TORRANCE, CA – For decades, the general wisdom in approaching manufacturing has been to rely on a “just in time” strategy to ensure component parts are available the moment they are needed rather than tying up capital to purchase and store inventory. However, with the recent supply chain disruptions that have been causing delays across industries, there is an argument to be made for holding “just in case” (JIC) inventory as well. This is especially important for “golden screws,” the one or two critical components that are needed to finish production and start generating revenue.

While the “just in time”(JIT) philosophy has been effective for over 30 years now, the recent disruptions that have been happening in the supply chain are unpredictable. In the past six years, these disruptions have been more severe and unanticipated, upsetting a relative stability that had existed for some time. Suddenly, parts are completely unavailable, a problem that has been increasingly troublesome over the last 18 months.

“When there is supply chain harmony, when everybody is delivering on time and there is plenty of inventory in distribution, “just in time” works really well, but that is not the current reality and as COVID taught us, you can never anticipate the next event,” says Mike Thomas, vice president and global general manager at Classic Components, a premier independent distributor based in Torrance, CA. “This makes the “just in case” inventory philosophy a crucial piece of the profitability puzzle moving forward.”

JIC is not a new concept, but it is a “now” concept given the instability in the past six years. It is an inventory management strategy where companies keep inventory on hand to anticipate and prepare for unpredictability of demand or the times. The strategy is typically employed in less industrialized countries where disruptions in the supply chain are more common and maintaining more inventory in case of emergency is critical to avoid production delays and other inefficiencies.

“Just in case” means having specific critical items in stock all the time so that when a situation arises like COVID, civil unrest, countries in conflict, or whatever else you can think of that disrupts the supply chain, we still have enough critical electronic components on hand to continue to manufacture our products. Even if it is not as profitable, you remain operational,” says Thomas.

Thomas believes in balancing “just in time” inventory, which helps businesses keep their inventory low and their capital high, with JIC, particularly of items that may be essential to the continued profitability of their business. A term that is gaining traction to describe such parts is the “golden screw,” an item that at times is difficult to procure but is essential to doing business.

“There are a lot of “golden screws” now that companies just couldn’t get their hands on and there were many products that couldn’t even be shipped. So, now they are meeting and shifting their strategies to ensure they always have the golden screws in the future,” Thomas notes.

Combining these two inventory strategies gives organizations the best of both worlds – the low inventory and available capital of JIT with the security of JIC – and Classic Components can offer its partners this type of balance when it comes to electronic components.

“With companies like ours, we invest our own money to purchase items for customers ahead of time. We keep a certain amount in buffer stock, and we ship it out when needed and then we get paid by the customer. In doing so, the customers achieve their goal of having only what they need, when they need it, which is basically “just in time” philosophy,” explains Thomas.

To accomplish this, the company invests its own capital to secure “golden screw” items for customers and hold them in inventory until they are needed, however long that might take. This is a unique offering within the independent channel and only the largest, most financially stable distributors are willing or able to do so.

However, customers need to be willing to shift their strategy to accommodate a JIC philosophy. Organizations must have the foresight and awareness to anticipate future orders not yet placed and be proactive about securing that inventory required to ensure there are no delays when the product is needed.

Thomas adds that the items that have been difficult to find are not always complicated parts. OEMs require simple electronic components to make products in the same way nails and screws are required to construct a house.

“It is important to adopt a “just in case” philosophy both for less sophisticated items along with higher end items as well, to cover all the bases,” says Thomas. “To extend the construction analogy, if a house is built with nails and screws, it will also require expensive fixtures to be completed.”

The distributor can help secure these items for the OEM without asking for money up front and assist with the logistics of transporting the items when needed. They do this by being flexible in their approach and shipping material, whether upstream or downstream, including to contract manufacturers, sister companies, and subsidiaries.

Not many companies are offering this type of service during shortages, including traditional distributors.

Although authorized distributors provide added value such as engineering support, contractual obligations dictate all materials must come directly from the factory. This makes sense when the supply chain is operating as expected, and there are no global pandemics or other supply chain constraints. The current disruptions, however, are creating lead times in the regular distribution space of up to 50 weeks for parts that used to be available in eight to 18 weeks, a massive disruption that independent distributors can work around more easily.

Regular authorized distributors may also struggle to get parts because the contractual agreement that these companies sign prevents them from sourcing products in the open market. Independent distributors like Classic Components can lock in prices and delivery dates using its vast network of supply chains and partners for many months at a time. This ensures that the inventory will be there when the customer needs it and not sold to someone else.

“It is a philosophical adjustment. Companies have to look in the mirror and say: we built our organization on “just in time” and that is how our shareholders measure us, but we need to secure the “golden screws” to protect against any possible future disruptions,” says Thomas.

For more information, contact Classic Components Corp. 23605 Telo Avenue, Torrance, CA 90505; www.classic-ic.com; 310.539.5500; info@class-ic.com.

