@se--Thanks for your comment. Except for the pharma industry and possibly a few others I am unaware of, the electronics distribution industry is really state of the art. Part of the reason is US distributors, at least, had to develop a lot of their own systems to do stuff is becuase out of the box systems could not. The channel had developed product-tracking software even before UPS and FedEx introduced theirs (for public use, anyway). Distributors did not get paid if they could not keep track of their orders. Good enough reason, I think :-)
Globalization and off-shoring may have the differential in operating costs as its primary motivation. It also has synergistic benefits though, as regions with varied corporate cultures are forced to deal with each other with a minimum of disincentives imposed by government trade policy.
I've never read Adam Smith, but his work is often pointed to as a foundation for free market thinking. That the United States can hold its own in the electronics supply chain sector, even in an administrative capacity is good news--this expertise is hard to counterfeit! Maybe the situation is optimum where design and manufacturing are located in regions where they are most cost-effective.
Then again, operating costs have a way of equilibrating when multiple regions have a free exchange of goods and services. I'm sure I'm not alone as an American in my hopes that the decline in the standard of living we've seen in this country is not the rule moving forward.
I love working with Digikey, Mouser, Newark and Element14. Digikey and Mouser are very good with parts in small quantity with very low shipping and Newark and Element14 are very good for tools and instruments.
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.
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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