What’s 'at the Heart of It All' for FedEx Gerry Fay 5/10/2013 (6) comments In North America, the electronics supply chain relies heavily on ground shipping. Avnet's Gerry Fay interviews Dave Kevern, vice president, World-Wide Services at Federal Express to get insights.
New Survey Reveals Persistent Supply Chain Problems At the Source 5/3/2013 Post a comment While some parts of the high-tech supply chain network can be improved by implementing policies and procedures, other parts of the network are beyond the control of even the most skilled supply chain executive.
Industrial Semi: Turnkey Services Smooth Uncharted Waters Supply Chain Intelligence 4/19/2013 (2) comments As semiconductor penetration increases, it is worthwhile to stop and recognize that not all industrial clients may have the same familiarity with electronics industry best-practices.
The FedEx-UPS Duopoly Brian Fuller 4/19/2013 (5) comments The two biggest ground shippers in North America raise prices seemingly annually, which can hurt small to midsized components companies that can't absorb or pass on the increases.
Europe-Asia Rail Link: One Step Closer? Logical Link 4/16/2013 (8) comments A uniform rail regime would take many years to assemble but could eventually present a cost-effective alternative to cargo planes and ships.
Get Supply Chain Analytics on Your Roadmap Lalit Wadhwa 4/12/2013 (2) comments Technology plays a critical role in assimilating large and complex data sets from upstream and downstream members of the value chain, analyzing it and modeling it to optimize the supply chain.
Insourcing's Boom Brian Fuller 4/3/2013 (4) comments Heavy manufacturing is coming back on shore by letting people imagine how they would eliminate their own jobs.
RFID Sparks New Supply Chain Demand Best-Practices 4/3/2013 (9) comments RFID makes it possible not only to increase the quantity and types of products streaming through the supply chain, but also to build higher-level products and services.
Making the Right Transportation Modal Decision Wade McDaniel 3/29/2013 (13) comments Truck or rail? Air or sea? The mode of transport can offer competitive advantage for organizations to increase profit margins through carefully optimizing their mode selection.
How to Do On-Shoring Right Brian Fuller 3/25/2013 (7) comments When you play in the surveillance-camera market, it pays to offshore your electronics manufacturing... unless you're an up-and-coming Canadian firm.
Outsourced Manufacturers Struggle With Uncertain Demand iSuppli EMS, ODM Insights 3/4/2013 (4) comments Improved inventory velocity was a key theme for the outsourced manufacturing industry in 2012. Fast forward 12 months, and the hoped-for improvement has not really materialized.
Do We Matter Anymore? Brian Fuller 2/21/2013 (24) comments People are becoming less valuable to companies. If that makes you uncomfortable, it's a start.
Major Sourcing Shifts Coming in Next 5 Years Change in the Chain 2/19/2013 (15) comments It’s critical for high-tech companies to continually examine their sourcing strategies; here are some significant trends to consider today.
PLM: High Tech's Billion-Dollar Lever Kevin Prendeville 2/15/2013 (5) comments Product life-cycle management can help companies better manage and improve design and production processes, thereby increasing the probability of success.
Who's at the Heart of the Supply Chain? Bolaji Ojo 2/12/2013 (7) comments By moving to the core of the industry and offerings services that keep the system humming, a group within the electronics market has rendered irrelevant the question of ownership and control of the supply chain.
Time to Focus on Returns Change in the Chain 1/29/2013 (5) comments Without a good returns management policy, manufacturers can see their costs go up unnecessarily. A logistics expert can help.
USPS: Courier Extraordinaire The Sanity Clause 1/23/2013 (4) comments The US Postal Service continues to deliver great service even though it's been hobbled by Congressional mandates.
E-Waste: Not Easy at All Barbara Jorgensen 1/7/2013 (16) comments There are so many rules associated with e-waste collection that well-intended consumers might just give up.
Supply Chain Segmentation in Practice Logical Link 1/4/2013 (1) comment Supply chain segmentation as a concept has had to wait for the rest of the supply chain discipline to catch up in order to become viable.
Sourcing Challenges for End-of-Life Parts Supply Chain Intelligence 1/3/2013 (1) comment The unique challenges posed by end-of-life parts in manufacturing necessitate partnerships between open market suppliers and OEMs.
Consumers Swaying Supply Chain Decisions Anna Young 12/17/2012 (2) comments Consumers are exerting more control over the manufacturing supply chain by patronizing companies that operate in line with their objectives.
Supply Chain Strategy Alignment Wade McDaniel 10/31/2012 Post a comment Sourcing decisions have long-term impacts if not carefully thought out and matched to organizational supply chain strategy.
The End of Business as Usual Barbara Jorgensen 10/23/2012 (21) comments Companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are new to the hardware game. If anything, the supply chain will become more important to them as their business models evolve.
Optimistic Outlook for US High-Tech Exports Logical Link 10/17/2012 (1) comment Among executives who expressed optimism in the long-term growth of US exports, nearly one in three attributes this to the steady increase in disposable income in emerging markets.
Dream Cargo: Inspection-Free Shipment Best-Practices 10/16/2012 (10) comments Your company's cargo can ship anywhere worldwide without inspection delays, but it requires a level of trust and technology enablement.
