Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1477844
SEPTEMBER 2022 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 9 When we look at component sourcing, it seems that not all the components are easing back into distribution at the same rate. Every EMS company spokesperson I've talked to recently seems to have stories of customer jobs with high part counts ready to go, except for a single missing critical component. Inventory is simply sitting idle, tying up company funds as they wait for the critical part—one that used to be sourced as easily as the common passives. While many parts are becoming easier and more reliable to source, there are still enough reclusive key parts to extend the headaches for procurement. is is the climb through the proverbial well. at might be changing little by little, mak- ing it easier on the procurement teams. Just recently, we've heard that supply chain pres- sures seem to be improving. Truthfully, we have been dealing with supply chain pressures since 2019, but it was the spike in 2020 due to COVID ramifications, that sent us reeling. So, it's big news to hear that supply is improving somewhat. At the top of our well, it is impor- tant to remember that when we emerge from our supply chain "tunnel," we're not back where we started; it's a different landscape. For instance, buyers are increasingly mak- ing use of new tools to track part availability. In fact, I believe that soware assistance for pro- curement is an emerging and disruptive sector. While there have been players in this space for a while, new players with new approaches are emerging. ink about it: Tracking parts avail- ability and sending alerts to the team when action is needed is exactly the kind of work that computers do best. Why shouldn't the purchasing team benefit from as much auto- mation as the CAM department or the manu- facturing floor? Our September issue examines this wider set of challenges. Managing suppliers takes extra work and attention right now, but there are methods and solutions available. Are you tak- ing advantage of as many as you should? How are you managing your sourcing? Do you see it as a tunnel? A well? A chance to engineer a new, disruptive process? To help answer these questions, we sought out experts to share their findings. We have three fresh-off-the-boat interviews: Shawn DuBravac, chief economist at IPC; Chris Lentz and Joe Garcia at Emerald EMS; and the team at Epoch, including CEO Foad Ghalili. ese con- versations provide insight into what's under- way, what's pressuring our supply chain, how EMS companies and the industry are adapt- ing, mitigating risk, and finding ways to thrive under the new conditions. To augment the interviews, we have per- spective from military specialist, Axiom, where Michael Schindele discusses the challenge of finding military parts, which oen adds a whole new set of challenges, and how his com- pany has used innovative methods to overcome their specific challenges. As ever, our columnists weigh in on key top- ics, including Michael Ford on machine intel- ligence; Bob Wettermann on how to open a trace on a PCB surface; Chris Ellis on over- coming today's SMT challenges; Ron Lasky on teaching basic SMT skills; and a link to a col- umn by Zac Elliott of Siemens about the manu- facturing metaverse. Finally, I want to recognize the recent work to help government representatives across North America and Europe better understand how the pieces of the electronics hardware industry fit together in a robust and resilient supply chain. Legislation in the U.S. and Euro- pean Union intends to build that foundation that will carry this industry forward. is tun- nel is a bit longer and more strategic. I've been told to expect a 10-year process. But we're in motion and that's a good thing. SMT007 Nolan Johnson is managing editor of SMT007 Magazine. Nolan brings 30 years of career experience focused almost entirely on electronics design and manufacturing. To contact Johnson, click here.