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20 SMT007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2026 Filiberto Severiano Moreno, Founder and Managing Director, SMTLINK Solutions SMTLINK was built around the idea that manufacturers need more than an equipment supplier. Its model combines engineering, SMT line integration, industrial automation, equipment and materials supply, training, laboratory services, supply-chain support, and MES and Industry 4.0 solutions. The company posi- tions itself as a technology partner across the project lifecycle, from planning and implementation through optimization and ongoing support. Filiberto Severiano Moreno (in blue shirt) with members of the SMTLINK Solutions Team. 6. The Responses Each company's mission recognizes that manufacturers need support beyond just a product or a transac- tion. Both recipients and providers in the survey recognize the importance. Consequently, each respon- dent's emphasis is on technical knowledge, integration, responsiveness, and the ability to help customers solve production and operational problems. Capability Comes From Sophistication These survey responses suggest that nearshoring is not an accurate way to define Mexico's manufacturing future. Proximity can (and will continue to) attract manufacturing investment; sustained competitiveness, however, will depend on what happens after the investment arrives. Successfully developing technical talent, strengthening supplier channels, integrating automation and digital systems, and expanding engineering capa- bilities will be crucial to scaling sophisticated manufacturing operations. There are some potentially conflicting trends, however. Automation/digitalization may seem to be at odds with the need to develop a wider and deeper pool of technical talent, for example. But the move toward engi- neering and technical services means more than just production experience; talent supporting design and engineering will be a critical need. The respondents in this survey may view these challenges from very different positions in the value chain, yet their answers indicate that Mexico's opportunity is not simply to manufacture more; it is to capture more of the knowledge, engineering, technology, and value associated with manufacturing. Continue to survey results.