BONUS - That SCOOPshow - Season 5, Episode 2 - Component Shortages with IPC's Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac

EMS@C-LEVEL · 28 Sept 2021 · 23m

What this episode covers

IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac joins host Philip Stotton to analyze the historic component shortages and supply chain disruptions affecting the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry. DuBravac explains that strong demand for durable goods, combined with reduced air freight capacity and logistics bottlenecks, has created a 'historic aberration' in book-to-bill ratios and extended lead times by 8 weeks or more. The conversation covers the resulting pressure on profit margins, the strain on OEM-EMS relationships, and the industry's shift toward digital transformation and supply chain resilience to mitigate risks like stockpiling and counterfeit components.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 13m

    Chip Shortage Denier

    Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics returns from paternity leave to discuss the severe semiconductor supply chain crisis with host Dave Jones. They analyze how major companies like General Motors and Apple misjudged demand during the pandemic, leading to canceled orders and a subsequent shortage that persists due to long lead times for fab equipment and raw materials. Gammell details his personal struggles with component unavailability, forcing him to redesign circuits, swap microcontrollers, and shrink firmware to fit smaller, available parts, while Jones highlights the legal implications of force majeure notices from distributors like Bryman.

  • Moore's Lobby · 59m

    Ep. 35 | The Impact of Chip Shortages on the Electronics Industry

    Dave Doherty of Digi-Key, Steve Sanghi of Microchip Technology, and Michael Knight of TTI discuss the global chip shortage, citing constraints in semiconductors, passives, and raw materials like resins and metals. The panel attributes the crisis to a 'perfect storm' of pandemic shutdowns, climate events, and labor shortages, noting that automotive production has dropped significantly due to missing microcontrollers. They predict lead times will remain extended for at least a year and emphasize the need for distributors to act as supply chain insurance through higher inventory levels.

  • Moore's Lobby · 1h 09m

    Passing Storm or New Normal? How Should We Think of Today's Electronics Supply Chain?

    Michael Knight of TTI, Jeff Newell of Mouser Electronics, and Misha Govshteyn of MacroFab discuss the structural shift in the electronics supply chain from 'just-in-time' to 'just-in-case' inventory strategies. The panel highlights the rise of gray market components, the critical need for multisourcing and component engineering, and the integration of software-driven platforms like MacroFab to manage distributed manufacturing. They also address pricing inflation driven by legacy semiconductor demand and offer advice on engineering careers and supply chain resilience.

  • Moore's Lobby · 1h 19m

    Ep. 15 | The Emergence of the Virtual Supply Chain in a COVID-19 World

    Mark Burr-Lonnon of Mouser Electronics, Dave Doherty of Digi-Key, and Frank McKay of Jabil discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to virtual supply chains and e-commerce in the electronics industry. The panelists explain how distributors are adapting by stocking more inventory for new product introductions (NPI) and providing rich technical content to support remote engineers, while Jabil emphasizes the importance of early engagement in design for manufacturing and supply chain transparency. They highlight the resilience of the supply chain despite disruptions in commercial air freight and regional lockdowns, noting that engineers are increasingly relying on digital tools and anonymous purchasing to navigate component shortages.

  • The Amp Hour · 58m

    What's In A Name?

    Dave Jones of EEV blog and Chris Gammell of Chris Gammell's Analog Life launch the first episode of The Amp Hour, discussing the nascent maker movement, the business models of open-source hardware companies like SparkFun and Adafruit, and the challenges of component sourcing. They analyze industry consolidation, the impact of major customers like Apple on supply chains, and the strategic use of low-cost development tools by companies such as Texas Instruments and Microchip to capture market share. The conversation highlights the trade-offs in engineering design, from BOM optimization to the realities of manufacturing in China versus local hand-assembly.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by EMS@C-LEVEL. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.