# Manufacturing Excellence Through Customer-Centric Strategies with SMTC's Bob Miller at APEX 2024

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2024-05-07
- Length: 8m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-07-manufacturing-excellence-through-customer-centric-strategies-with-smtcs-bob-mill

## Summary

Bob Miller, Vice President of SMTC Corporation, discusses how geopolitical shifts and defense spending are driving reshorning and nearshoring trends, specifically highlighting SMTC's expanded footprint in Mexico. He explains that while standardized component lead times have improved, high-demand AI-related chips like those from NVIDIA remain constrained, requiring SMTC to align closely with customers on component substitution strategies. Miller emphasizes that 'fierce collaboration' with customers is essential to navigate supply chain volatility, prioritize total acquisition costs over just price, and maintain operational excellence in a rapidly changing market.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-07-manufacturing-excellence-through-customer-centric-strategies-with-smtcs-bob-mill#t=8) Introduction: Bob Miller and SMTC at APEX 2024
- [0:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-07-manufacturing-excellence-through-customer-centric-strategies-with-smtcs-bob-mill#t=39) Defense spending, reshorning, and SMTC's Mexico expansion
- [2:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-07-manufacturing-excellence-through-customer-centric-strategies-with-smtcs-bob-mill#t=146) Supply chain recovery, lead times, and AI chip constraints
- [3:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-07-manufacturing-excellence-through-customer-centric-strategies-with-smtcs-bob-mill#t=227) Customer collaboration and component substitution strategies
- [5:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-07-manufacturing-excellence-through-customer-centric-strategies-with-smtcs-bob-mill#t=359) Fierce collaboration, distributor challenges, and economic outlook

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- SMTC Corporation (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- APEX 2024 (other)
- IPC (other)
- NAFTA (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [271: Preparing Manufacturers for the Semiconductor Boom: Insights from SEMICON West and Beyond](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-01-20-271-preparing-manufacturers-for-the-semiconductor-boom-insights-from-semicon-wes) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Scaling Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-19-scaling-manufacturing) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Episode 29: The Myth of Semiconductor Industry Deglobization](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-08-15-episode-29-the-myth-of-semiconductor-industry-deglobization) (The Circuit)
- [An Interview with Scott Miller (2nd)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-07-22-an-interview-with-scott-miller-2nd) (The Amp Hour)
- [The Oxide Supply Chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-08-30-the-oxide-supply-chain) (Oxide and Friends)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-05-07-manufacturing-excellence-through-customer-centric-strategies-with-smtcs-bob-mill. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to EMS@C-LEVEL.