Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1071356
32 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2019 expect such low service levels that they don't realize there are still some partners out there who believe that it's their responsibility to invest in this whole design chain. Our engineering staff is available to help consult. We have customers physically send us their BOM and ask us to score it. There are third-party software tools out there that will do that. We do it with some of the information, and we have visibility for free. When they're in the purchasing mode down the road, we want that to be an easy, hassle-free experience, and as we've stated a couple of times now, you can't impact it at the time of procurement. It has to be upstream of that, so start with a phone call, webchat, or an email to us, and if not Digi-Key, there are other services out there to subscribe to that I would say are worth their weight in gold in times like this if you can design that little extra flexibility. I continue to be amazed at the proliferation of part numbers, the uniqueness, and again, in some cases, it's ironic where it's just the case of a small versus a large reel. One of the purchasing people will say, "No, I have to buy this particular part. Don't you have any?" We say, "No, but you can get two small reels to meet your needs. It will fit your same pick- and-place equipment, but it's going to have a different suffix so the manufacturer can designate the small versus large reel." They'll say, "Well, it doesn't match my BOM." In some cases, it's as simple as that. Johnson: Dave, is there anything else you want to mention? Doherty: This is an important topic for readers. Our whole livelihood is helping those folks find hard-to-get parts, and we have resources on staff to provide that support. So many times, you get stuck, call a company for help, and hear, "Dial three for this, dial six for this, etc." Next thing you know, you're back at the beginning. When you call Digi-Key or use our webchat function, you're going to get somebody ready to help. Finally, we're just in the process of closing in our expansion, which will almost quadruple the size footprint of the building that we're in and this warehouse is across the street. It's just a further commitment to show that we're excited about where this industry's going, and we need more space to inventory more product. Johnson: Thank you for your time. Shaughnessy: Thanks, Dave. Doherty: I appreciate it. DESIGN007 Digi-Key's planned expansion in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.