# The Future of PCB Manufacturing: Tariffs, Supply Chains & More

- Show: [OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack)
- Published: 2025-04-18
- Length: 51m
- Episode: 292
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more
- Listen: https://podcast.altium.com/e/the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more/

## Summary

Greg Papandrew, Managing Director of DirectPCB, discusses the impact of tariffs and supply chain shifts on PCB manufacturing, explaining why China remains the preferred source despite geopolitical tensions due to capacity and lead times. He highlights the critical importance of Design for Manufacturing (DFM), noting that designers often over-engineer boards with unnecessary sequential laminations and gold plating, which drives up costs and limits vendor options. Papandrew also addresses the challenges of export controls, proprietary data protection, and the lack of domestic US capacity to absorb offshore production, suggesting that private sector joint ventures might be necessary to scale advanced PCB production in the US.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more#t=0) Introduction: AI Power Demands and US Manufacturing Capacity
- [1:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more#t=83) DirectPCB's Role as a PCB Broker and Tariff Management
- [4:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more#t=273) The Shift from Domestic to Overseas PCB Production
- [8:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more#t=484) Export Controls, Proprietary Data, and Legal Risks
- [13:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more#t=817) Tariff Impact: China vs. Thailand and Domestic Capacity Shortages
- [21:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more#t=1315) US PCB Market Share, Talent Shortages, and Investment Strategies
- [30:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more#t=1838) Design for Manufacturing: Reducing Laminations and Material Costs
- [42:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more#t=2524) Global Manufacturing Landscape: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and India

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- DirectPCB (company)
- China (other)
- Thailand (other)
- Malaysia (other)
- Vietnam (other)
- India (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [EMS@C-Level 2022 Season, episode 10 - Greg Papandrew of PCB Buying Expert](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-08-29-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-10-greg-papandrew-of-pcb-buying-expert) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Beware of the Overachievers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-07-beware-of-the-overachievers) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ludibrious Luxating Layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-01-24-ludibrious-luxating-layout) (The Amp Hour)
- [Dotty Ernest Annty Frost](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-09-dotty-ernest-annty-frost) (The Amp Hour)
- [PCB@C Panel: Transforming the Landscape of PCB Production in Europe, with Dieter Weiss, Dirk Stans and Michael Müller](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-29-pcb-c-panel-transforming-the-landscape-of-pcb-production-in-europe-with-dieter-w) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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