HERNDON, VA – iNEMI is investigating project possibilities for Supply Chain Support for Medical Products.

A poll was taken to identify areas to focus discussion, and the two areas getting the most interest are investigate/develop OEM/supplier business models and operating agreements (e.g., identify/develop best known methods templates); collect and publish widely available information on component and supplier capabilities. 

On June 26, the group will start conducting biweekly meetings on Tuesdays, with the goal of developing a project Statement of work.

All meetings are currently open to anyone in the industry interested in participating in the project formation discussions.

For more information, visit http://www.inemi.org/node/2280. 

FRAMINGHAM, MA – The worldwide PC market is expected to grow 5% year-over-year in 2012, in what is likely to be a challenging year, says International Data Corp. Nearly 383 million PCs will ship into the market this year, a slight improvement over the tepid growth seen in 2011, as PCs continue to vie for growth amid intensifying competition from alternative devices, global political uncertainty, and a still bumpy economic roadmap, says IDC.

In addition to rising consumer saturation in mature regions, economic uncertainty, the launch of Windows 8 and growth of competing tablet devices are key factors affecting the market outlook, the firm notes. With the threat of a relapse into recession in several markets adversely affecting public spending and business confidence, the forecast for several key segments has been reduced, especially among small and medium-sized firms. Windows 8 could help reinvigorate a consumer market that has lost a degree of enthusiasm in recent years. However, questions about the release date, functions, and pricing for Windows 8 limit the contribution the new operating system may make in 2012. Consumer PC shipments are expected to see modest growth in 2012 with the revamp of a sleeker Wintel platform, fueling additional growth in 2013 through 2016. IDC expects the forecast period to culminate with total PC shipments topping 528 million units in 2016.

“The first quarter PC volume results showed an uptick over our forecast,” said Jay Chou, senior research analyst at IDC. “However, much of the volume was due to a faster-than-expected recovery of hard disk drive supply related to flooding in Thailand. PCs continue to face pressure from a weak economic environment and growing competition. Consumer sentiment could be revived with UltraBook or Ultrathin systems, provided the right price is reached. More price-cutting in the Android tablet landscape could free up some budget for PC purchases, but could also focus consumers on tablets rather than PCs. Ultimately, we expect modest PC growth this year, as the industry works through the transition to Win8 and related devices.”

“In the United States, the PC market will continue to witness the perfect storm over the next two quarters before we see any meaningful resumption of growth. Most consumers and businesses in need of PCs already have PCs and see no immediate reason to upgrade or expand. The market is also evolving amid a heated presidential election campaign, adding more stress to consumer and business confidence, with both segments refraining from spending or hiring. The good news, however, is that the forthcoming release of Windows 8 promises to bring new classes of products that could lead to a stronger refresh cycle as the year ends,” says David Daoud, research director, Personal Computing at IDC.

IDC continues to have a conservative view toward PC purchases in mature markets, which are generally expected to return to growth mode in 2012 after a contraction in 2011. Meanwhile, headwinds from the Euro crisis are increasingly being felt in the emerging markets, the previous stalwarts of growth. The outlook for emerging markets has become more mixed with Central Europe, Middle East and Africa increasing its outlook, while Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) and Latin America will experience slower growth in the short term.

SANTA CLARA, CA – Worldwide TV shipments fell almost 8% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2012, the steepest rate of decline since the second quarter of 2009, says NPD DisplaySearch.

Total TV shipments for the quarter were 51 million units. The biggest contributor to this decline was a slowdown in shipments of LCD TVs, which fell year-over-year for the first time in the history of the category, declining just over 3%, to 43 million units, the research firm says.

TAIPEI – Chairman Terry Guo says Foxconn will begin to see growth in profits in 2013, according to published reports.

While the electronics manufacturer will continue to concentrate on revenue growth this year, it does not expect losses, and predicts steady profit growth, according to Guo.

The company’s chairman did not provide a percentage of growth that is expected, say reports.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Jabil Circuit today reported unaudited third-quarter net revenue of $4.3 billion for fiscal year 2012, up 2.4% year-over-year.

ROSEVILLE, CA – Pride Industries is opening a new electronics manufacturing plant at its headquarters here.

TORONTO – Celestica said that during the next three to six months, it will wind down its manufacturing services for Research in Motion.

RADSTOCK, UK – Electronics manufacturing services firm Herald Electronics reportedly has halted production, according to published reports.

Administrators David Gilbert and Graham Randall are said to be seeking a buyer for the firm.

Fifty four staff members are being let go as a result.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – International Data Corp. has increased its forecast for the worldwide market of media tablets to 107.4 million units for the year, up from a previously forecast 106.1 million units.

IDC also revised upward its 2013 forecast from 137.4 million units to 142.8 million units. By 2016, worldwide shipments should reach 222.1 million units, the firm says.

The research firm also updated its forecast to shift a larger percentage of future units toward iOS and away from Android. IDC now expects iOS to grow its share of the market in 2012 to 62.5%, up from 58.2% in 2011. Meanwhile, Android's share will slip from 38.7% in 2011 to 36.5% in 2012. IDC expects third-place Blackberry to slip from 1.7% to 1%.

IDC significantly lowered its forecast for eReaders in 2012. After a disappointing first quarter, and strong indications that low-priced tablets are significantly impacting demand, IDC now expects 2012 shipments to be stable at around 28 million units, down slightly from the 28.2 million units that shipped in 2011.

DALLAS -- The home security solutions market is expected to reach $34.46 billion by 2017, a CAGR of 9/1% from 2012 to 2017.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC Environment, Health and Safety committee representatives urged the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss regulatory relief for printed board manufacturing.

Uncertainty around the implementation of the 2008 Definition of Solid Waste rule, combined with the limitations of the EPA’s 2011 proposed rule, has inhibited the recycling of wastewater treatment sludges from electroplating operations, says IPC.

IPC representatives urged Suzanne Rudzinski, director of EPA’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, to encourage secondary materials recycling in the upcoming revision of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act DSW rule.

“In 2010, US industries landfilled 9.7 million pounds of copper in various byproduct streams,” said EHS Committee Chair Lee Wilmot.

The changes to the DSW rule proposed by the EPA in 2011 would continue to inhibit the recycling of valuable secondary material by imposing unnecessary burdens, according to IPC.

“The US EPA needs to adopt user friendly rules if this landfill-instead-of-recycle result is to change,” added Wilmot.

During the meeting, IPC emphasized the importance of provisions that should be included in a final DSW rule, namely the transfer-based exclusion and remanufacturing exclusion. 

TORONTO – The Canadian government is reportedly disregarding US warnings that counterfeit military parts from China have been exposed in American fighter jets, transport planes, missiles and other weapons.

A US Congressional investigation during a 14-month span has revealed 1,800 cases (so far) of counterfeit electronic components involving more than a million fake military parts, say published reports.

Canadian military is said to have purchased 17 Hercules transport planes that could be part of the problem.

The US Senate Armed Services Committee said the counterfeit parts are generally from old computers and other “electronic trash” in China, with high potential for failure and possibly “catastrophic” consequences.

Julian Fantino, Canada's associate defense minister told reporters, “At this point in time, other than continuing to be vigilant, we don't have any particular concerns in this country. I have been advised that the checks and balances we have in place in our country are sufficient.”

According to the Congressional investigation, Canada is the third largest trafficker of counterfeit military components from Asia, say reports.