The most trusted source of electronic component market intelligence
The most trusted source of electronic component market intelligence
In a recent blog, I attempted to dispel the myth that there is a clear relationship between volume and price of electronic components. Many still find this hard to believe. They hold to the idea that price is somehow tied…
In a previous blog, I discussed some of the myths surrounding the relationship between price and volume. Another often misunderstood subject is “security of supply.” In analyzing our clients’ component spending, we frequently see unnecessary costs incurred that create an…
For years, I have been telling people there is no relationship between volume and price. Occasionally, I meet an enlightened soul who agrees with me. More often, I am met with blank stares of disbelief. Yes, I agree that, when…
Now that the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 is over and the flurry of Freebenchmarking.com activity resulting from it is under control, I have had time to reflect on the various participants at the exhibition and the issue of vertical…
Exactly what knowledge do market-leading companies gain from vertical integration? My thought process here considers a very high-level product design process. Though I will portray that process as linear and sequential, the reality is messier, iterative, and probably chaotic. For…
I am in the business of price benchmarking and cost reduction, but even so, I am amazed at what supply chain professionals have achieved. With specials and deals of all kinds during the holiday season, it is astounding the value…
As chief procurement officer for Nortel Networks Ltd. during the downturn in the optical business in 2000, I had to preside over the management of billions of dollars of excess material. This is not something I ever want to have…
Corporate governance is a pretty dry subject in the best of times, but it just may become a bit more interesting, particularly if we have gotten it wrong and it turns out to be the source of the current worldwide…
In our work at freebenchmarking.com, one of the surprising findings is the amount of cost reduction available to companies by just implementing pricing that they have already achieved with suppliers. In times of economic uncertainty and with price reductions getting…
Knowledge chains enable supply chain performance. They bring together the information and context that let you make decisions and take actions. Gaps in a supply chain are noticed and fixed immediately, but holes in a knowledge chain often go undetected.…