Can you feel it coming on?  Remember the last time we rebounded from a down-turn in the electronics industry.  All of a sudden, companies around the world had desperate needs for all sorts of components and nowhere to turn.  Well, with OEM Executives’ ongoing caution of the recovery and still unsure of its customers’ demands, material orders appear to be below the aggregate demand needed.  With recent capacity reduction implemented in key component areas limiting the ability of some suppliers to respond to the modest increase in demand, any incremental increase in demand may result in significant supply issues.

And, as reported in CCS, some component delivery times will greatly exceed previous levels.  The components expected to be most impacted are: CMOS Logic, FLASH-Memories, Interface ICs, Suppressor Diodes, Al Electrolytic Capacitors-SMD, Ceramic Capacitors-SMD, Film Capacitors-EMI suppressed, Resistors-NLR, Tantalum Capacitors-wired, Film Capacitors-wired, and Switches- (Toggle / Slide)

We all know that being an electronic component buyer is difficult enough.  But, when it comes down to solving shortage issues, it appears as if the world just became a tougher place and looks to remain that way for quite some time.  While component shortages represent a very small portion of a company’s overall component budget, it tends to consume a significantly large portion of a buyer’s time.  According to COMPONENTSResearch, solving shortage needs may take up to 40% of a buyer’s time.

With the present and looming shortages that many are surely going to face in the near future, now is the time to establish relationships with companies that have both the history and the capability of solving your shortage issues.  While you may not need their services today, when the time comes that you must have those missing components on your dock immediately, it’s great to know that you have prepared for that eventuality.