Blog

There have been – and continue to be – extensive discussions in boardrooms and government departments around the world about the merits of reshoring in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. These discussions were originally prompted by the threat of international tariff wars following the 2016 presidential elections, together with risks to supply chain disruption caused by factors that…

Every crisis – large or small – creates both challenges and opportunities.  Covid-19 is no different.  It has caused tragedy for families and communities around the world; resulted in political upheaval; and massively disrupted the global economy.  The consequences are going to be with us for a long time. As we learn to live with Covid-19 we’re starting to see the emergence of new ways…

Thinking about manufacturing and assembly earlier in the design process leads to better, more profitable products. But when faced with a complex problem, it is natural to focus first on function. You look to find a solution to meet operational requirements, then worry about hitting manufacturing cost targets.    Too often this approach can lead to sub-optimal solutions - products that are…

Knowledge is power and when it comes to intellectual property (IP), protecting it should be a primary motivation for any business. Why is intellectual property so important? Well, it can help you stand out from the crowd, provide an important revenue stream if sold or licensed, can form part of any marketing communications and has the potential to offer customers something new that they can’t…

There is an old saying: ‘marry in haste and repent at leisure’ and when it comes to sourcing a business supplier, companies would do well to follow this advice! So, for those looking to outsource some or all of their electronic manufacturing, how can the right partner be chosen for a rosy and profitable future? Here are four questions to ask any potential partner before popping the question…

Small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) designing and developing the most innovative electronics-based products are often curtailed in their commercial ambitions by limited in-house manufacturing resources. The solution is outsourcing but choosing the right contract electronic manufacturing (CEM) partner can yield many more benefits besides increased capacity.  Many innovative companies have…

It is tempting to regard the testing of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) as a necessary evil, but when done correctly, the process can add real value to your end-products. In our previous blogs, we have outlined a couple of the more common testing methods available to manufacturers and we drew comparisons between them, but why do we feel that PCBA testing is so vital? Ensuring quality…

The pace of technological change is exponential. This change is described by two laws. The first and most widely cited is Moore’s Law, which states that processor speeds, or overall processing power for computers will double every two years and has been true since 1970. The second is Koomey’s Law, according to which the number of computations per joule of energy dissipated doubles about every…

By 2025, it is estimated that the global worth of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies will reach $6.2 trillion, with $100 trillion of value created for both industry and society through the adoption of these technologies. Clearly, this is good news for manufacturers of electronics. As we have seen, however, only those agile enough to take advantage of these opportunities and to cope with any…

In the dynamic world of all things digital, manufacturers need to be flexible and responsive. Adopting an agile manufacturing strategy is vital for any company hoping to maximise opportunities and reduce commercial risks in today’s digital landscape. The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the rise of digitalisation is having a profound effect across every industry and business sector. With access…