# EMS & The Economist: Industrial Action, Election Inertia, Automation, Trends, and the Global Supply Chain

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2024-10-17
- Length: 25m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-10-17-ems-the-economist-industrial-action-election-inertia-automation-trends-and-the-g

## Summary

IPC chief economist Shawn DuBravac joins host Philip Stoke to analyze the current state of the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry, highlighting softening demand, weak book-to-bill ratios, and the impact of port closures and hurricanes on supply chain resilience. They discuss the strategic timing of longshoremen strikes, the critical need to attract younger talent through automation rather than job protection, and how high interest rates are influencing investment decisions. The conversation also covers the political landscape, specifically the consensus on decoupling from China and the differing approaches of presidential candidates regarding tariffs and domestic manufacturing incentives.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-10-17-ems-the-economist-industrial-action-election-inertia-automation-trends-and-the-g#t=4) Introduction and IPC Market Data
- [1:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-10-17-ems-the-economist-industrial-action-election-inertia-automation-trends-and-the-g#t=101) Port Closures, Hurricanes, and Supply Chain Disruptions
- [5:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-10-17-ems-the-economist-industrial-action-election-inertia-automation-trends-and-the-g#t=301) Automation, Labor Relations, and Talent Acquisition
- [8:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-10-17-ems-the-economist-industrial-action-election-inertia-automation-trends-and-the-g#t=485) Economic Weakness, Interest Rates, and Election Impact
- [12:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-10-17-ems-the-economist-industrial-action-election-inertia-automation-trends-and-the-g#t=731) Political Strategies: Tariffs, China Decoupling, and Mexico
- [15:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-10-17-ems-the-economist-industrial-action-election-inertia-automation-trends-and-the-g#t=946) EMS Industry Trends, Talent Retention, and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- IPC (company)
- Koh Young (company)
- Global Electronics Association (company)
- Boeing (company)
- Fed (company)
- SMTA Guadalajara (company)
- Zona (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Target (company)
- USMCA (other)
- NAFTA (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [World Trade Futurity (WTF)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-11-11-world-trade-futurity-wtf) (The Amp Hour)
- [How Technology is Changing the Manufacturing Game w/ Dr. John Mitchell](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-22-how-technology-is-changing-the-manufacturing-game-w-dr-john-mitchell) (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)
- [Return of the Trade Show Jedi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-04-11-return-of-the-trade-show-jedi) (The Amp Hour)
- [The Hard Truths About Reshoring American Manufacturing w/ Eddy Azad](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-04-21-the-hard-truths-about-reshoring-american-manufacturing-w-eddy-azad) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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