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44 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2022 Continuing Production Despite Shortages In this time of short supply, American man- ufacturers have shown resiliency and ingenu- ity. Equipment suppliers are ready to meet the changing needs of the market by supplying the necessary tools. With the right equipment, manufacturers operating in-house equipment can continue production. By taking precau- tions to safeguard the components available, and by being able to have the flexibility to pivot from SMT to THT when necessary, small and medium manufacturers can survive despite adversity. SMT007 Emmalee Gagnon writes about SMT-related topics and customer stories for Manncorp. To read past columns or contact Gagnon, click here. • Lead formers: Axial and radial lead-form- ing machines are available to efficiently cut, bend, and form taped and loose com- ponents for through-hole assembly. As many companies with in-house produc- tion (and those looking to start with their own product assembly) have been confronted by shortages of parts, through-hole (THT) pro- duction has emerged as a possible solution for many. Since the components necessary for THT are more readily available than those for SMT, reconfiguring can help manufactur- ers reduce wait times and increase output. If your company has been struggling to get the SMT parts necessary for production, it may be worth considering adding THT capability to your production.