Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1518339
16 SMT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2024 players continue to expand, moving further upstream—or downstream—as they figure out their niche in the EMS provider space. In terms of customer retention, box build was very sticky for us over the years. e sup- ply chain disruption and getting your hands on the later stages of the product as it went through the transformation process increased in importance. Providing more value to the customer through box build is a good reason to get into it. ere can be some factors you can put into your in-region vs. low-cost-region cal- culator to determine where it makes sense for OEMs to have their product built. Another driver on a macro level is mass cus- tomization. is is the ability to build in-region and provide options for the "31 flavors" of your In this interview, Joe O'Neil, who leads the IPC Education Foundation, discusses the growing importance of box build from an EMS provider perspective. Supply chain disrup- tions and the desire to offer more value to cus- tomers have fueled interest in box build. Addi- tionally, mass customization is emerging as a trend, allowing for personalized product vari- ations. While Tier 1 companies have mastered this approach, Tier 2 and 3 players hold signifi- cant opportunities in the industrial space. Nolan Johnson: Joe, from an EMS perspective, is box build growing? Joe O'Neil: Yes, and the global events of the past four years may have led to an accelera- tion of a natural progression wherein EMS Thinking Inside the Box for a Change Feature Interview by the I-Connect007 Editorial Team