Time to Saddle Up on Conflict Minerals Peter Buxbaum 5/23/2013 (2) comments Companies waiting to implement a conflict minerals compliance program -- and apparently many are -- until after an appeals court rules on its validity should be getting themselves in gear in light of a recent decision by the same court in a similar case.
Contract Manufacturers Can Do More With AOI Michael Allen 5/15/2013 (3) comments Businesses can realize quality gains and cost savings with better use of automated optical inspection. Here’s how one company found success.
Supply Chain Meets Design Chain Brian Fuller 4/24/2013 (8) comments The Great Recession pushed savvy contract manufacturers to dive into design services. Here's one example.
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.
Dueling Swords in EMS market Bolaji Ojo 2/22/2013 (7) comments With margins extremely tight, contract manufacturers are learning to dump some contracts while expanding services in other areas.
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.
Design-for-Assembly Is Crucial to Design Success Best-Practices 2/19/2013 (15) comments When products are being designed, the engineers must also consider product characteristics beyond functions, user interfaces, appearances, or operating conditions.
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.
Water Risks Impacting Supply Chains Logical Link 2/7/2013 (7) comments Too little or too much water can hurt businesses, and manufacturers should pay closer attention to how this can impact the supply chain.
China Isn't Being Displaced Ken Bradley 2/5/2013 (16) comments Reports stating that companies are shifting manufacturing from China back to high-cost locations may be overstating the development.
Changes in the OEM World Logical Link 2/4/2013 (15) comments Several OEMs are trying to reengineer their operations for a new future, but there are dangers on the way.
CES: Components Were the Headliners Todd Traylor 1/23/2013 (8) comments What was new at CES and what is most important for the supply chain is the focus on the exciting capabilities of the latest components.
Will 2013 Be the Year of Big-Data? Barbara Jorgensen 1/22/2013 (14) comments Electronics makers are looking to leverage the advantages of big-data in forecasting and demand planning. How successful will they be?
See Me, Touch Me, Move Me at CES Semico Spin 1/18/2013 (11) comments CES showed many interesting devices and applications using sensors and MEMS. But this is just the beginning; more innovation will occur.
Tablets: Cheap, Cheaper & Cheapest At the Source 1/17/2013 (38) comments Price competition in the tablet PC market shows vendors unable to compete at the top end want to grab share in the second or third tier.
When Is Excellence Not Enough? Bolaji Ojo 1/17/2013 (10) comments In 2013, manufacturers will need not just an excellent supply chain, but one that works closely with other departments.
Why PCs Aren't Selling Barbara Jorgensen 1/11/2013 (29) comments Tablets aren't better than PCs for many functions, so why are PCs trying to become more like tablets?
Year of the Phablets Anna Young 1/11/2013 (18) comments PC shipment fell in 2012, and may decline again this year as more consumers opt for smartphones and tablet PC combos called Phablets.
Manufacturing Job-Growth Equation Is Changing News of the Day 1/10/2013 (8) comments Only 20 percent of the manufacturing jobs lost in the United States since 2000 can be tied to outsourcing. The rest are due to productivity gains.
Solar Supply Chain Consolidating in 2013 Latest Research 1/10/2013 (2) comments Worldwide, the total number of companies participating directly in the manufacturing of PV solar panels is set to fall to approximately 150 in 2013
Samsung Becoming the Apple of Our Eye? Bolaji Ojo 1/9/2013 (22) comments Apple is the toast of the industry, but Samsung is now getting as much attention. Who will be the next darling of the supply chain?
Upgradeable TV: Brilliant or Crazy? Barbara Jorgensen 1/8/2013 (21) comments Instead of buying new TVs, consumers would buy a box that upgrades their current set. It is a boon or bust for the supply chain?
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.
Manufacturing on a Roll Bolaji Ojo 1/2/2013 Post a comment Global manufacturing stabilized in December, sparking hope 2013 could be better than currently forecast despite weakness in Europe and Japan.
Finding Profitable Proximity Douglas Kent 12/24/2012 (13) comments How much does serving that customer offshore really cost? Let's revisit the justification for far-shore manufacturing.
Finding & Securing Hard-to-Find Parts Barbara Jorgensen 12/21/2012 (9) comments OEMs, component makers, distributors, and supply chain partners must collaborate to resolve challenges related to procuring scarce parts.
Building the 'Ideal' Supply Chain Best-Practices 12/21/2012 (15) comments The ideal supply chain is not a transplant but must be specific to a product or organization and flexible for unexpected developments.
Turning Ordinary to Great Ken Bradley 12/19/2012 (3) comments The recipe for turning an ordinary purchasing department into a great one is simple: start negotiating.
Local Manufacturing: Not Too Much to Ask At the Source 12/18/2012 (8) comments US High-tech firms not only need to increase sales and profits but also help ensure the growth of manufacturing jobs in the country.
An Ounce of Review, A Ton of Cure Best-Practices 12/18/2012 (1) comment Design engineers are vital to product development, but manufacturing success requires the early involvement of the component engineer.
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.
Robotic Revolution Best-Practices 12/12/2012 (34) comments Robots could be the new top-level worker in tomorrow's factory, driving down operating costs and raising production efficiency.