Aboard the Tech Express Best-Practices 10/12/2012 (4) comments Major technological advances in transportation and logistics will affect the electronics supply chain. Are you ready?
Star TRECs for the Supply Chain Best-Practices 10/8/2012 (5) comments Transportation regulators are using innovative technologies to protect the supply chain. Some of them will affect your operations.
Counterfeiting: The Worst Is Yet to Come Barbara Jorgensen 10/8/2012 (24) comments Assuming that US government anti-counterfeiting efforts have an impact, reports of counterfeits will get worse before they get better.
The Parts Are on the Way, but at What Cost? Logical Link 9/25/2012 (23) comments The rising cost of logistics adds to the challenges facing manufacturers at a time when supply chain efficiencies help companies gain market share.
The Multiple Levers of Reverse Logistics Barbara Jorgensen 7/30/2012 (7) comments Reverse logistics can help improve the electronics supply chain and combat counterfeiting, and the largest distributors are showing how.
Safeguarding the Supply Chain Logical Link 7/25/2012 (2) comments Keeping the electronics supply chain secure has become a critical operational function at many OEMs and suppliers.
Will Online Taxes Change Buying Habits? Barbara Jorgensen 7/17/2012 (4) comments Currently, buyers pay sales tax on online purchases if the retailer also maintains a physical presence in the buyer's state.
A Return to Profitable Proximity Douglas Kent 7/11/2012 (17) comments High-tech firms are more closely examining total cost in designing supply chains and in cases, moving production closer to consumers.
A Lesson From Apple: Simplify Bolaji Ojo 7/9/2012 (11) comments A complex supply chain may be preferred in some cases, but for most manufacturers, a simple procurement and production process is better.
Apple Elevates Supply Chain Under Cook Tam Harbert 6/12/2012 (7) comments Apple's Tim Cook is molding the firm to conform to his own management strategy, and the supply chain is getting increased visibility as a result.
Logistics Are Hot in Europe Logical Link 4/23/2012 (14) comments A spate of logistics acquisitions in Europe points to a scramble among service providers for business on the continent.
UPS Strengthens Its EU Presence Logical Link 3/27/2012 (19) comments UPS is gaining a bigger slice of the European express delivery market and is bulking up existing operations in fast-growing Latin American and Asia Pacific countries, namely Brazil and China.
Customers Are Changing the High-Tech Game Change in the Chain 2/21/2012 (16) comments Customers are calling the shots on when, where, and how goods and services are delivered and what will succeed in the marketplace.
What’s 'at the Heart of It All' for FedEx Gerry Fay 5/10/2013 (6) comments In North America, the electronics supply chain relies heavily on ground shipping. Avnet's Gerry Fay interviews Dave Kevern, vice president, World-Wide Services at Federal Express to get insights.
New Survey Reveals Persistent Supply Chain Problems At the Source 5/3/2013 Post a comment While some parts of the high-tech supply chain network can be improved by implementing policies and procedures, other parts of the network are beyond the control of even the most skilled supply chain executive.
Industrial Semi: Turnkey Services Smooth Uncharted Waters Supply Chain Intelligence 4/19/2013 (2) comments As semiconductor penetration increases, it is worthwhile to stop and recognize that not all industrial clients may have the same familiarity with electronics industry best-practices.
The FedEx-UPS Duopoly Brian Fuller 4/19/2013 (5) comments The two biggest ground shippers in North America raise prices seemingly annually, which can hurt small to midsized components companies that can't absorb or pass on the increases.
Europe-Asia Rail Link: One Step Closer? Logical Link 4/16/2013 (8) comments A uniform rail regime would take many years to assemble but could eventually present a cost-effective alternative to cargo planes and ships.
Get Supply Chain Analytics on Your Roadmap Lalit Wadhwa 4/12/2013 (2) comments Technology plays a critical role in assimilating large and complex data sets from upstream and downstream members of the value chain, analyzing it and modeling it to optimize the supply chain.
Insourcing's Boom Brian Fuller 4/3/2013 (4) comments Heavy manufacturing is coming back on shore by letting people imagine how they would eliminate their own jobs.
RFID Sparks New Supply Chain Demand Best-Practices 4/3/2013 (9) comments RFID makes it possible not only to increase the quantity and types of products streaming through the supply chain, but also to build higher-level products and services.
Making the Right Transportation Modal Decision Wade McDaniel 3/29/2013 (13) comments Truck or rail? Air or sea? The mode of transport can offer competitive advantage for organizations to increase profit margins through carefully optimizing their mode selection.
How to Do On-Shoring Right Brian Fuller 3/25/2013 (7) comments When you play in the surveillance-camera market, it pays to offshore your electronics manufacturing... unless you're an up-and-coming Canadian firm.
Outsourced Manufacturers Struggle With Uncertain Demand iSuppli EMS, ODM Insights 3/4/2013 (4) comments Improved inventory velocity was a key theme for the outsourced manufacturing industry in 2012. Fast forward 12 months, and the hoped-for improvement has not really materialized.
