# Why Reshoring Electronics to the US is Harder Than You Think

- Show: [OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack)
- Published: 2025-01-29
- Length: 46m
- Episode: 286
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think
- Listen: https://podcast.altium.com/e/why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think/

## Summary

Sean Kincaid, President of K & F Electronics, explains why reshoring US electronics manufacturing is hindered by a lack of domestic materials like copper foil and production equipment, noting that subsidizing IC fabrication alone does not solve the issue of boards being made in China. He details how K & F Electronics was forced to close its circuit board manufacturing division in 2021 due to inability to compete with low-cost overseas prototypes, pivoting instead to PCBA and acting as a third-party auditor for overseas boards. Kincaid highlights specific quality defects found in overseas manufacturing, such as flying probe damage causing shorts, and argues that true reshoring requires a complete ecosystem including materials, equipment, and subsidies to counter foreign state support.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think#t=0) Introduction: The complexity of reshoring beyond ICs
- [1:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think#t=83) Sean Kincaid's background and K & F Electronics history
- [4:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think#t=256) Closing PCB fab and pivoting to PCBA and auditing
- [15:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think#t=921) Overseas quality issues: Flying probe damage and warping
- [22:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think#t=1332) Benefits of integrated fab and assembly services
- [25:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think#t=1557) Panelization strategies and QuickFit software
- [31:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think#t=1916) The reality of reshoring HDI and substrate manufacturing
- [37:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think#t=2259) Cost competitiveness and the need for subsidies
- [40:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think#t=2426) Future certification goals and the D-Code Podcast

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- K & F Electronics (company)
- JLC (company)
- D-Code Podcast (other)
- QuickFit (tool)
- flying probe (tool)
- copper foil (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Exploring Manufacturing and Reshoring Trends with Unimicron's Gerard van Dierendonck](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-17-exploring-manufacturing-and-reshoring-trends-with-unimicrons-gerard-van-dierendo) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Otiose Ontocyclic Opiniasters](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-01-30-otiose-ontocyclic-opiniasters) (The Amp Hour)
- [CircuitHub, 12 Years Later with Andrew Seddon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-01-circuithub-12-years-later-with-andrew-seddon) (The Amp Hour)
- [140: Physics Is the Same Everywhere](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-02-25-140-physics-is-the-same-everywhere) (Embedded.fm)
- [An Interview with Laen - Purple PCB Philosophy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-29-why-reshoring-electronics-to-the-us-is-harder-than-you-think. 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 OnTrack.