# EMS@C-Level 2022 Season, episode 13 - USA or Mexico with Benchmark Electronics

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2022-09-18
- Length: 24m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-09-18-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-13-usa-or-mexico-with-benchmark-electronics

## Summary

Pete Stanius, Vice President of America's South at Benchmark Electronics, and Jennifer McAlpine, Product Marketing Manager, discuss the strategic shift in manufacturing geography from China to North America. They analyze the trade-offs between US and Mexico locations, highlighting factors like proximity to design, labor costs, and the impact of the USMCA. The conversation details Benchmark's dual-site strategy in Tijuana and Guadalajara, emphasizing how automation and emergency preparedness plans mitigate supply chain risks. Finally, they describe the evolution from transactional EMS to deep EMP partnerships, where engineering collaboration helps customers navigate component shortages and redesign products for availability.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-09-18-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-13-usa-or-mexico-with-benchmark-electronics#t=8) Introduction: Pete Stanius and Jennifer McAlpine at Benchmark Electronics
- [2:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-09-18-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-13-usa-or-mexico-with-benchmark-electronics#t=127) Customer Demand for Nearshoring and Multi-Geography Strategies
- [4:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-09-18-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-13-usa-or-mexico-with-benchmark-electronics#t=272) Benchmark's Mexico Footprint: Tijuana vs. Guadalajara and Automation
- [7:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-09-18-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-13-usa-or-mexico-with-benchmark-electronics#t=426) Supply Chain Challenges, Labor Costs, and USMCA Impact
- [9:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-09-18-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-13-usa-or-mexico-with-benchmark-electronics#t=593) Sentiment, Made-in-USA Preferences, and the Buy American Act
- [13:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-09-18-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-13-usa-or-mexico-with-benchmark-electronics#t=795) Decision Framework: Consolidating Spend vs. Distributed Manufacturing
- [14:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-09-18-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-13-usa-or-mexico-with-benchmark-electronics#t=887) Emergency Preparedness and Lift-and-Shift Capabilities
- [17:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-09-18-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-13-usa-or-mexico-with-benchmark-electronics#t=1043) Benchmark's Strategic Expansion in Phoenix and Guadalajara
- [19:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-09-18-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-13-usa-or-mexico-with-benchmark-electronics#t=1145) Engineering Partnerships and Redesigning for Component Availability

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Benchmark Electronics (company)
- Koh Young (company)
- CloudNC (company)
- USMCA (other)
- NAFTA (other)
- Buy American Act (other)
- Tijuana (other)
- Guadalajara (other)
- Phoenix (other)
- Thailand (other)
- Malaysia (other)
- China (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Nearshoring Manufacturing from Asia to Mexico: Risks, Rewards, and Realities w/ Matt Hannula](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-10-07-nearshoring-manufacturing-from-asia-to-mexico-risks-rewards-and-realities-w-matt) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [SpaceX, Enclosures & Startups - Urging Unemployment Ullagone](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-12-04-spacex-enclosures-startups-urging-unemployment-ullagone) (The Amp Hour)
- [eReaders, datasheets & board assembly - Yearly Yeasty Yapping](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-12-18-ereaders-datasheets-board-assembly-yearly-yeasty-yapping) (The Amp Hour)
- [Breaking Down Electronics Manufacturing with Jay Patel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-12-23-breaking-down-electronics-manufacturing-with-jay-patel) (OnTrack)
- [The Advantages and Challenges of Manufacturing in China with Case Engelen of Titoma](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-19-the-advantages-and-challenges-of-manufacturing-in-china-with-case-engelen-of-tit) (Predictable Designs Podcast)

## Citing this page

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