Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1546383
SEPTEMBER 2026 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 31 A resilient supply chain needs qualified alterna- tives. This does not mean constantly moving orders to obtain a slightly lower price. Rather, it's knowing which manufacturing partners can support each technology, volume, market, and risk requirement. The time to qualify a second source is not after the first source fails or when the preferred laminate becomes unavailable. Preparation is always less expensive than recovery. We see our role as more than manufacturing boards based on a drawing. We must understand why the product is being built, where the tech- nical risks exist, and what the customer needs. The correct manufacturing solution depends on the program. Geography is just one factor, not the only one. Conclusion My years of experience have taught me that a valu- able global partner connects worldwide manu- facturing capability with accessible engineering, responsive communication, transparency, and personal accountability. That is the purpose of this column, and why I chose to talk about "bridges." A bridge creates a dependable way to cross two sides. In manufac- turing, that bridge is built from shared technical standards, trusted relationships, transparent infor- mation, and performance proven over time. Companies should stop viewing their supply chains as lists of vendors and begin designing them as engineered systems. Every critical capability should have a defined purpose, a qualified connec- tion, and a practical alternate path. We would never accept a circuit board where the entire function depended on one fragile connection. We should not accept a supply chain designed that way either. SMT007 Tianming Liu is president and CEO of FSQuality and Fuji PCB. B R I D G I N G T H E PAC I F I C