Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1513827
62 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2024 inventory so that we can be ready to deliver quickly for our customers. Suppliers are facing many demands, includ- ing shorter lead times and supply chain insta- bility. Although the supply chain is stabilizing, we're seeing greater demand on suppliers to have ready-to-go inventory so assemblers can take advantage of shorter lead time opportuni- ties. Assemblers are being challenged to have more capacity available to support reshoring to North America, and they're being asked to assemble a wider variety of assemblies, includ- ing mixed technology assemblies that require automated SMT mounting and THT insertion. North American assemblers can no lon- ger accept 24 weeks or more lead times from equipment suppliers. ey need to be ready to run production on any project within a 16- to 20-week window. Hanwha is aware of this and Interview by Nolan Johnson I-CONNECT007 With expansion, added personnel, and a new view on onshoring, Hanwha Corpora- tion is alive and well. Vice President of Mar- keting Jonny Nichols details just what it takes for a supplier like Hanwha to remain competi- tive amongst shorter lead times and itchy cus- tomers anxious to get their product to market. e key, Jonny says, is to deliver systems that can do it all. Nolan Johnson: Jonny, what is new and developing at Hanwha? Jonny Nichols: Our group (HTAA) has expanded significantly in personnel and technology cen- ters to better serve our customers. We've opened operations in Mexico with Hanwha's Queretaro Technology Center (HQTC). We've also added personnel in applications and field service engineering and we're expanding our Jonny Nichols: The Hanwha Future-proof Proposition