High Technology and Electronics

Industry Landscape and Supply Chain Trends

The high-tech industry is beginning to round the corner of the current global recession. With cautious optimism that the bottom is here, the key segments making up the high-tech industry (contract manufacturers, semiconductors, consumer electronics, and telecommunications) need to begin to prepare to ride the growth curve upwards.

As Jim Tompkins states in the highly regarded executive briefing, The Great Recession Gives Way to the Great Comeback Prepare Your Business to Recover, Grow and Prosper When the Recession Ends, "...strong evidence indicates that the worst of the recession is over. In fact, some industry sectors have "bottomed" and are already on the rebound. It's time to take note that your sector has either bottomed or will be bottoming soon and it is paramount that you begin planning now for 'The Great Comeback.'"

As the industry begins moving forward again, tomorrow's high-tech and electronics supply chains will continue to face the industry issues and supply chain challenges of:

Pressure on Prices - Combat margin erosion by moving production to lower cost locations, outsourcing manufacturing and logistic services while maintaining the focus on product innovation and satisfying the customer.
Short Product Lifecycles - Technology windows continue to shorten, with the highest profits realized by the first. The new offerings require planning of the end-to-end development, manufacturing and order fulfillment processes at a very early stage.
Mass Customization - Companies must adopt a customer-oriented approach, but achieve economies of scale in manufacturing through "configure-to-order" products supported by new supply chain processes.
Globalization - The need for production, logistics and marketing coordination puts pressure on an organizations' ability to collaborate, communicate and coordinate across borders. Distances, languages, time zones and regulatory differences make this increasingly difficult.

Supply Chain Solutions

High Technology - Electronics image Tompkins Associates focuses on end-to-end supply chain solutions for high-tech and electronics companies that embrace supply chain excellence. Tompkins' global reach includes offices in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia, including Tompkins International EMEA, based in Germany.

In supporting Tompkins' global supply chain capabilities, Technomic Asia, a Tompkins International company based in Shanghai, China, specializes in assisting businesses to both establish operations in Asia and to improve their processes and performance as part of their overall supply chain strategies.

Tompkins Associates has global and domestic experience designing and executing major projects for:

Supply chain strategy
Trade management, security and risk mitigation
Supply chain management process improvement
- Strategic sourcing, quality processes, and supplier management
- Demand/supply planning and management
- Transportation
- Distribution networks and operations
- After-sales service supply chain
Cost reduction in the supply chain
Performance management
Supply chain technology and integration