Electronics Supply Chain

Asia-based semi vendors repel 2009 downturn 3/17/2010

While the rest of the global semiconductor industry suffered a sharp downturn in 2009, Asia-Pacific-based chipmakers actually grew, albeit modestly, by 2.3%, according to market researchers at iSuppli Corp.

Website services help distributors compete 3/16/2010

No longer simple tools for listing components and data sheets, distributor Websites help customers research new technology, compare parts, receive training, and design prototypes.

iSuppli: semi industry more profitable now than in past decade 3/15/2010

Thanks to the increasingly aggressive management of costs, capacity and competitive positioning, the global semiconductor business is currently more profitable than it has been at any time in the last decade, market researchers at the El Segundo, Calif. market research company said. In addition to capacity management, iSuppli believes the profitability rebound reflects a more fundamental shift in the competitive structure of the global semiconductor industry.

Distributors step up embedded systems support 3/9/2010

If there's ever been a period in the design chain where cost and time-to-market haven't been major factors, it's faded into distant memory. As engineers continue to pursue the best design solutions in the quickest way possible, distributors are stepping up their embedded systems support to help ease some of the pressure.

Is the semi recovery more modest than it appears? 3/8/2010

Macroeconomic factors in 2009 dictated market conditions that were independent of the technology business therefore comparisons with 2007 and 2008 provide a more accurate depiction of 2010 semiconductor market conditions, market researchers at iSuppli believe.

Voices: Roy Vallee: Innovation must go on 12/15/2009

Roy Vallee, a 37-year distribution-industry veteran and chairman and chief executive officer of Avnet Inc, discusses the year that was and the year to come, where opportunities are, and how innovation continued despite a turbulent 2009.

Is there gold in Green Technology? A microelectronics perspective 9/18/2009

A panel sponsored by international science and technology interest group Monte Jade explored the realities behind the promise of huge new microelectronics markets from so-called Green Tech—the global drive to lower carbon footprints, reduce energy use, and shift to sustainable consumption. The panel combined venture capitalists, industry executives, and an executive from a key electric power industry organization, and produced a fascinating cross-fire of ideas.

Voices: Newark/Premier Farnell's Gary Nevison: scoping out the Environmental Design of Electrical Equipment Act 9/17/2009

Gary Nevison, legislation and environmental affairs manager at UK-based distributor Farnell and its US company Newark, recently discussed the Environmental Design of Electrical Equipment Act and compared it with ROHS.

Workshop addresses LED challenges 9/9/2009

The US Department of Energy recently invested $6.4 million in LED design to encourage innovation in solid-state lighting. But solid-state lighting is as much about the surrounding electronic-power-control circuitry, thermal management, and optics as it is about the basic LED devices.

Voices: Avnet’s Jeff Ittel: Think board to go broad 6/25/2009

Avnet's Jeff Ittel discusses designing across the board and its benefits to distributors and engineers.

Targeting Japan 11/6/2007

William Mitchell, chairman, president and CEO of Arrow Electronics, discusses the global distribution supply chain giant’s first Japanese subsidiary, how Japan differs from other parts of Asia, and the company’s strategy for the region in this one-on-one interview.

Distribution’s balancing act 10/30/2007

Executive Insight: Harley Feldberg, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing, discusses the Avnet Inc. operating group’s recent quarterly numbers, the distribution industry’s overall competitive landscape, and the global balancing act that the company uses to gain sales and market share in a challenging business environment in this one-on-one interview.

China design houses change direction 7/2/2007

A new approach is to add manufacturing and create turnkey solutions as competition heats up with Taiwanese original design manufacturers.

Green looks greener 5/4/2007

National Semiconductor CEO Brian Halla talks about the new opportunities for electronics and what it will take to get there.

New Supreme Court patent ruling may create uncertainty 5/3/2007

The Supreme Court adopted a new standard that will make it harder to get new patents and defend ones that already exist. Some say the ruling, while raising the bar, has created uncertainty. Has the system been undermined?

2007 top 100 contract manufacturers 9/27/2007

Electronic Business offers up its annual accounting of the leaders in EMS (electronics manufacturing services) and ODM (original design manufacturing).

Market intelligence for the electronics supply chain 8/14/2007

Converge reports that activity in the DRAM market remains quiet; demand for older Intel CPUs is creating a supply shortage; and demand for notebook drives continues to grow.

Market intelligence for the electronics supply chain 6/15/2007

The Converge Market Intelligence team reports that the DRAM market is beginning to stabilize; shortages in low end processors will be common going forward; and quality is starting to become an issue in the IC market.

IPC: U.S. consumer confidence down, new electronics orders flat 6/11/2007

The industry group reports less-than stellar findings for the month of April, but said that expanding global consumer electronics demand will support continued growth in EMS industry sales into the foreseeable future.

VC investments hit highest quarterly level in 5 years, report says 4/24/2007

In the first quarter of 2007, venture capitalists invested $7.1 billion into 778 deals, the highest quarterly dollar amount since the fourth quarter of 2001, according to the MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association based on data by Thomson Financial.