Do We Matter Anymore? Brian Fuller 2/21/2013 (24) comments People are becoming less valuable to companies. If that makes you uncomfortable, it's a start.
Major Sourcing Shifts Coming in Next 5 Years Change in the Chain 2/19/2013 (15) comments It’s critical for high-tech companies to continually examine their sourcing strategies; here are some significant trends to consider today.
PLM: High Tech's Billion-Dollar Lever Kevin Prendeville 2/15/2013 (5) comments Product life-cycle management can help companies better manage and improve design and production processes, thereby increasing the probability of success.
Who's at the Heart of the Supply Chain? Bolaji Ojo 2/12/2013 (7) comments By moving to the core of the industry and offerings services that keep the system humming, a group within the electronics market has rendered irrelevant the question of ownership and control of the supply chain.
Time to Focus on Returns Change in the Chain 1/29/2013 (5) comments Without a good returns management policy, manufacturers can see their costs go up unnecessarily. A logistics expert can help.
USPS: Courier Extraordinaire The Sanity Clause 1/23/2013 (4) comments The US Postal Service continues to deliver great service even though it's been hobbled by Congressional mandates.
E-Waste: Not Easy at All Barbara Jorgensen 1/7/2013 (16) comments There are so many rules associated with e-waste collection that well-intended consumers might just give up.
Supply Chain Segmentation in Practice Logical Link 1/4/2013 (1) comment Supply chain segmentation as a concept has had to wait for the rest of the supply chain discipline to catch up in order to become viable.
Sourcing Challenges for End-of-Life Parts Supply Chain Intelligence 1/3/2013 (1) comment The unique challenges posed by end-of-life parts in manufacturing necessitate partnerships between open market suppliers and OEMs.
Consumers Swaying Supply Chain Decisions Anna Young 12/17/2012 (2) comments Consumers are exerting more control over the manufacturing supply chain by patronizing companies that operate in line with their objectives.
Supply Chain Strategy Alignment Wade McDaniel 10/31/2012 Post a comment Sourcing decisions have long-term impacts if not carefully thought out and matched to organizational supply chain strategy.
The End of Business as Usual Barbara Jorgensen 10/23/2012 (21) comments Companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are new to the hardware game. If anything, the supply chain will become more important to them as their business models evolve.
Optimistic Outlook for US High-Tech Exports Logical Link 10/17/2012 (1) comment Among executives who expressed optimism in the long-term growth of US exports, nearly one in three attributes this to the steady increase in disposable income in emerging markets.
Dream Cargo: Inspection-Free Shipment Best-Practices 10/16/2012 (10) comments Your company's cargo can ship anywhere worldwide without inspection delays, but it requires a level of trust and technology enablement.
Aboard the Tech Express Best-Practices 10/12/2012 (4) comments Major technological advances in transportation and logistics will affect the electronics supply chain. Are you ready?
Star TRECs for the Supply Chain Best-Practices 10/8/2012 (5) comments Transportation regulators are using innovative technologies to protect the supply chain. Some of them will affect your operations.
Counterfeiting: The Worst Is Yet to Come Barbara Jorgensen 10/8/2012 (24) comments Assuming that US government anti-counterfeiting efforts have an impact, reports of counterfeits will get worse before they get better.
The Parts Are on the Way, but at What Cost? Logical Link 9/25/2012 (23) comments The rising cost of logistics adds to the challenges facing manufacturers at a time when supply chain efficiencies help companies gain market share.
The Multiple Levers of Reverse Logistics Barbara Jorgensen 7/30/2012 (7) comments Reverse logistics can help improve the electronics supply chain and combat counterfeiting, and the largest distributors are showing how.
Safeguarding the Supply Chain Logical Link 7/25/2012 (2) comments Keeping the electronics supply chain secure has become a critical operational function at many OEMs and suppliers.
Will Online Taxes Change Buying Habits? Barbara Jorgensen 7/17/2012 (4) comments Currently, buyers pay sales tax on online purchases if the retailer also maintains a physical presence in the buyer's state.
A Return to Profitable Proximity Douglas Kent 7/11/2012 (17) comments High-tech firms are more closely examining total cost in designing supply chains and in cases, moving production closer to consumers.
A Lesson From Apple: Simplify Bolaji Ojo 7/9/2012 (11) comments A complex supply chain may be preferred in some cases, but for most manufacturers, a simple procurement and production process is better.
Apple Elevates Supply Chain Under Cook Tam Harbert 6/12/2012 (7) comments Apple's Tim Cook is molding the firm to conform to his own management strategy, and the supply chain is getting increased visibility as a result.
Logistics Are Hot in Europe Logical Link 4/23/2012 (14) comments A spate of logistics acquisitions in Europe points to a scramble among service providers for business on the continent.
UPS Strengthens Its EU Presence Logical Link 3/27/2012 (19) comments UPS is gaining a bigger slice of the European express delivery market and is bulking up existing operations in fast-growing Latin American and Asia Pacific countries, namely Brazil and China.
Customers Are Changing the High-Tech Game Change in the Chain 2/21/2012 (16) comments Customers are calling the shots on when, where, and how goods and services are delivered and what will succeed in the marketplace.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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