ATLANTA – The ECIA Executive Conference Committee is pleased to announce the name of the opening keynote session title, “FEAR(LESS)™ Mindset What's Your Story,” presented by Rebecca Heiss. Our brains aren’t built for this rapidly changing world… But they are adaptable. By consciously crafting a mindset that helps us lean into these challenges rather than treat them as threats, we’ll be able to avoid the burnout, frustration, and turnover that might otherwise plague us and our clients. And, perhaps most importantly, we can deepen the connections we had to the purpose and people that drew us into this industry we love to begin with. This session will provide tools to:

• Re-categorize stress as a strength that can drive performance.
• Utilize a 3-step scientific technique to shift stress mindsets from ordeal to adventure.
• Enable positive communication, ideation, and creative collaborations to lead through ambiguity with a beginner’s mind.

“The 2023 conference speaker line up is one for the books!” noted ECIA Director of Member Engagement, Stephanie Tierney. “The topic fits in very well with our theme, ‘Making Waves, the Power of You.’ Our committee has chosen the other two keynote speakers and will be finalizing the rest of the program in the coming weeks, so stay tuned,” she added.

Registration is open now. The Executive Conference runs October 22-24, 2023 at the Loews Chicago O'Hare.

The Executive Conference is an opportunity for senior management teams from the electronics industry's leading companies - representing the entire supply chain - to gather and address cross-enterprise challenges. Gain access to industry experts and knowledge, forge relationships that can make a real difference, and learn how to remove roadblocks to success. Plan to join this must-attend event - there is no other that offers an in-depth look at the electronics components industry and is as geared towards industry-specific education and fostering meaningful relationships across this section of the supply chain network. It's the one conference you can't afford to miss.

NAMPA, ID – Silicon Mountain, a leading electronic manufacturing company, has upgraded its selective soldering department with four new selective solder systems from Pillarhouse International. The company continues to invest to maintain the flexibility, quality, and turnaround necessary to meet each customer’s unique needs.

Silicon Mountain’s selective solder through-hole systems position its clients for success. The company reduces the risks of thermal shock and excessive flux contamination inherent to traditional systems. Silicon Mountain’s through- hole systems handle fragile displays easily. They allow components to be placed onto PCBs, panels, or other assemblies without disturbing nearby surface-mount technology (SMT) components. Silicon Mountain offers clients the speed and flexibility of its systems to help achieve repeatable success in their competitive markets.

“With this investment, we are enhancing our selective soldering capabilities and reinforcing our commitment to delivering the highest-quality electronic components to our customers,” Clint Roehr, Project Manager at Silicon Mountain. “This acquisition is a significant step forward for Silicon Mountain, and we are excited about the opportunities it will bring.”

The Pillarhouse International Orissa Synchrodex is a modular selective soldering system designed to eliminate the need for hand soldering. The first module in the line is equipped with a precision drop jet fluxer and upper and lower preheat modules. The next two modules have bottom side preheat, a drop jet fluxer, and solder pot/pump/nozzle setups.

The preheat helps with flux activation and raises the board temperature for better solder flow and reduced dwell time on the solder joints. All machines incorporate fiducial correction for increased accuracy. Having two soldering modules allows the soldering program to be split for increased flexibility and efficiency.

Silicon Mountain provides a wide range of services, whether it is prototyping for startups or high-volume manufacturing. Regardless of the service, the company aims for high quality and quick turnaround.

For more information about Silicon Mountain, visit https://siliconmtn.net/

SHINGLE SPRINGS, CA – PDR, founded in 1985, and today a leading manufacturer of BGA rework systems and X-ray systems, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Process Automation & Tool, llc (PAT) as its manufacturers’ representative in the southeastern United States.

With over 20 years of experience in the electronics industry, Process Automation is a trusted supplier of high-quality process automation and tooling solutions. As PDR’s new representative in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, Process Automation will help expand the availability of PDR's advanced rework, test and inspection systems to customers throughout the region.

"We are excited to partner with Process Automation to increase our reach in the southeastern US," said Dave White, CEO of White Industrial Corporation, parent company of PDR Americas. "Process Automation's deep knowledge of the electronics industry, along with their commitment to customer service, makes them an ideal partner for PDR. Together, we will help more customers achieve greater productivity and quality in their electronic assembly processes."

Through this partnership, Process Automation will offer PDR's full range of products, including the award-winning IR Rework Systems X-ray Systems. "PDR's innovative solutions are a perfect fit for our customers' needs," said Andy Tressler, Partner of Process Automation. "We are proud to represent a company with such a strong reputation for excellence in the electronics industry. We look forward to working with PDR to provide top-of-the-line solutions and support to our customers."

PDR's partnership with Process Automation is an important step in expanding its distribution network in the southeastern US. With Process Automation's expertise and PDR's advanced technology solutions, customers throughout the region will have greater access to high-quality electronic assembly tools and services.

For more information about Process Automation & Tool, visit www.processauto.us