# The Only Thing That Has Changed is Everything: A Conversation with Amtech CEO Jay Patel

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2025-05-09
- Length: 8m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-05-09-the-only-thing-that-has-changed-is-everything-a-conversation-with-amtech-ceo-jay

## Summary

Jay Patel, CEO of Amtech, discusses the current state of the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry with host Philip Stoten at APEX 2025. Patel argues that while political shifts and trade wars create chaos, they also present opportunities for companies that can adapt, emphasizing that Amtech focuses on non-ITAR and non-consumer markets where reshoring potential exists. He highlights that organizational culture, rather than equipment, is the true competitive advantage, as technology like AI and IoT serves primarily to free up talent for customer-focused problem solving.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-05-09-the-only-thing-that-has-changed-is-everything-a-conversation-with-amtech-ceo-jay#t=8) Introduction: Amtech and Industry Chaos
- [0:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-05-09-the-only-thing-that-has-changed-is-everything-a-conversation-with-amtech-ceo-jay#t=32) Reframing Disruption as Opportunity
- [1:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-05-09-the-only-thing-that-has-changed-is-everything-a-conversation-with-amtech-ceo-jay#t=110) Lessons from the EMS Leadership Summit
- [3:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-05-09-the-only-thing-that-has-changed-is-everything-a-conversation-with-amtech-ceo-jay#t=237) Market Strategy and Talent Acquisition
- [4:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-05-09-the-only-thing-that-has-changed-is-everything-a-conversation-with-amtech-ceo-jay#t=288) Culture as the Competitive Advantage

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Amtech (company)
- APEX 2025 (other)
- EMS Leadership Summit (other)
- Creative Electron (company)
- Koh Young (company)
- Flex (company)
- J-Builds (company)
- Benchmark (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Breaking Down Electronics Manufacturing with Jay Patel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-12-23-breaking-down-electronics-manufacturing-with-jay-patel) (OnTrack)
- [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)
- [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)
- [The Benefits of an Employee-Ownership Culture w/ Brian Baker](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-06-25-the-benefits-of-an-employee-ownership-culture-w-brian-baker) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [OnTrack PCB Design Podcast 2025 Year in Review](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-12-30-ontrack-pcb-design-podcast-2025-year-in-review) (OnTrack)

## Citing this page

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