Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1546383
26 SMT007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2026 Maria Elena Gallego, Collectron emphasizes the country's decades of industrial experience, mature supply chains, infrastructure, and skilled workforce. In its view, Mexico no longer competes solely on cost or capacity; it increasingly competes through engineering, design, automation, research, and development. The next challenge is to deepen technical specialization, develop more engineering talent, and strengthen collaboration among industry, universities, and work- force-development institutions. Jesús Duarte, Expo WireTech describes Mexico's shift from a cost-competitive manufacturing destination to a strategic global manufacturing partner. Nearshoring is accelerating foreign invest- ment and supplier development, but the larger opportunity is for Mexico to build leadership in innovation, supplier integration, technical specialization, and advanced manufacturing solutions. Ignacio Lopez Arroyo, Repstronics also describes Mexico as a strategic manufacturing hub, citing its skilled workforce, industrial infrastructure, nearshoring activity, and investment in advanced manufacturing. As production expands, it expects greater demand for technologies that improve efficiency, quality, and automation. Frederico Teixeira, Ricardo & Barbosa calls Mexico one of the world's most strategic manufac- turing hubs for automotive, electronics, aerospace, and electrical industries. Its Mexico operation provides shorter lead times and localized technical support for North American customers while maintaining the same manufacturing standards used at its Portugal facility. Alejandro Solórzano Elorza, ROCKA Solutions points to technical talent, manufacturing exper- tise, a strong supplier base, and proximity to North America as reasons Mexico has become increasingly important to global manufacturers. In ROCKA's view, Mexico has evolved from being primarily an assembly location into a strategic platform for production, integration, and exports across high-value industries. Filiberto Severiano Moreno, SMTLINK Solutions sees Mexico becoming a strategic player in the global electronics supply chain, supported by trade integration, nearshoring, and engineering talent. Its view of the next step: strengthen innovation and automation while developing special- ized suppliers capable of competing internationally. SMT007 Mexico's Changing Role "How would you describe Mexico's changing role in global manufacturing?" The six perspectives converge tightly. Mexico is still valued for proximity to North American markets, its industrial base, trade integration, and manufacturing workforce. But respondents repeatedly describe Mexico's steady evolution toward higher-value capabilities. Nearshoring may have been a catalyst, but the larger force is the transition from manufacturing location to strategic manufacturing partner.