Supply Chain Reaction
What's happening in the electronics supply chain that will change the way business is done? News Editor Suzanne Deffree looks at environmental regulations, RFID, inventory levels, globalization, distribution, and a host of other issues that influence the electronics supply chain.
SEMI REACH Webcast on Aug 11
Speak of the devil. Just a few days after we blog about the need for more REACH awareness, SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International), SESHA (Semiconductor Environmental, Health and Safety Association), ESIA (European Semiconductor Industry Association), and ISMI (International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative) announce a Webcast on the environmental regulation. The 90-minute free ...... Read More
Comments (7)Industry not prepared for REACH, IPC survey proves
The IPC released some startling numbers this week, suggesting that the electronics supply chain is not ready for the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation, despite the fact that it took effect on June 1, 2007. The industry group conducted a survey on REACH preparedness in the North American and European interconnect industry and found that more tha ...... Read More
Comments (6)Countering China’s counterfeit components
There’s a newly implemented system in China to thwart counterfeit components. Blessed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and jointly supported by the China Quality Management Association for the Electronics Industry (CQAE) and the China Electronic Purchasing Association (CEPA), the Reliable Electronic Component Suppliers (RECS) system certifies and authenticates e ...... Read More
Comments (10)With courts favoring Broadcom, changes to cell-phone supply chain near
Broadcom and Qualcomm were back in court today, each beating their same old drums when it comes to certain cell-phone power-conservation chips. Today’s courtroom reunion sees the two competitors once again arguing over if cell phones using Qualcomm chips that include technology found to infringe Broadcom patents should be sold in the United States. Qualcomm was ordered by the US District Co ...... Read More
Comments (2)Newark inks Dataman distribution deal, pushes product online
Newark has inked an exclusive North America distribution deal with UK device programmer manufacturer Dataman. Newark, part of UK-based Premier Farnell Group, will distribute Dataman’s range of universal, specialized, and gang programmers, designed for use with prototyping and production quantities of MCUs, memory chips, and programmable logic devices. Included in the offering are the latest ...... Read More
Comments (2)EC green lights Avnet acquisition of Horizon
The European Commission has given its blessing to Avnet Inc’s acquisition of Horizon Technology Group, an Ireland-based IT products distributor. All in all, Horizon had total sales of $455 million (288 million Euro) and EBITDA of $16.9 million (10.7 million Euro) before unusual items in 2007. Phoenix-based Avnet made a cash offer of $1.87 (1.18 Euros) per share or approximately $156.1 ...... Read More
Comments (2)EDN Innovator Fern Abrams discusses the cons of green measures
In my blog post yesterday, I note that I recently interviewed Fern Abrams, IPC’s director of government relations and environmental policy, on the addition of material restrictions to environmental regulations like ROHS and REACH. The interview, which was more fun than business thanks to Fern’s witty sense of humor, was for EDN’s special “2008 Innovators” issue. ...... Read More
Comments (6)IPC expresses concerns on possible ROHS revisions
IPC today reported on its recent ROHS-revision focused workshop in Brussels and — like a growing number of electronics supply chain companies, organizations, and experts – noted concerns with the Öko-Institut’s proposed expansion of ROHS substance restrictions. Öko-Institut was contracted by the European Commission to study the inclusion of additional hazardous subst ...... Read More
Comments (12)Economy begins to show impact on distribution
Numbers out of Europe this week show that economic concerns, like those here in the United States, are, indeed, having an impact on the electronics supply chain. IDEA (the International Distribution of Electronics Association) has reported that European DTAM (distribution total available market) saw 3.8% sequential growth in Q1, below expectations. Year over year, the growth showed a 9% decli ...... Read More
Comments (1)Disagreement on NYC e-waste ordinance
It looks like New York City will be going ahead with an e-waste law, putting additional emphasis on the end-of-life stage of the electronics supply chain, whether the mayor and some industry groups want it or not. The New York City Council voted last week to override Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s veto of Introductory Number 729, which would have amended the “Electronic Equipment Collecti ...... Read More
Comments (13)Top 25 electronics distributors list
I get request from readers all year long for our top 25 list of electronics distributors. Here it is folks, our most recent ranking. This year, in addition to the ranking, we’ve provided content on how technology advancements are impacting the electronics supply chain and distribution channel. We’ve also given special attention to environmental regulations and how they are impa ...... Read More
Comments (4)EDS: Strategy for distributor success with HB LEDs
Ah, lighting, this year’s EDS shinning star. The market holds great opportunity for the electronics supply chain. It’s particularly attractive to distributors, as coming HB LEDs (high brightness light-emitting diodes) will require full system approaches from suppliers and manufacturers, including thermal management systems to control heat. HB LEDs, named a 2007 hot technology by EDN, ...... Read More
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