Time to Saddle Up on Conflict Minerals Peter Buxbaum 5/23/2013 (2) comments Companies waiting to implement a conflict minerals compliance program -- and apparently many are -- until after an appeals court rules on its validity should be getting themselves in gear in light of a recent decision by the same court in a similar case.
Contract Manufacturers Can Do More With AOI Michael Allen 5/15/2013 (3) comments Businesses can realize quality gains and cost savings with better use of automated optical inspection. Here’s how one company found success.
Supply Chain Meets Design Chain Brian Fuller 4/24/2013 (8) comments The Great Recession pushed savvy contract manufacturers to dive into design services. Here's one example.
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.
Dueling Swords in EMS market Bolaji Ojo 2/22/2013 (7) comments With margins extremely tight, contract manufacturers are learning to dump some contracts while expanding services in other areas.
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.
Design-for-Assembly Is Crucial to Design Success Best-Practices 2/19/2013 (15) comments When products are being designed, the engineers must also consider product characteristics beyond functions, user interfaces, appearances, or operating conditions.
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.
Water Risks Impacting Supply Chains Logical Link 2/7/2013 (7) comments Too little or too much water can hurt businesses, and manufacturers should pay closer attention to how this can impact the supply chain.
China Isn't Being Displaced Ken Bradley 2/5/2013 (16) comments Reports stating that companies are shifting manufacturing from China back to high-cost locations may be overstating the development.
Changes in the OEM World Logical Link 2/4/2013 (15) comments Several OEMs are trying to reengineer their operations for a new future, but there are dangers on the way.
CES: Components Were the Headliners Todd Traylor 1/23/2013 (8) comments What was new at CES and what is most important for the supply chain is the focus on the exciting capabilities of the latest components.
Will 2013 Be the Year of Big-Data? Barbara Jorgensen 1/22/2013 (14) comments Electronics makers are looking to leverage the advantages of big-data in forecasting and demand planning. How successful will they be?
See Me, Touch Me, Move Me at CES Semico Spin 1/18/2013 (11) comments CES showed many interesting devices and applications using sensors and MEMS. But this is just the beginning; more innovation will occur.
Tablets: Cheap, Cheaper & Cheapest At the Source 1/17/2013 (38) comments Price competition in the tablet PC market shows vendors unable to compete at the top end want to grab share in the second or third tier.
When Is Excellence Not Enough? Bolaji Ojo 1/17/2013 (10) comments In 2013, manufacturers will need not just an excellent supply chain, but one that works closely with other departments.
Why PCs Aren't Selling Barbara Jorgensen 1/11/2013 (29) comments Tablets aren't better than PCs for many functions, so why are PCs trying to become more like tablets?
Year of the Phablets Anna Young 1/11/2013 (18) comments PC shipment fell in 2012, and may decline again this year as more consumers opt for smartphones and tablet PC combos called Phablets.
Manufacturing Job-Growth Equation Is Changing News of the Day 1/10/2013 (8) comments Only 20 percent of the manufacturing jobs lost in the United States since 2000 can be tied to outsourcing. The rest are due to productivity gains.
Solar Supply Chain Consolidating in 2013 Latest Research 1/10/2013 (2) comments Worldwide, the total number of companies participating directly in the manufacturing of PV solar panels is set to fall to approximately 150 in 2013
Samsung Becoming the Apple of Our Eye? Bolaji Ojo 1/9/2013 (22) comments Apple is the toast of the industry, but Samsung is now getting as much attention. Who will be the next darling of the supply chain?
Upgradeable TV: Brilliant or Crazy? Barbara Jorgensen 1/8/2013 (21) comments Instead of buying new TVs, consumers would buy a box that upgrades their current set. It is a boon or bust for the supply chain?
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.
Manufacturing on a Roll Bolaji Ojo 1/2/2013 Post a comment Global manufacturing stabilized in December, sparking hope 2013 could be better than currently forecast despite weakness in Europe and Japan.
Finding Profitable Proximity Douglas Kent 12/24/2012 (13) comments How much does serving that customer offshore really cost? Let's revisit the justification for far-shore manufacturing.
Finding & Securing Hard-to-Find Parts Barbara Jorgensen 12/21/2012 (9) comments OEMs, component makers, distributors, and supply chain partners must collaborate to resolve challenges related to procuring scarce parts.
Building the 'Ideal' Supply Chain Best-Practices 12/21/2012 (15) comments The ideal supply chain is not a transplant but must be specific to a product or organization and flexible for unexpected developments.
Turning Ordinary to Great Ken Bradley 12/19/2012 (3) comments The recipe for turning an ordinary purchasing department into a great one is simple: start negotiating.
Local Manufacturing: Not Too Much to Ask At the Source 12/18/2012 (8) comments US High-tech firms not only need to increase sales and profits but also help ensure the growth of manufacturing jobs in the country.
An Ounce of Review, A Ton of Cure Best-Practices 12/18/2012 (1) comment Design engineers are vital to product development, but manufacturing success requires the early involvement of the component engineer.
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.
Robotic Revolution Best-Practices 12/12/2012 (34) comments Robots could be the new top-level worker in tomorrow's factory, driving down operating costs and raising production efficiency.
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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