Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1193979
72 PCB007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2019 Interview by the I-Connect007 Editorial Team The I-Connect007 Editorial Team recently spoke with Chris Minard, director of business development at CML, about how CML's busi- ness model has evolved and some of his in- sights about manufacturing trends around the globe right now. Andy Shaughnessy: Chris, CML is more than a PCB solutions provider. Tell us about that. Chirs Minard: Yes. Our new slogan, "More Than a Manufacturer," plays off how we've changed very significantly over the past few years. When we were founded in Germany in 2001, we were a PCB sourcing company and were very much an automotive market supplier. We've been able to grow over the last 18 years and have evolved into manufacturing to pro- vide even more comprehensive PCB solutions for our customers. Now, we're in 16 different locations worldwide and 12 different countries with more expansion planned for 2020. All of our growth is organic, so we move into a mar- ket, hire local people located in the country, speak the native language, and, of course, op- erate on the local time zones. CML Poised to Be 'More Than a Manufacturer' Our expansion over the years has been very methodical and measured. We want to be sure that, as we keep moving forward and de- veloping as a company, nothing falls between the cracks and that service levels are not af- fected. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority. A lot of companies try to grow too quickly, and there are pitfalls that we acknowledged that go along with that; from our managing di- rectors down, we are extremely careful not to do that. We want all of our customers to get the same level of support and service regardless of where in the world they're located. Some of our core customers are headquartered in Ger- many but are also doing manufacturing in Asia and Mexico. Their expectation, and our goal, is that all of their locations will get the same level of services from our local CML branch, regard- less of where they are located. Shaughnessy: Are you planning more global expansion? Minard: We are looking to expand further through vertical integration, which includes production facilities in Sichuan province. We chose Sichuan because it's extremely acces-