Tag Archives: Supply Chain

Why a Tight Supply Chain Is Actually Less Restrictive

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Mike

This is a great first-hand account of why a tech OEM found manufacturing in Mexcio to be far superior to China. The shorter supply chain, lower inventory, access to plentiful skilled engineering and machine talent (and accountants versed in manufacturing … Continue reading →

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PwC: Climate Change Breaks Supply Chains

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Chris Jellen

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is the world’s largest professional services firm. It’s not known for scare tactics or liberal crazymaking. Yet PwC’s new report on climate change says that investors in long-term assets or infrastructure, particularly in coastal or low-lying regions, need … Continue reading →

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PCB West Next Week

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Mike

As most of you (hopefully) know, PCB West is next week. The annual conference and trade show, now in its 21st year, is the biggest and best event for the electronics design, fabrication and assembly in the Silicon Valley. Here’s … Continue reading →

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India Goes Dark

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Mike

Some 300 million Indians are without power today as no fewer than six states there lost power for an extended period of time. Add this to the growing list of recent potential and real supply-chain disruptions. There are at least … Continue reading →

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Supply Chain Shakeup is Here at Last

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Mike

We’ve often wondered whether the roughly 25 years of serious electronics outsourcing has been deleterious for OEMs. Certainly OEMs that have come to rely heavily on contract manufacturers now lack much of the know-how that comes with in-house product build. … Continue reading →

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India’s Environmental Policy for Chemicals

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Chris Jellen

Last April we wrote about India’s new manufacturing policy. They needed one then, and some say still do. Manufacturing in the land of cumin and curry has stalled. But don’t be fooled into thinking that means manufacturing is not happening … Continue reading →

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The Genius of Apple’s Supply Chain

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Chris Jellen

A massive competitive advantage for Apple is its operations function. Specifically, its supply chain operations. Apple has a regimented core business vision — built around their supply chain. “They have a very unified strategy, and every part of their business … Continue reading →

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Thai Floods’ Hidden Asset

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Mike

In a perverse way, the flooding in Thailand might have a hidden benefit — it could help boost pricing in a way the market otherwise would never allow. Seagate today said as much in an SEC 8-k filing. The HDD … Continue reading →

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Sales Up, Profits Down

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Mike

Another round of EMS quarterly reports came out today, as LaBarge and SMTC provided their numbers. Now that the bulk of the major EMS companies have reported, the picture is pretty clear that first quarter revenues were up fairly broadly … Continue reading →

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Time to Panic?

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Mike

Anecdotal reports indicate some manufacturers are purchasing larger-than-needed amounts of raw materials and certain components out of concern for supply availability in coming months. This is all tied to the shortages brought on by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. … Continue reading →

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