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October 2014 • SMT Magazine 67 Chances are that the quality of each of the PCB technologies sourced via multiple suppli- ers is higher. The reason is that the individual manufacturers are rather specialized in various technologies using tailored equipment leading to optimized results. On the down side, however, duplicated responsibilities (managing multiple PCB sup- pliers) increase your management cost of this strategic approach noticeably. This multi-source management needs a very structured coordina- tion in-house, since the multiple relationships across vendors tend to generate convoluted sit- uations. general sourcing trends Two major trends are obvious. Firstly, the focus on core competencies, and secondly the shift of value creation to suppliers, are the main tactics in supply chain management (SCM) of large multinationals. With this, outsourcing and a closer more collaborative relationship with suppliers becomes inevitable. Consequent- ly, reducing the supplier base is the natural re- sult in the industry overall and the PCB indus- try in particular. The following examples in Table 1 will pro- vide you with an idea of how large multination- al companies (in all walks of life, not only in the field of electronics) position themselves on the question of supplier numbers. Focusing collaboration on a narrowed down basket of suppliers drives the level of collabora- tion beyond just linking information systems. The final target is fully integrating business processes and organization structures across companies that comprise the full value chain. Today's SCM moves from pure execution (i.e., event-driven) to a more information and rela- tionship intense focus. SCM is a vital core strat- egy and needs smart talents to shape it. the third way: sourcing from a Large, credible Fabless Pcb Provider From the above explanations we learn that single, as well as multiple sourcing have com- plementary advantages and challenges. Utiliz- ing exclusively one or the other sourcing strat- egy will never benefit the customer with the combined advantages of the two models. The consequential question must be: Is there an alternative sourcing option that cumu- lates the advantages and minimizes the disad- vantages of the two strategies? The answer is yes. The combined sourcing benefits can be harvested by sourcing from a fabless PCB provider. a Fabless Pcb Provider: the attributes A credible fabless PCB provider owns every- thing that is needed to produce PCBs, but the factories. Instead of a factory, the provider has a portfolio of production partners. This portfolio is strategically developed and assembled over years. Ideally, it consists of partners with little overlap in the selected technology segments ArTiCLE smart Pcb sOurcing cOncePts continues Table 1.