this potential, PEI‑Genesis is coupling AI exploration with significant infrastructure investments. Over the next 12 months, the company is:
- Scaling up its new plant in Pune
- Rolling out a new ERP system to replace a legacy platform that has become an “obstacle” rather than an enabler
- Launching a new website designed to be intuitive, information‑rich, and continually improved
For Fisher, these investments are as much about empowering employees as they are about technology. He stresses the need to eliminate outdated procedures so staff can focus on delivering maximum value to customers.
A website as a trusted advisor
Reflecting on previous missteps, Fisher says he has “done it wrong two or three times” with websites, but believes the latest iteration gets much closer to “best in class.” He wants the site to mirror what users expect from any good digital experience: obvious contact information, easy navigation, and rapid access to meaningful data.
Beyond enabling transactions, the long‑term strategy is for the website to function as a trusted advisor, offering customers deep technical information and tools that help them make informed choices. Fisher views it as a “never‑ending process” of enhancement rather than a one‑off project.
