Hardware Podcasts

Supply Chains and Manufacturing with Charles Lin of TechDesign

Predictable Designs Podcast · 6 Jul 2020 · 51m · Episode 24

What this episode covers

Charles Lin of TechDesign, a Taiwan-based hardware development facilitator, explains how his company connects startups with a network of over 500 suppliers in China and Taiwan. He outlines six key strategies for selecting suppliers, emphasizing the importance of finding mid-tier manufacturers with available capacity rather than large ODMs like Foxconn. Lin also details the advantages of Taiwan's electronics ecosystem, including its high patent density and engineering talent, and discusses how the company navigates supply chain challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
TechDesign, Foxconn, Pegatron, TSMC, Asiatic Fiber Corporation, Unlimited, Google, Apple, Dell

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 06m

    Ludibrious Luxating Layout

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the impact of Chinese New Year on electronics supply chains, with Jones detailing his switch to local PCB manufacturer Circuit Labs in New Zealand for faster turnaround. They explore the economics of local vs. overseas manufacturing, the rise of low-cost smartphones and webcams, and the challenges of open-source hardware projects like Open Source Ecology. The conversation also covers new Wi-Fi modules from Texas Instruments, the discontinuation of Leslie Green's analog design book, and the enduring legacy of Jim Williams' application notes.

    Sourcing & supply chainPCB design & layout
    8 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 51m

    Darragh Hudson | How to Set up A Manufacturing Supply Chain

    Darragh Hudson, founder of KD Product Development, explains how to set up a manufacturing supply chain, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between industrial design firms and factories. He details the process of vetting suppliers, managing tooling ownership to avoid IP traps, and the critical importance of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) in China. Hudson also discusses the shift toward low-volume high-mix production and the emerging manufacturing ecosystems in Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringSourcing & supply chain
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 27m

    An Interview with Zach Hoeken Smith - Creative China Commorant

    Zach Hoeken Smith, formerly of MakerBot and now with the HAXLR8R hardware accelerator in Shenzhen, discusses the realities of building physical products in China. He details the advantages of the local supply chain, such as the SEG market for tactile component selection and Taobao for sourcing parts, while contrasting this with the limitations of Western distributors like DigiKey. Smith also outlines the structure of the HAXLR8R program, which supports hardware startups in transitioning from prototype to mass production, citing Nomiku as a success story.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringSourcing & supply chain
    7 chapters

  • EMS@C-LEVEL · 25m

    EMS@C-LEVEL Season #2021 Episode #6 with Case Engelen, CEO of TITOMA

    Case Engelen, CEO of TITOMA, explains how his company helps Western electronics firms navigate component shortages by designing for disruption, such as parallel-designing Bluetooth modules and reserving PCB space for MCU changes. He discusses the 'China Plus' strategy, noting that while final assembly may move to Southeast Asia or Taiwan to avoid tariffs, China’s deep component infrastructure remains irreplaceable for the next 5-10 years. Engelen highlights the 'whiplash effect' in ordering, where manufacturers hoard inventory from IC makers, creating market distortion and forcing clients to order components years in advance.

    Sourcing & supply chainManufacturing partners & offshoring
    6 chapters

  • EE Times Current · 20m

    Cypress CEO Chat | 5G to 6G | Why Taiwan Companies are Leaving China | Startups in Taiwan

    Danny Rabin and Dylan McGrath interview Cypress Semiconductor CEO Hassane El-Khoury about his transition from mentor TJ Rogers and his early engineering inspiration in Lebanon. Martin Rowe reports from the 5G Brooklyn Summit on the technical challenges of 6G, including terahertz signals and power consumption. Junko Yoshida and Judith Chen discuss the return of Taiwanese manufacturing to Taiwan and the government's push to foster a new startup ecosystem focused on hardware-software integration.

    Policy, trade & tariffsWireless & RF
    4 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Predictable Designs Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.