Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1189040
66 SMT007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2019 Is their technology competency real, and is it a match for your company? Quiz them on a few typical risk scenarios and evaluate the qual- ity and depth of their answers. What you want to avoid is a PCB supplier who just takes an order and a commission, but is not able to help when, inevitably, "things happen." Work with a company that meets your technical, support, and risk profile. Most companies will value having peace of mind knowing that their PCB manufacturer has their back. Just in Time A significant risk, financially as well as to the brand reputation of a company, involves supplying the product when it is needed. As design and manufacturing cycles continue to concatenate, significant risks are introduced into the transportation strategy. There are sev- eral ways to mitigate these risks. It is essential to work with a supplier who has experience in planning or rapidly respond- ing to transportation disruptions. There are many transportation options, such as air and ocean, and smaller shipments at regular inter- vals, with larger shipments to follow as next- step manufacturing ramps up. Pre-existing, dependable relationships with multiple carri- ers reduce delivery risk situations. And it goes without saying that crisis mode may not be the wisest time to start developing a new relation- ship on your own. Here's one example: "Near Thanksgiving, a company needed product brought in from Asia. They had planned to have a couple of thousand pieces delivered. Based on customs being closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, and when it was going to be shipped, it wasn't going to arrive at the customer until the week after the hol- iday. When the customer brought that con- cern to our attention, we confirmed that they needed five pieces to make the build for their end customer. Since this was a smaller produc- tion lot, we were able to get those completed and shipped out earlier, clearing customs before they closed for the holiday weekend. The company was able to complete their prod- uct, deliver it before the holiday break, enjoy their holiday, and avoided having to pull a team in and pay them holiday overtime." It is ideal to work with an experienced sup- plier. If you suddenly find yourself in a bind, you want to choose to work with a team whose prime focus is real communication. Their goal and focus should be to provide you with a complete solution. Having clearly assessed the details of your situation, they will look for solutions to mitigate all risks. Future Trends Several new industries coming into the mar- ketplace are new to the PCB industry, the global supply chain, and their risks. These industries—such as autonomous vehicles, 5G networking, as well as industrial applications, such as smart pools and lighting—will offer PCB manufacturers new growth opportunities and new technology solutions to develop with them. Yet, when investing in understanding the risks and mitigating them quickly and success- fully, clients should look to a complete solution provider to underscore the extreme growth and technical response required. SMT007 Kimberly Johnson is the executive VP of global operations for APCT Global. Tony Torres is the director of business development for APCT Global. Most companies will value having peace of mind knowing that their PCB manufacturer has their back.