Our annual Global Supply Chain Survey is one step toward understanding, from direct reporting, how challenges like these are impacting the industry.
HOUSTON, TX (PRWEB) December 12, 2014
Smith & Associates, the largest independent distributor of electronic components, today announces the start of its Global Supply Chain Survey. This annual survey is designed to gather electronics industry professionals’ insights into key issues affecting the semiconductor and electronics supply chain, and to gauge trends and evolution over time.
The survey consists of a brief questionnaire focusing on top supply chain challenges faced by respondents, which – this year – has been streamlined further to more directly gauge industry players’ supply chain issues. Questions delve into respondents’ perceptions on the role independent distributors play; the importance of growing technologies such as the cloud and Big Data; challenges relating to sustainability, climate issues, and government compliance requirements; supply chain and demand fluctuations affecting forecasting; and counterfeit mitigation strategies.
This marks the third year Smith has conducted a Global Supply Chain Survey. Administering this survey each year has given Smith the opportunity to better understand the challenges faced by all major industry sectors, from distributors to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) – and to examine how these challenges have evolved over the years. Additionally, the survey explores how industry players at all levels of the supply chain expect these challenges and the overall industry outlook to change in the coming year.
Last year’s survey found that “[d]emand changes were significantly rated as the most challenging issue across all company types, followed by inventory management and margin pressures and cost-efficiencies.” Now, this year’s survey will afford Smith the opportunity to share with the public what concerns have remained constant across the industry, and which new challenges have come into play on the global scale.
“Change is still the norm in our supply chain,” said Mark Bollinger, Smith & Associates’ Vice President of Marketing. “Technologies like the Internet of Things and mobile are changing the landscape of our industry and the global supply chain itself. Meanwhile, quality issues like counterfeiting are still pressing. Our annual Global Supply Chain Survey is one step toward understanding, from direct reporting, how challenges like these are impacting the industry.”
“We use this awareness to offer our customers the best possible support and service,” concluded Bollinger, “and we hope that the information provided by our study helps others in the supply chain, as well.”
Smith & Associates’ survey will be conducted over the next several weeks. The data from the survey will be analyzed and presented in an overview and drilldown by market sector in Smith’s annual State of the Supply Chain Report, which will be published in early 2015. In addition, a winner will be drawn from all participating survey respondents at the conclusion of the survey and awarded an iPad Mini as thanks for completing Smith & Associates’ survey.
For anyone interested in participating in this study, the Global Supply Chain Survey is available at http://www.smithweb.com/en/201412101623/market-blog/wed-like-to-include-you-smiths-simplified-global-supply-chain-survey-is-open.
About Smith & Associates
Founded in Houston in 1984, Smith & Associates is a leader in the independent distribution of semiconductors and electronic components to electronics and high-tech manufacturers. Smith offers shortage sourcing for commodity and obsolete parts, innovative purchasing and inventory management solutions, redistribution of excess inventory, and component stocking for warranty and repair programs.
A privately-held company, Smith & Associates employs more than 350 people worldwide, with annual revenue in excess of US $586 million. Smith's regional hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam are ISO certified. In addition, sales and purchasing offices are located in Austin, Silicon Valley, Guadalajara, New York, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, and Penang. For more information, see http://www.smithweb.com/ or, to reach a Smith representative 24 hours a day, please call: 1.800.HOUSTON or +1 713.430.3000.
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For more information, contact:
Mark Bollinger
Smith & Associates, V.P. of Marketing
+1 713.430.3000
mbollinger(at)nfsmith(dot)com