Electronic Component Lifecycle Platform
Only a week into 2021, and it is becoming clear that much of the uncertainty that clouded 2020 has remained, and in some cases, even exacerbated. The United Kingdom has just imposed another nationwide lockdown following the rapid spread of a more transmissible COVID-19 variant, global vaccination distribution remains a topic of discussion (it has…
Ideally, OEMs, EMS providers, and authorized distributors alike want their inventory to move fast. The quicker the inventory moves, the quicker the company receives adequate return on their investment and frees up any capital that may have been tied up. In reality, however, things rarely go according to plan. Quite often, circumstances outside of the…
OEMs are not the only companies in the electronics industry that struggle with the repercussions of last time buys. EMS providers and authorized distributors alike often are forced to tie up thousands of dollars in already limited working capital to hold large quantities of end-of-life inventory on behalf of their OEM customers. Ideally, EMS providers…
The issue semiconductor manufacturers face transitioning end-of-life (EOL) electronic components toward obsolescence is difficult to solve. While inevitable and necessary to continue offering products to the highest proportion of consumers, the risk of alienating a significant number of long-standing, loyal customers is ever present. Even with appropriate notice via a PCN, unexpected obsolescence puts legacy…
Although last time buys are a critical element of any manufacturing process, it has been historically difficult to view them in anything but a negative light. When a last time buy becomes necessary, it means that something has not gone according to plan — a component essential to the build has unexpectedly been transitioned toward…
Contract electronics manufacturers, especially in today’s environment, struggle with cash flow issues. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the need for businesses to free up what limited capital they have on hand to not just meet their production goals, but to implement critical safety measures to keep their employees safe. “[I]n a time like this,…