Supply Chain Special: Unravelling Geopolitics, Reshoring, Digital Transformation and More with Benchmark's Michael Lucia

EMS@C-LEVEL · 18 Oct 2023 · 16m

What this episode covers

Michael Lucia, CEO of Benchmark Electronics, discusses how geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict in Israel, are driving reshoring and regionalization of supply chains, with customers demanding visibility into the country of origin for major parts. He notes that while component lead times have stabilized, pricing remains sticky due to inflation and energy costs, delaying the impact of new capacity from initiatives like the CHIPS Act. The conversation also explores the potential of AI as a 'co-pilot' for supply chain management, specifically for learning from past disruptions to recommend solutions, provided the underlying data sets are robust.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • OnTrack · 22m

    OnTrack PCB Design Podcast 2025 Year in Review

    Host Zach Peterson reviews 2025 industry trends, highlighting how tariffs reshaped global supply chains and spurred UHDI manufacturing expansion in the US. Guests including David Schild, Tyler Richards, and Greg Papandrew discuss the economic realities of reshoring, the technical challenges of high-layer count and rigid-flex PCBs, and the specific innovations in solder paste and substrate materials. The episode also examines the practical application of AI in embedded development and supply chain management, noting both its utility in automating coding tasks and its current limitations in deterministic engineering optimization.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 32m

    The Hard Truths About Reshoring American Manufacturing w/ Eddy Azad

    Eddy Azad, CEO of Parsec Automation, discusses the strategic realities of reshoring manufacturing to the United States, arguing that it is a long-term, complex process rather than a simple cost-saving switch. He explains that reshoring makes the most sense for high-value, high-tech products like semiconductors and medical devices where supply chain resilience and innovation are critical, rather than for commoditized goods. Azad highlights that while automation and AI can mitigate higher US labor costs, they require robust data infrastructure and end-to-end integration to be effective. He also addresses the impact of AI on the workforce, noting a shift from manual execution to human-in-the-loop oversight and prompt engineering.

  • Rapid Reshoring: Building a Reliable North American Supply Chain w/ Mike Wynn

    Mike Wynn, Vice President at Advanced Purchasing Dynamics (APD), explains how manufacturers are rapidly reshoring supply chains to North America to mitigate tariff risks and reduce lead times. He details APD's 'rapid reshoring' process, which involves defining 15-20 specific supplier attributes to identify and vet credible suppliers in just 4-5 weeks. Wynn emphasizes the importance of calculating 'total cost of supply' beyond unit price and using a 'mini business case' to engage overwhelmed North American suppliers.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 36m

    Why Reshoring Matters: For Our Economy and Our National Security w/ Harry Moser

    Harry Moser, founder of The Reshoring Initiative, discusses the economic and national security drivers behind the trend of bringing manufacturing back to the United States. He explains that geopolitics, ESG goals, and recent tariff policies are accelerating reshoring, while highlighting the root causes of the US trade deficit, including an overvalued dollar and a lack of skilled workers. Moser advocates for policy changes such as promoting apprenticeships, lowering the dollar, and implementing a value-added tax to restore competitiveness.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 03m

    A++++++ Will Buy Again

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss navigating current semiconductor supply chain issues, specifically 40-week lead times, by recommending designers pre-order parts or buy stock from distributors to mitigate delays. They also review the new Raspberry Pi with Power over Ethernet support, Google's NSynth hardware using machine learning for sound synthesis, and the proposed Intel acquisition of Broadcom. Finally, they debate the merits of modern direct-heat soldering irons versus older indirect-heat models, referencing specific products like the Hakko and Weller brands.

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.