Imagine a GPGPU semiconductor is developed in the U.S. or Japan, and the attendant software and supporting components are developed in India. Then, a medical imaging platform is conceived in Germany and a complete system is built, tested, configured and …
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Supply Chain Management
Military EMS and printed circuit board security risks using global innovation networks
Effective ODM and EMS provider marketing
ODM and EMS providers are poor when it comes to brand marketing. Differentiation comes from identifying that short list of relevant attributes your organization does exceptionally well in comparison to other alternatives also available to buyers in industry.
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How OEMs can build better EMS provider relationships
Asking questions about cost, quality, strategic fit and risk is only part of OEM best practices for EMS provider due diligence. Reliance on a single point of contact can be a sign of lack of depth, or simply due to …
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Electronics industry readers comment on crisis in Japan
Well prepared supply-chains, like Apple, have hedged their sources and will do well. It is very hard to refrain from saying, “I told you so” when looking at the failure to set up second sources, alternate manufacturing sites.
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End of an era as Japanese earthquake forever changes face of semiconductor chip manufacturing industry
The world can no longer rely on single source semiconductor manufacturing. Protecting semiconductor manufacturing capabilities should be likened to oil-producing countries protecting their natural resources.
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VIDEO – Defining disaster in Japan: Impact on Japanese and global electronics industry supply chains
Japan represents 10% to 15% of global electronics demand but 16% to 30% of electronics component supply. OEMs with meaningful cash positions are trying to pull in orders, buying up available component supplies. Taiwan printed circuit board companies like Kinsus and Unimicron could see bigger negative impacts.
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EMS manufacturing site relocation and selection in North America
Some states offering incentives for EMS providers are really just imposing more taxes. Understanding which states are more aggressive when it comes to incentives capabilities is key to selecting geography.
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RoHS Recast: What’s in store for 2.0?
Anything not exempted from the scope of ‘Electrical and Electronic Equipment’ is subject to the Recast provisions. An entirely new eleventh category will be added to Article 2. Not a part of RoHS legislation, but closely linked to it, is EU CE marking.
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Improving printed circuit board surface mount technology (SMT) line productivity with preventative maintenance and cause and effect analysis
Eliminating SMT line preventative maintenance to save costs in tough economic times is a mistake. Tracking SMT line performance with an SMT line downtime form can improve cause and effect analysis and increase productivity.
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Worldwide EMS / ODM five year forecasts deals blow to pure ODM model, reflects trends and challenges for industry, OEMs
IDC’s five year forecast (2009 – 2014, see chart) for the worldwide EMS and ODM sectors, plus worldwide total EMS industry, reflects the cost (spend) for product outsource design and manufacturing services and MCOGs sourced to EMS and ODM companies across the Americas, Europe and Asia.
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