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JANUARY 2022 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 85 lent takeaway from the DoD's establishment of the DMSMS program. It tackled the prob- lem head-on by creating a system to preserve its operational efficiency in the face of an ev- er-shiing landscape. By adopting it, OEMs, CMs, and EMS providers can proactively ap- proach issues like critical parts going EOL or a new part shortage emerging. Also, firms can utilize a case management system to track their obsolescence and short- age issues. Manufacturers should make that a best practice because it enables them to react to unexpected problems across their organiza- tions. Given the status of the components land- scape, obsolescence and shortages increase the risk of counterfeits moving into the mar- ketplace. Desperate times make people desper- ate, but leaders should not allow adverse con- ditions to drive poor decision-making. Having a robust obsolescence and shortage manage- ment process in place is critical to steer clear of fake microelectronics and cost avoidance. Ultimately, proactive parts management is the key to overcoming adversity and succeed- ing in the contemporary semiconductor in- dustry. SMT007 References 1. "Semiconductor industry merger and acquisi- tion (M&A) agreements value worldwide, from 2010 to 2020," Statista, Feb. 3, 2021. 2. "Component Challenges in 2021," HIS Markit, April 13, 2021. Vernon Densler is product marketing manager at Sourceability N.A. LLC. NTU Singapore scientists have developed paper- thin biodegradable zinc batteries that could one day become an environmentally sustainable option for powering flexible and wear- able electronic systems. These zinc batteries are made up of electrodes (through which the electrical current leaves or enters the battery) screen-printed onto both sides of a piece of cel- lulose paper that has been reinforced with hydrogel. Once the battery has been expended, it can be buried in soil, where it breaks down completely within a month. The scientists think their printed battery could be i n t e g r a t e d i n t o f l ex i b l e electronics such as fold- able smartphones that are- already on the market, or biomedical sensors for health monitoring. (Source: NTU Singapore) Batteries of the Future Could Be Paper-Thin and Biodegradable